Inter Ikea Systems BV

Conshohocken, Pa. -- Ikea said Thursday it is submitting plans for a Miami-Dade store in the City of Sweetwater, Fla., as the second South Florida Ikea store and fourth in the state. 

According to the Swedish home furnishings retailer, construction could launch as early as spring 2013 on the new store, with an opening tentatively slated for fall 2014.

BURLINGTON, ON — Ikea Canada has given its 2013 catalog an interactive makeover. When holding a smartphone or tablet over a page, users are able to access films about Ikea products, experience 3D models, look behind closed doors with an x-ray function or change the curtains and get creative. To access the bonus material, users must download the Ikea App to smartphones or tablets.

Burlington, Ontario, Canada -- IKEA Canada announced Monday that its new catalog, debuting Aug. 13, has incorporated a host of interactive elements designed for smartphones and tablets.

When holding a smartphone or tablet over a page, users are able to access films about IKEA products, experience 3D models, look behind closed doors with an X-ray function or change curtains and get creative.

Users will access the bonus material by downloading the IKEA app to smartphones or tablets, or by visiting www.IKEA.ca.

Melville, N.Y. -- Commercial real estate consulting, advisory and investment group A&G Realty Partners announced that Peter Lynch and Andrew Margolick have joined the firm as partners.

Lynch joins A&G from DJM Realty, where he was a principal and senior managing director, and Margolick was president of his own firm, ARM Consulting, as well as a former VP at Hilco Real Estate.

Pittsburgh -- Ikea has plugged in the new solar energy system installed at its Pittsburgh-area store in Robinson Township, Pa. The 86,800-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 694-kW system, built with 2,884 panels. It will produce approximately 852,200 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 648 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 115 cars or powering 73 homes yearly.

Woodbridge, Va. -- Ikea officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed atop its store in Woodbridge, Va. The state’s largest such photovoltaic array, the 63,000-sq.-ft. PV installation consists of a 504-kW system, built with 2,100 panels.

The system will produce approximately 636,199 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 439 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 86 cars or powering 55 homes yearly.

HOUSTON — Ikea has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston, Texas – which, when combined with Ikea projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make Ikea the state’s largest solar owner. Ikea Houston’s 116,400-square-foot PV array consists of a 813-kW system, built with 3,388 panels.

Houston -- Ikea on Monday officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston. The installation, when combined with Ikea solar projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make the home furnishings retailer the state’s largest solar owner.

New York -- Ikea has been rebuffed by India on a request to relax rules on buying goods locally, Reuters reported, citing a government source. The rebuff is likely to delay Ikea’s entry into the Indian retail market.

In June, Ikea said it would invest approximately $1.86 billion and open 25 stores in India. But the chain was seeking a 10-year window to comply with India’s rule that foreign retailers source 30% from local small and medium-sized firms. The requirement is seen by overseas companies as a hindrance to investment.

Orlando, Fla. -- Ikea said Wednesday that it has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Orlando, Fla.

The 120,900-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 967-kW system, built with 4,115 panels. The retailer said the program will produce approximately 1,421,500 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,080 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 192 cars or powering 122 homes yearly.