Page 7 - Aruba Today
P. 7
U.S. NEWS A7
Friday 19 February 2016
US Financial Front:
Good service, atmosphere keeps indie retailers in the game
JOYCE ROSENBERG “We aren’t so much selling Ellen Ward, owner of FoxTale Book Shoppe poses for a photograph behind the counter in Wood-
AP Business Writer the book as we are selling stock, Ga. Sales at FoxTale Book Shoppe have increased between 15 percent and 25 percent a
NEW YORK (AP) — When the experience,” she says. year since it opened in 2007 despite nearby big box competitors, including a Barnes & Noble that
people line up at a cof- The success of indies is opened in 1995, says Ward.
fee shop for their morning something perhaps experts
brew or crowd a bookstore couldn’t imagine a few de- (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
to meet a famous author, cades ago. In the 1980s,
don’t assume they’re pa- when big box stores be- Edward Fox, a marketing they planned to engage cial products. They’re also
tronizing a national chain. gan proliferating, and after professor at Southern Meth- in. Because Kiddles is well- ready to help customers
Many independent stores Amazon.com went online odist University. For exam- known in Lake Forest and whose pets are more exot-
have been able to survive, in the 1990s, independents ple, a shopper might look nearby communities, po- ic than cats, dogs, guinea
thrive and even launch in began disappearing. The for a dress at a department diatrists and physical thera- pigs and birds.
spite of competition from Census Bureau counted store, not find anything suit- pists recommend patients “We’ve had people walk
big box retailers like Wal- nearly 990,000 retail es- able and hear from a staff- buy shoes at the store. in with snakes, lizards, pigs
Mart, Barnes & Noble and tablishments with under 20 er, “that’s all we have.” “People trust us to help and sheep,” Fedelem says.
Home Depot. Indies are do- employees in 1992 and just “A boutique owner might them choose the right bike Independents can also
ing this by becoming more 608,000 in 2013. say, ‘I know a place where or shoe,” says Shlifka, who flourish even when the
a part of the fabric in the In some areas, soaring I can get it, or I have a adds that the services his big corporate competi-
communities they serve, rents accelerated the vendor who can get you store provides have helped tor operates small stores
offering more personalized trend. Economics profes- something,’” Fox says. revenue increase between — Starbucks has more
service and unique ambi- sor Carlena Cochi Ficano Personalized service is 2 percent and 4 percent than 12,500 U.S. stores and
ence than the bigger guys. of Hartwick College in New critical to Kiddles Sport’s annually in recent years. plans more, but indie cof-
For instance, at FoxTale York estimated in 2012 that longevity. The Lake For- Many independents have feehouses thrive. In New
Book Shoppe in Wood- on average, between 4.4 est, Illinois, sporting goods survived by offering unique York, Steven Leven and his
stock, Georgia, the strat- and 14.2 retailers closed retailer, which has been merchandise. partners are opening their
egy is building relation- within 15 months of a Wal- in Aric Shlifka’s family for In Portland, Oregon, Nancy fifth New York coffeehouse.
ships with customers and Mart store opening nearby. nearly 50 years, doesn’t Fedelem’s two pet food Their first, 71 Irving, has
the community. The staff Meanwhile, at most, an av- have room for as many dif- stores stock brands not been in the Gramercy Park
spends time chatting with erage of 3.5 small retailers ferent baseball gloves, ath- likely to show up in chains neighborhood for 20 years
customers about books, opened during that time. letic shoes and other items like Petco and PetSmart and grown despite the
knows customers’ tastes But in recent years, shop- as stores like Dick’s or Sports or supermarkets. Her first presence of two Starbucks
and recommends books. pers have veered away Authority. store, Salty’s Pet Supply, is within a five-block radius.
It also holds writing classes from big box retailers, and So as its competition grew, 11 years old and Fang & Leven says his coffeehous-
and events like parties for many stores have closed. it began selling custom Feather is 4. Her revenue es cater to what customers
authors, especially those Indie bookstores have merchandise like uniforms has risen an average 15 want. The company roasts
who live in the Atlanta benefited from the de- for local teams. It also be- percent a year. its own coffee. The menu
area. While many book- mise of Borders’ 640 stores gan providing services like Fedelem’s inventory and of breakfast pastries, sand-
stores hold meet-the-au- and the closing of more analyzing customers’ gait the staff’s knowledge of wiches and salads chang-
thor events, FoxTale period- than 150 stores owned by to be sure they bought the what’s in the food appeals es according to customer
ically rents a theater across Barnes & Nobles in recent right shoe for the activity to people who want spe- requests.q
the street, turning it into a years. There were 2,227 in-
bigger event. dependent U.S. bookstores
The store also has an eclec- last year, up from 1,651 in
tic look. It is decorated with 2009, says the American
antiques and a bicycle sus- Booksellers Association, a
pended from the ceiling trade group. And there
in the children’s room. It’s may be more opportunities
intimate; at 1,500 square for indies: Published reports
feet, it’s less than a tenth have said Sports Authority,
the size of a nearby Barnes which has been struggling
& Noble. As a result of its to make its debt payments,
small-bookstore feel and may close 200 of its 450
personalized services, sales stores Indie retailers that
at FoxTale have increased survive are able to pro-
between 15 percent and vide a personal touch that
25 percent a year since it a big box retailer cannot
opened in 2007 — despite because they must com-
Barnes & Noble’s proximity, ply with corporate pro-
co-owner Ellen Ward says. cedures, can’t offer says
