I scream, you scream, we all scream for IKEA.Temiskaming Shores is poised to benefit from a partnership with a multi-national European company that has a strategic growth plan for North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. . But don't say IKEA IKEA Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (Swedish home furnishings retailer founder's initials and location) . A report in Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. last January confirmed officials from the Swedish home furnishing giant were in the area scouting out possible locations for a value-added manufacturing facility. Rumours abound, but no Northern Ontario Northern Ontario is the part of the province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron (including Georgian Bay), the French River and Lake Nipissing. Northern Ontario has a land area of 802,000 km² (310,000 mi²) and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it municipal official--whether in Temiskaming Shores or Thunder Bay--will confirm they are trying to convince IKEA to fit into their backyard. But if and when the conglomerate, one of the largest companies in the world, comes a-knocking, the project developer for the Temiskaming Shores Strategic Economic Development Unit will welcome it with open arms. John Gauvreau confirmed last year IKEA officials were in the area, but he can't do the same in speaking of negotiations the city is currently conducting with a furniture retailer that shall remain nameless. "They are a company that has some serious (North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. ) growth planned for the next five to 10 years," he says. The company wants to increase its retail presence in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. from two to seven locations. In order to bring on the growth spurt growth spurt Pediatrics A period of rapid growth in middle adolescence; ♀ ↑ ±8 cm/yr ±age 12; ♂ ↑ ±10 cm/yr ± age 14; GS is orderly, affecting acral parts–ie, hands and feet grow before proximal regions, , the company requires manufacturing facilities, and believes Northern Ontario is the place to build them. "They feel that we are very well-situated geographically to take care of the stores which could open throughout the eastern seaboard." Wood, now considered a by-product by·prod·uct or by-prod·uct n. 1. Something produced in the making of something else. 2. A secondary result; a side effect. by-product Noun 1. of dimensional lumber (Carp.) lumber for building, etc., cut to the sizes usually in demand, or to special sizes as ordered. lumber, usually of pine, which is sold as beams or planks having a specified nominal cross-section, usually in inches, such a Gauvreau has been exploring value-added wood manufacturing opportunities, worth an estimated $15 million, which have spawned from earlier discussions with another company. The onerous tasks of erecting a 100,000-square-foot facility, filling it with equipment and bringing transportation companies are slowing things down a bit. "(But) we are still working on it," he says. If an announcement is made before Canada Day Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day, Canadian national holiday, celebrated July 1. It is the anniversary of the uniting in 1867 of Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as the dominion of Canada. , Gauvreau says the following spring should bring construction development. Forestry industry attracted investors The Temiskaming Forest Alliance's work in policing the local forest, ensuring sustainability through responsible forest management practices, has piqued the interest of foreign furniture executives. Company executives would like to be more closely aligned with such initiatives, Gauvreau says. Gauvreau's department is also wooing other smaller businesses. Larger companies tend to have volumes that are exceptionally high with low margins because everything they sell is price-driven. Gauvreau has to wonder whether the "very low margins are worth the very high effort." If the municipality could obtain a high margin without losing all their wood supply to one company, they may opt for it. Ongoing discussions indicate it is a tightly run company with the philosophy of keeping things simple. Executives traveling stay in economy rooms, and ride trains instead of planes, so they can pass the savings down to the customer. "They are frugal." www.temiskamingshores.ca By KELLY LOUISEIZE Northern Ontario Business |
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