Author Archives: Justine88

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Nordstrom could save Southgate Mall, but opening is unlikely

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

SARASOTA – It’s a rumor that began as an offhand comment from one retail developer to another.

But it took on a life of its own from there.

The possibility of Nordstrom, the Seattle-based, high-end department store chain, coming to Sarasota County was too good to keep quiet for too long.

But it’s not exactly the story one would expect.

Nordstrom, along with its luxury competitor, Neiman Marcus, were slated to anchor the Mall at University Town Center when plans for the $315 million mall were still in its infancy six years ago. But both brands abandoned those notions during the Great Recession as their interest in expanding into the Sarasota market fizzled out.

Southwest Florida residents would continue to drive to Tampa’s International Plaza to the north, or Naples’ Waterside Shops to the south for Nordstrom’s one-of-a-kind customer experience, as they’ve always done.

But now, people are talking about Nordstrom opening a department store in Westfield Group’s Southgate Mall. Nordstrom would reportedly take over the 97,000-square-foot anchor shell left vacant by Dillard’s, which departed Southgate late last year after opening a new two-story store in the Mall at University Town Center.

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Tourism promoters keep eye on Europe’s economy

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

The tourism business in Southwest Florida celebrated record-breaking growth in 2014, but local tourism boosters keep a watchful eye on what’s happening overseas and how an economic downturn in Europe might affect travel this season.

Europe’s stagnant economy, a weakening euro and a stronger U.S. dollar may deter some Europeans from taking summer vacations in Southwest Florida. The region has seen a steady growth in travelers coming from countries like Germany and the United Kingdom in recent years, especially during the summer and fall, traditionally slow time of the year for Sarasota and Manatee counties.

“Any major economic upheaval is always a concern to us,” said Virgina Haley, president of Visit Sarasota, the county’s tourism agency. “We’ve been monitoring what’s happening overseas for some time now, but haven’t seen any trip cancellations yet.

“Actually, our summer bookings are very strong,” Haley said.

The tourism chief cites Sarasota as an affordable destination, even in tough times, compared with cities like London or New York, which have a larger draw for international tourists.

European traffic was up 11.5 percent in October compared with the same month in 2013 for Sarasota County, making it the biggest month for European travel last year, Haley said. In November, European travel increased by 5.8 percent compared with the same month in 2013.

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Is Kroger coming to Florida?

Column by Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

Word on the street is that Midwest grocer chain Kroger Co. may be making its way into Florida soon.

The Cincinnati-based chain has been growing rapidly over the years, including a 2013 acquisition of another chain, Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc., and executives said this week that the company has a vested interest in expanding into a new market, though they weren’t specific about which.

One version of the theory has Kroger buying Bi-Lo/Winn-Dixie, the grocery chains held by Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers LLC since September 2013.

Florida makes sense for a Kroger expansion in a lot of ways, according to some retail analysts.

In 2014, the Sunshine State surpassed New York as the third-largest state by population. Florida is a top tourism destination, too, for part-time residents who are loyal to the chains they know from the Midwest, Northeast and elsewhere. Florida also is home to educated and savvy consumers who cross-shop now more than ever, said Jeff Green, retail analyst who’s familiar with the Southwest Florida market.

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What’s in store when Bealls stores turn 100?

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

*Picked up by the AP Wire

One hundred years ago, a man named Robert M. Beall opened a little establishment on Old Main Street in downtown “Bradentown.”

That small general store, which debuted in April 1915, would be the first of hundreds to open across the country under the name of that young entrepreneur.

Bealls, a retail company known for selling apparel and home goods in department and outlet stores in Florida and across the country, is celebrating its 100th year in business this year.

Staying in business for a century — and continuing to grow — has been no small feat. But the Bradenton-based retailer has managed to reinvent itself through the years without sacrificing its core image.

“Bealls really has an understanding of the marketplace and a good idea of what the consumer wants,” said Rick McAllister, CEO of the trade group the Florida Retail Federation, in which Bealls has been an active member since the 1950s. “They listen to their customers and know what Floridians are interested in, which has served them well over the years.”

Today, Bealls sells apparel and shoes for everyone in the family — along with home goods and small appliances — in more than 500 department stores and outlet stores in Florida and the southern U.S. The company’s headquarters is still in Bradenton, where that first store opened in 1915.

Read more here. 

Sidebar: Bealls president wants workers to feel ownership, by Justine Griffin.

Follow up: At Bealls Outlet, he’s the king of a good deal, by Justine Griffin

 

 

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Tepid retail season is salvaged by late and day-after buyers

By Justine Griffin for the Herald-Tribune

It was the perfect storm.

Home prices across the country, including Southwest Florida, are up. Gas prices are down. Stock prices are rising and unemployment continues to dip as hiring ramps up.

Not to mention there was no bad weather to report across the nation.

All these factors combined to bode well for a strong holiday shopping season.

The National Retail Federation predicted that sales made over the holidays, which began around Thanksgiving and wrapped up at Christmas, would increase by 4.1 percent to $616.9 billion nationally when compared with 2013 season.

The Florida Retail Federation had an even rosier forecast: a 5 percent jump in sales across the Sunshine State this year.

Final numbers will not be available for a while, but there have been indications that such optimism was not misplaced.

A report by MasterCard found that retail sales rose 5.5 percent from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve as strong demand for women’s apparel, jewelry and casual dining helped offset slow sales for electronics.

Read more here.