Sunday, February 15, 2009
Retail Roundup: Diving into a retail career seemed a logical venture for two Roanoke moms.
Jenny Kincaid Boone covers retail and real estate.jenny.boone
@roanoke.com
981-3235
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Retail Roundup columns
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The Storefront blog
They were frequent shoppers at a Roanoke County niche swim store, where they hunted for swimsuits, goggles and pool supplies for their children.
Last year, Vicki McKinney-Banks, former owner of Swim Shop Etc., decided to get out of the 12-year retail business due to health issues as a result of an automobile accident. Tracy Williamson and Victoria Blake took the plunge.
They bought the Brambleton Avenue shop in October, in the midst of the busy fall competitive swimming season.
By January, the pair relocated the store to a larger storefront at Springwood Park retail center on Electric Road. They renamed it the Swim Shop. Williamson would not disclose how much they paid for the retail business.
Blake and Williamson became quick friends after working together on a fundraiser for Crystal Spring Elementary School. The two never have owned a retail shop.
"We thought it would be fun to work together," Williamson said. "We're pretty compatible.
Williamson's husband, Joel, is a partner in the business, though he works behind the scenes.
In the new retail space, shoppers will find a larger selection of swimsuits. Aside from children's and youth sized suits, additional adult suits are hanging on store racks, including tankinis, two-piece styles and suits with skirts. The men's selection includes jammers, Speedos and board shorts.
Soon, Williamson plans to order Ralph Lauren swimsuits.
The Swim Shop's prices range from $24.99 practice suits for men to $70 or $80 endurance suits.
Though outside temperatures are chilly, swimsuit demand is hot. This time of year, people are on the hunt for new suits as they head off on warm weather cruise vacations, Williamson said.
Subhed will go here
Hidden Treasures Consignment Boutique is packing its bags and relocating.
The cozy shop on Apperson Drive in Salem is headed for a new and larger store space at the Brambleton Plaza, a center on Brambleton Avenue in Southwest Roanoke County. With the move, owner Bethany King plans to add furniture, artwork and home decor to her nearly 3-year-old shop's lineup. Currently, the store sells new or like-new clothing and jewelry on consignment, including wedding dresses and formal gowns.
Hidden Treasure's new storefront, where King expects to open on March 1, is 3,000 square feet, which is more than double the size of the current space at 1,300 square feet.
King said she's confident in expanding her business, even in slow economic times.
"People who are shopping want deals," she said. King estimated that one could save 50 percent to 80 percent off the regular retail price on certain items at Hidden Treasures.
Subhed will go here
A local paint contractor has revived a longtime Grandin Village store.
Harwood Paint & Wallpaper in Roanoke closed its doors in October, but Timothy Wayne bought the inventory and reopened the shop a month later.
"This is where I bought a good bit of my paint for the last year and a half," said Wayne, who still works as a paint contractor while running the store at 1418 Grandin Road S.W. He would not disclose the amount of money that he paid for the inventory.
Renamed Harwood Paint & Decorating, the retailer sells Benjamin Moore & Co. paint and other hardware items. Wayne plans to add decorating supplies to the shop's selection.
Harwood's storied history also attracted Wayne to the retail venture. The store has been at the same location since 1959.
"I hated to see something that's been in the community that long go by the wayside," Wayne said.
News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/storefront/:
n Get an update on Fork in the City, a new restaurant set for Marshall Avenue in Roanoke.
n What do you think about state lawmakers' decision to pull plastic shopping bag legislation?
n Are restaurant servers more friendly than in the past? Share your thoughts.
they paid for the retail business.
Blake and Williamson became quick friends after working together on a fundraiser for Crystal Spring Elementary School. The two never have owned a retail shop.
"We thought it would be fun to work together," Williamson said. "We're pretty compatible.
Williamson's husband, Joel, is a partner in the business, though he works behind the scenes.
In the new retail space, shoppers will find a larger selection of swimsuits. Aside from children's and youth sized suits, additional adult suits are hanging on store racks, including tankinis, two-piece styles and suits with skirts. The men's selection includes jammers, Speedos and board shorts.
Soon, Williamson plans to order Ralph Lauren swimsuits.
The Swim Shop's prices range from $24.99 practice suits for men to $70 or $80 endurance suits.
Though outside temperatures are chilly, swimsuit demand is hot. This time of year, people are on the hunt for new suits as they head off on warm weather cruise vacations, Williamson said.
Consignment shop relocates
Hidden Treasures Consignment Boutique is packing its bags and relocating.
The cozy shop on Apperson Drive in Salem is headed for a new and larger store space at the Brambleton Plaza, a center on Brambleton Avenue in Southwest Roanoke County. With the move, owner Bethany King plans to add furniture, artwork and home decor to her nearly 3-year-old shop's lineup. Currently, the store sells new or like-new clothing and jewelry on consignment, including wedding dresses and formal gowns.
Hidden Treasure's new storefront, where King expects to open on March 1, is 3,000 square feet, which is more than double the size of the current space at 1,300 square feet.
King said she's confident in expanding her business, even in slow economic times.
"People who are shopping want deals," she said. King estimated that one could save 50 percent to 80 percent off the regular retail price on certain items at Hidden Treasures.
Store under new management
A local paint contractor has revived a longtime Grandin Village store.
Harwood Paint & Wallpaper in Roanoke closed its doors in October. Timothy Wayne and his father-in-law bought the inventory and reopened the shop a month later.
"This is where I bought a good bit of my paint for the last year and a half," said Wayne, who still works as a paint contractor while running the store at 1418 Grandin Road S.W. He would not disclose the amount of money that he paid for the inventory.
Renamed Harwood Paint & Decorating, the retailer sells Benjamin Moore & Co. paint and other hardware items. Wayne plans to add decorating supplies to the shop's selection.
Harwood's storied history also attracted Wayne to the retail venture. The store has been at the same location since 1959.
"I hated to see something that's been in the community that long go by the wayside," Wayne said.
News from the Storefront blog at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/storefront/:
n Get an update on Fork in the City, a new restaurant set for Marshall Avenue in Roanoke.
n What do you think about state lawmakers' decision to pull plastic shopping bag legislation?
n Are restaurant servers more friendly than in the past? Share your thoughts.
