The Unofficial IKEA Web Journal

“It was always confounding to me that during visits to German IKEA stores I noticed that they had appliances way before US stores did.  And mind you, the appliances were made by Whirlpool.  Maybe they were made in Germany (front-load Whirlpool Duet washer and dryers are German-made).

Anyway, during a Thanksgiving weekend visit to the IKEA Canton (MI) store I noticed that the gentleman helping us locate stock was the store manager.  I spent about a half-hour talking with him about all things IKEA.  He did say that we’re (US) is slated to get more large appliance items.  He was talking in terms of cooktops, refrigerators and dishwashers.  Items that have been available in the European market.

I’ve found if you visit other IKEA country webpages and look through their catalog, you’ll see what we’re slated to get in a year to two down the road.  They’re always ahead of us.  Can’t navigate in a foreign language?  Try the UK site. We don’t always get what they have due to US regulations, but if you have contacts in that country and really want something you see and either can’t wait or are afraid they won’t offer it the next year, have friends or relatives air-freight it to you.  IKEA does not offer this service.

The item has to clear US customs.  Really no hassle….”

Karen Breen-Bondie

Read the full post at IKEA LOVERS/FLICKR

Announcements ikea appliances, ikea usa

Announcements IKEA Art, IKEA Chicago, IKEA Conshohocken, IKEA Paramus, IKEA Philadelphia, IKEA Schaumburg

VISITORS to IKEA’s Edinburgh store in August will be
able to sample the delights of crayfish in a variety of recipes and
styles as well as sampling locally-produced beer.

Crayfish will come under the spotlight at the
Straiton store with shoppers invited to taste Swedish-style party food,
prepared by IKEA’s food services team. Locally-produced food and drink,
including a range of premium beeers brewed by Loanhead-based Stewart
Brewing on the store’s doorstep, will also be showcased at the home
furnishings store over the weekends of 4-5 and 12-13 August.
The store is also planning to throw a crayfish party
for its workforce. IKEA’s Edinburgh food services manager, Rachel
McLean, said: “Crayfish is a hugely popular Swedish food, especially
during the main fishing season which falls in August.

“Swedes celebrate the arrival of the crayfish with
parties and they decorate their tables. It’s a hugely versatile seafood
and can be used in many ways. We decided to put crayfish in the
limelight and share its delights with customers and co-workers alike.”

Fish Update

Store Link

Announcements crayfish, IKEA Co-worker, IKEA Edinburgh, IKEA UK

One more reason to *heart* IKEA:

“IKEA, an international leader in promoting sustainable business practices,
has teamed up with American Forests to clean the air and sequester carbon
through tree planting. The average American family needs to plant 30 trees to
offset the CO2 produced by their daily energy use. By planting your trees now,
you will join IKEA and American Forests in planting trees to offset CO2 and cool
the globe.

Our focus is to offset the CO2 emitted from cars traveling to and from IKEA
stores. Each IKEA store will plant enough trees (about 33,100 trees each year)
to offset the annual CO2 emissions produced by IKEA co-workers and IKEA visitors
driving to the store each year. IKEA’s offset trees be planted in AMERICAN
FORESTS Global ReLeaf projects around the US.”

American Forests

[Thanks John!]

Announcements American Forests, Global ReLeaf, IKEA Environmental policy

Everyday Fabulous Exhibit
IKEA New York
May 19-23
9 A.M. – 6 P.M.

LINK

Announcements Everyday Fabulous, IKEA advertising, IKEA New York

Image from Trendwatching Customer-Made page here.

Positive Fanatics is also mentioned in the current edition of Trendwatching. Check it out.

Announcements trendwatching.com

If you petition it, perhaps they may come:

“The Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the US. With many of those who now call this area home coming here from all over the US and all over the world, an IKEA store would be a welcomed addition to the shopping options we currently have.

Many residents make the four hour trek to Woodbridge, Virginia (Potomac Mills location) to shop at
IKEA and while others in the state make the trip to the new Atlanta location. Of course, procuring larger items are a bit tricky when traveling at those distances.

We, as residents of North Carolina, wish to show our solidarity in our desire to bring an IKEA store to the area.

IKEA Management: we, the undersigned, wish to present our interest in Raleigh-Durham,
North Carolina being considered for a future location.

Thank you!”

LINK

[via Raleighing]

Announcements IKEA Atlanta, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA North Carolina, IKEA Petition, IKEA Raleigh, IKEA Store Opening, IKEA Washington, IKEA Woodbridge

“PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 30, 2006–IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that its future Canton, MI store will open on Wednesday, June 7, 2006. IKEA Canton will be the Swedish company’s first store and restaurant destination in Michigan, fourth in the Upper Midwest, and 28th in the U.S. (The closest IKEA stores are in the Chicago area and in greater Toronto.)

“Due to the significant progress made before Winter and the accomplishments so far this year, we are confident our remaining milestones and interior build-up process will be complete by early June,” noted Mark McCaslin, store manager of the future IKEA Canton. McCaslin added, “right now our primary objective is to continue hiring and training the almost 400 Michiganders who will be joining the IKEA coworker family before we open.”

Located on 21 acres at Ford and Haggerty Roads off I-275 in Canton, MI, the 311,000 square-foot IKEA store created 500 construction jobs and in June will welcome 400 coworkers into the IKEA family of more than 10,000 coworkers in the U.S. and 90,000 globally. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Canton will present 50 different room settings, three model homes, a supervised children’s play area, and a 300-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features will include a Children’s IKEA area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store…”

YAHOO NEWS

[Thanks for the tip Chris!]

Announcements IKEA Canton, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA Michigan, IKEA Store Opening, ikea usa

Apartment Therapy is at it again!

“The Smallest, Coolest Apartment contest is a contest for all small apartments and homes in the lower 48 states under 650 square feet. We are seeking the most ingenious and beautiful 120 submissions along with all the tips and resources we need to maximize our own homes….”

LINK

Photo: Wayne F. Tjaden AIA 

Announcements

Grand Opening Events

Enter to win a $1,000 IKEA Gift Card!
Ten winners will be chosen from entries made from March 1 to March 5.

Be first in line!
First adult (18 or over) in line when IKEA West Sacramento opens
at 9am on March 1 gets $3,000 in IKEA Gift Cards.

Second adult (18 or over) in line when IKEA West Sacramento opens at 9am on March 1 gets $2,000 in IKEA Gift Cards.

Third adult (18 or over) in line when IKEA West Sacramento opens at 9am on March 1 gets $1,000 in IKEA Gift Cards.

First 100 adults (18 or over) in line when IKEA West Sacramento opens at 9 am on March 1 will receive a free POANG Armchair ($79 value, one per person)

First 500 kids in line get a free SOFT TOY! First 500 kids (under 18) in line when IKEA West Sacramento opens at 9 am on March 1 at IKEA Sacramento will get a free soft toy”

Visit the official IKEA West Sacramento website for details.

They’re blogging about it!

“Ikea descends on Sacramento. Run for your life.”
The Sac Rag

“Ikea and Sacramento, a match made in heaven.”
Uneasy Rhetoric

Share your photos with IKEA fans all over the world. Simply go to FLICKR and tag your photos “ikeawestsacramento“. We will feature the best images here on Positive Fanatics.

Announcements