The Unofficial IKEA Web Journal

IKEA Charlotte Virtual Tour (follow to print entry form for $1000 shopping spree!)

IKEA Charlotte Grand Opening is in literally DAYS, 15 days, to be exact – and we have guest bloggers lined up to bring us the news from the front lines!  We’ll have coverage of IKEA’s Friends and Family Event on the 14th and coverage from the line on opening day!

Becky Shankle, aka ecomod at IKEAFANS.com and @ecomod on Twitter, of eco-modernism has secured an invite to the Friends and Family event on the 14th (talk about IKEA LOVE!) and has promised to report back on all she sees and hears. Becky is owner of Eco-Modernism, based in Raleigh, NC, a company which has been providing IKEA furniture love in the form of IKEA furniture delivery to the Raleigh Durham area since early 2008.  Becky’s been blogging about her adventures with designing, assembling and installing IKEA kitchens, bathrooms and other rooms since August of 2007.

Ms. Eva comes to us from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She’s been anticipating the opening of IKEA Charlotte since the original announcement on January 17th, 2007. Her blog, ikeacarolina.blogspot.com, chronicles her excitement and enthusiam.  Ms. Eva plans to be in line on Opening Day and will be sending us updates via her new Blackberry on the events, prizes and crowd. Here’s hoping for good weather!

Welcome Becky and Eva to the PositiveFanatics team!

Projects, Store Openings @ecomod, eco-modernism.com, IKEA Carolina, IKEA Charlotte, ikea usa, ikeacarolina.blogspot.com, Ms. Eva

So far, IKEA has stated that IKEA Tampa will be opening Summer 2009, but on the IKEA Group Corporate site, there’s a May 2009 Opening indicated. Could it be that IKEA will come early to Tampa?

Let’s hope so!  By the way…we’re looking for local guest bloggers who would be interested in blogging about the upcoming opening of the IKEA Tampa location in Ybor City.  Interested?  Contact us!

Store Openings Guest Blogger, IKEA Florida, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA Store Opening, IKEA Tampa, ikea usa, Ybor City

Holy Akurum, Batman! That’s a lot of kitchens!  According to the Triangle Business Journal,

Swedish home-furnishings giant Ikeais putting the final touches on its first North Carolina store, which is scheduled to open next month in Charlotte.

The 356,000-square-foot store will be one of the chain’s largest. It will feature three model homes and 49 room vignettes, including 17 kitchens. Shoppers will be able to buy more than 10,000 exclusively designed products — from furniture to art, tableware and even food.

I do wish IKEA would stop selling themselves as a full-service setup though:

Ikea now offers on-site designers to help shoppers create complete rooms, take measurements and recommend contractors to assemble the furniture. The store also can arrange home delivery.

Though IKEA has many supporting businesses that will help with design, ordering, delivery, assembly and installation, anyone who’s been there knows that IKEA itself is not about the service aspect. IKEA is all about the low prices. It’s about doing something for yourself. And that’s ok by me – that’s the deal I have with Ingvar.

If you’re not confident about doing it yourself, seek help – North Carolina is home to Eco-Modernism (See post: IKEA Runs: Need your IKEA Fix? Hire a local delivery service), a few new startups, and Custom Assembly and Install out of Atlanta is contracted with IKEA as a Certified Installer.

You can get in line for the IKEA Charlotte Grand Opening starting at 9am on Monday, February 16th, 2009 in advance of the Wednesday, February 18th Grand Opening Event. And while we’re on the subject, PositiveFanatics.com is seeking Guest Bloggers to document the experience of the Charlotte IKEA Grand Opening. Need your 15 minutes in the sun? Contact us!

[Via Triangle Business Journal]

Store Openings Custom Assembly and Install, eco-modernism.com, IKEA Charlotte, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA North Carolina, IKEA Store Opening, ikea usa

According to a press release dated today, January 6, 2009, IKEA Tampa is now officially hiring for the new IKEA store to be opened in the Tampa Bay area in Summer 2009.

TAMPA, Fla. – (Business Wire) IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced it has begun the recruitment process for its future Tampa store, set to open Summer 2009 in the Ybor City-area. Candidates interested in working at the future IKEA Tampa – the Swedish company’s 3^rdstore and restaurant destination in Florida, 6^th in the Southeast, and 37^th in the United States – should look online (www.IKEA-USA.com) for all available positions at the future store. Candidates without access to a home computer are encouraged to visit a local library for online computer access.

“We are thrilled to offer interested jobseekers diverse positions with limitless opportunity at a global company,” said Monica Varela, store manager of the future IKEA Tampa. “At IKEA, we realize that the ability to do the things in life that bring success and happiness is extremely valuable to our coworkers.”

While IKEA Tampa progresses through construction and outfitting, a variety of positions are open to local residents. Prospective coworkers are welcome to apply for the nearly 400 diverse positions as postings are available in: home furnishings sales, interior decoration, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, maintenance, goods flow, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment. Also, setting itself apart from other retailers in the area, IKEA Tampa will offer – among the 400 total positions to be hired for the store – approximately 75 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Foodmarket, Café Bistro and coworker cafeteria.

Named in FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list (three consecutive years), Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” (four consecutive years) and Training magazine’s annual “Top 100” ranking of companies that excel at human capital development (five consecutive years), IKEA places value and emphasis on coworkers’ personal lives and the importance of a work/life balance.

Read more…

Announcements Hiring, IKEA Florida, IKEA jobs, IKEA Tampa, ikea usa, Ybor City

IKEA Charlotte will stage its Grand Opening on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. We’ll be posting about the construction of the new store, developments, and more as the date nears. Get ready North Carolina! IKEA USA is bringing you IKEA Charlotte! Read more…

Store Openings IKEA Charlotte, IKEA Grand, IKEA Store Opening, ikea usa

IKEA presses on despite some residents’ concerns

Centennial’s plan for a 4,000-square-foot(sic) IKEA store is one step closer to reality — but not without some residents’ concern.

After addressing traffic, lighting and noise issues associated with the proposed home furnishings store, City Council voted 8-0 in favor of proceeding with development.

The Willow Creek subdivision closest to the proposed site would endure most of the increased lighting and traffic.

As a result, members of the area’s homeowners’ board voiced their concerns on behalf of residents.

“We’ve been told that traffic at IKEA would be the same as at a new supermarket,” said Willow Creek board member Mike Morgan. “There are going to be 30 check-out stands in this store, and IKEA already has 70,000 existing customers,” he said. “There’s going to be far more traffic than they’re showing.”

As for noise, Morgan said residents already deal with noise from the interstate, and they expect more when IKEA is built.

“If you don’t put a noise [code] in place, the more developers will come in and the problem will get worse,” he said. “If you can’t do that, then recognize that you’re increasing the noise pollution in our community.”

City planners said they know noise is already an issue in the area, and that it’s a concern for the city. There is no city code that requires IKEA to build a sound barrier to reduce noise pollution, officials said.

In addition to added noise and lights, Willow Creek board member Linda Steis wants the IKEA sign to be reduced from its 100-foot-tall size.

“You recently changed your city ordinance to allow retailers to have signs 32 feet high,” she said. “In the spirit of good will, I hope you’ll consider a shorter sign [for IKEA].”

According to city planner Andrew Firestine, destination retailers like IKEA are allowed to have 100-foot signs. Large format retailers and retailers near the highway only are allowed 32-foot signs.

“This is the one and only piece of property identified and permitted to have a 100-foot tall sign,” Firestine said.

Two other Centennial residents, Becky Bowles and Jim Leevy want the traffic to be studied to eliminate issues on County Line and Chester roads.

The city will continue to study the issues while development takes place.

The new store will be next to Interstate 25 between Dry Creek and County Line Road.

[Via www.centennialcolorado.com by Holly Cook]

Store Openings IKEA Centennial, IKEA Denver, IKEA Grand Opening, IKEA Store Opening, ikea usa

Mamma Mia IKEA Wedding Giveaway Contest

Burbank, CA (May 29, 2008) – Embracing its Swedish heritage, the world’s largest home furnishings retailer, IKEA, is searching for twenty couples to participate in a special “Mamma Mia!” The Movie-themed group wedding/commitment ceremony as part of the “IKEA ‘I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do’ Want to Get Married at the Mamma Mia! Wedding Event” Couples Search.  Collaborating with Universal Pictures to mark the upcoming U.S. release of the film (July 18, 2008), IKEA is footing the bill for the huge wedding to help the lucky couples celebrate their love of IKEA, the story of “Mamma Mia!,” and, of course, each other!

The wacky and joyous group wedding celebration will take place at the IKEA Burbank store on July 17, 2008.  Participating couples can choose to get married, renew their vows, or participate in a commitment ceremony.  The ceremony and reception will feature a special guest host, festive décor, and Swedish meatballs.  Immediately after the reception, the couples and their guests will attend a private pre-screening of “Mamma Mia!” The Movie at Universal CityWalk.

“IKEA knows that home is the most important place in the world—especially for newlyweds who are starting a lifelong home together,” said Marty Marston, Public Relations Manager IKEA US.  “We’re thrilled to be helping couples celebrate this exciting moment in time and kick-off their lives together in such a fun, entertaining way.”

Wedding gifts from IKEA for the couples include:

-  A wedding reception following the ceremony for up to sixteen guests per couple;

-  Tickets for the couples and their guests to a private advance screening of “Mamma Mia!” following the reception;

-  One $500 IKEA Gift Card (per couple);

-  Additional IKEA product gifts.

Entrants must visit www.ikea-usa.com/weddingcouples between May 27 and June 10, 2008, and complete the entry form by telling IKEA, in 250 words or less, why they want to be selected.  The winning couples will be randomly selected by IKEA and will be announced on June 16, 2008.  The selected couples are responsible for their own transportation to and from IKEA Burbank and must obtain a valid California marriage license, if applicable.  Each couple will be legally married or, by their choice, participate in a renewal or commitment ceremony.

The IKEA/“Mamma Mia! The Movie” wedding celebration kicks off at local IKEA stores around the country in June and July.  Select IKEA stores will host activities such as in-store karaoke sing-alongs, where customers can perform a song from the “Mamma Mia!” soundtrack to receive free tickets to an exclusive, advance screening of the film.  Visit www.IKEA-USA.com and select your local store for more information on what is happening in your area.

ABOUT MAMMA MIA!

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world.  Bringing the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to movie audiences, Summer 2008 is the season for Mamma Mia!

The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit—global producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd—repeat their roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen.  The “Mamma Mia!” film is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman.

Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried, and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a mother, a daughter, and three possible dads.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she’s raised alone.  For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)—from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos.  But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier.  Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” “Mamma Mia!” is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

[via Danielle Rabin/Ketchum]

Official Movie Site

Announcements ikea burbank, IKEA contest, IKEA Giveaway, ikea usa, IKEA Wedding, mamma mia!

ARCHBOLD – By mid-year, Sauder Woodworking Co. plans to start manufacturing frames and shelves for kitchen cabinetry sold by the Sweden-based home-furnishings retailer Ikea, under a contract Kevin Sauder, president and chief executive officer, said he hopes will be “the first of many.”

Mr. Sauder said the contract, announced yesterday, resulted from seven months of working with Ikea on specifications for the components, made until now in Eastern Europe.

The additional work won’t boost the firm’s employment of about 2,800 in the Archbold area, but it will stabilize the work force, said Mr. Sauder.

“It’s an excellent new relationship,” he said. “I think it’s just the beginning.”

toledoblade.com

Related link: Sauder Corporate Site
[Thanks Jen!]

In the News IKEA kitchen cabinets, ikea usa, Sauder

“As Dublin closes in on its 25th birthday, the city continues to grow demographically and economically, Mayor Janet Lockhart said.

At the annual State of the City address, delivered Wednesday, Lockhart told business and city leaders that in the past 10 years Dublin’s revenue from property tax has increased by 400 percent. Revenue from sales tax has risen 92 percent during the same time, and the population jumped from 25,544 to 41,907, Lockhart said….

The city has suffered a loss last year when Ikea decided not to build,” Hildenbrand said, reading Lockhart’s speech.

Blake Hunt Ventures, the development firm that originally planned to build a “lifestyle center” next to Ikea, has agreed to purchase Ikea’s property to add to its project. Those plans are expected to come before the City Council in the early part of this year, and the project may be built by the end of 2009.”

Valley Times
Pleasanton, California
January 18, 2007

[Thanks to Penandra Pennington]

In the News IKEA California, IKEA Dublin, IKEA store cancellation, IKEA Stores, ikea usa

“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