Theo and Gus Katechis Administrator OWNERS of CHRIS’ HOT DOGS Offers Advice for a Smooth Audit
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ALABAMARETAIL.ORG FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE 1 VOL 17 MEMBER HIGHLIGHT IYISHIA JONES OWNER/DESIGNER, ISHI PAYROLL MAKING HISTORY AUDIT SEASON Premium Theo and Gus Katechis administrator OWNERS OF CHRIS’ HOT DOGS offers advice for a smooth audit MEMBER BENEFITS Shop Alabama Q&A: Make use of the How you can Employment Law join the movement Resource Center From the President February Contents Old or New, February 2017 Issue 1 Vol 17 Retail is Publisher Better Together RICK BROWN 4 16 Editor EASTER JOY SALES TAX HOLIDAY NANCY KING DENNIS Within the pages of this Giving back South Alabama issue of Alabama Retailer, Design to community hardware store COPPERWING DESIGN we celebrate old and new. delights baby promotes Cover Photo Bromberg & Co. Inc. is stores’ owner preparedness BRANDON ROBBINS less than 20 years from turning 200. Meanwhile, 6 13 its current chief executive continues to provide leadership for his community. Go to Page 13 to see the recognition he 8 Shop Alabama Q&A Member News 2016-2017 Officers 2016-2017 Officers MEMBER HIGHLIGHT received for being a top CEO in his city. 7 14 Fashion flair fuels Chairman In May, Chris’ Hot Dogs turns 100 (Pages 10-12). Theo and Chairman Tuscaloosa, a New Members FREDRICK W. “RICKY” KEN HUBBARD expansion to three shopping destination Gus Katechis’ customers don’t want them to change BROMBERG Western Market, Birmingham 18 Bromberg & Co. Inc., Birmingham Alabama cities anything about the downtown Montgomery institution or its 10 Socially Speaking secret sauce. Trustees Vice Chairman DARRELL BOURNE Making History: Two other retail stories told here began a mere 20 years JACOB SHEVIN Ragland Brothers Retail Cos. Inc., Huntsville Theo and Gus Standard Furniture, Alabama and Tennessee ago. A grandmother designs nursery décor and sells CAREY ROME Katechis children’s apparel in Mountain Brook and Homewood President Cypress Resources, Birmingham (Page 4). This spring, customers will hop by her store for RICK BROWN Montgomery JIMMY RAY SMITH an Easter Egg hunt she founded. And Tuscaloosa is lucky Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Decatur to have an advocate for local retailing who also operates a Vice President BUD SKINNER Alabama Retailer of the Year and contemporary ladies boutique (Page 7). ALISON SCOTT WINGATE HOSP Jubilee Seafood, Montgomery We welcome the new members on Pages 14 and 15. Montgomery GEORGE WILDER Centennial Retailer nominations due May 15 Owner Michelle Reeder (Page 15) bakes the dog treats Treasurer The Locker Room, Montgomery and Auburn she sells at The Barkery. Her brand new business also BOB AKERS Davis Direct, Montgomery PHILLIP WEAVER The Alabama location must have been in operation for a minimum of offers doggie daycare, boarding, professional grooming Buffalo Phil’s, Tuscaloosa Retail Association five years. To be considered a retail operation, a business and training. Executive Committee Designee will accept must collect state and local sales taxes. TODD NODEN Fund Administrator One of our newest members, ISHI? started in Florida and RICK BROWN nominations for Books-A-Million, Birmingham-based Nominate your favorite retailer at alabamaretail.org/ now has three stores in Alabama (Page 8). Montgomery the 2017 Alabama Immediate Past Chairman retaileroftheyearnomination/ Retailer of the Year Before you know it, spring will arrive and with it the severe GEORGE WILDER Fund Manager The Locker Room, Montgomery and Auburn MARK YOUNG and the Alabama Centennial Retailer awards through Retail businesses that began in 1917 or before weather season. The owners of Consolidated Ace, who Montgomery Monday, May 15. are eligible to be recognized as Alabama operate two Alabama and four Florida stores, offer some Centennial Retailers. Retailers nominated advice on how to prepare on Page 17. Alabama Retailer is the official publication of the Alabama Retail Association, Now in its 18th year, the Alabama Retailer of the Year 7265 Halcyon Summit Drive, Montgomery, Alabama 36117-3502. Telephone will be contacted and asked to provide a (334) 263-5757; FAX (334) 262-3991. awards recognize outstanding retailers who have Less than a year old or almost 200, retail is better together. brief history and other information about Alabama Retailer is published three times a year. Views and conclusions expressed demonstrated a blend of sound business practices in articles herein are those of the authors, not necessarily those of the editors or their business. officers of the Alabama Retail Association. Opinions expressed in this magazine do with commitment to their communities, customers not necessarily reflect the policies of the Alabama Retail Association. and employees. Help us recognize a retailer that has been in business ADVERTISING: Inquiries should be directed to the Alabama Retail Association. Rates for 100 years or more by filling out the form at will be furnished on request. The Alabama Retail Association reserves the right Nominees must own, operate or manage a retail business to omit any advertising or editorial copy deemed to be unsuitable for publication. alabamaretail.org/centennialretailernomination/ RICK BROWN, Publisher and President Publication herein does not necessarily imply endorsement of any product or with a physical presence in Alabama and that Alabama service offered. Postmaster: Send address changes to Alabama Retail, P.O. Box 240669, 2 Alabama Retailer February 2017 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-0669. February 2017 alabamaretail.org 3 EASTER JOY inda Flaherty’s friends and colleagues describe her Linda started the business with a partner, but after a as a bridge builder and a great listener. year, the two decided to go separate ways as distinct, but L complimentary Mountain Brook businesses. She opened She regularly attends merchant meetings and her second location in Homewood in 2009. Today, she ‘Thankful for the Opportunity interacts with other business owners. “Her involvement in operates the two Birmingham area stores with her husband, the community has made a difference for other people Joe, who assists with the financial reports and taxes. Linda’s starting out in business,” said Suzan Doidge, executive to Give Back,’ Award-Winning two daughters, stay-at-home moms of young children, director of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. serve as her sounding board for new ideas for the business. The business owner also founded and organizes the Retailer Says “I’m a grandmother, so I buy as a grandmother would Crestline Village’s annual Easter Egg Hunt, which Suzan dress her grandchildren,” said Linda, “but I also listen to my calls “a huge community event.” This spring, for the seventh associates and daughters, who offer the young mother’s consecutive year, Linda, other merchants and volunteers perspective. We try to maintain a balance. We’re traditional ONCE UPON A TIME OWNER USES HER TALENTS TO SERVE will stuff more than 3,000 plastic eggs with candy, scatter and stay true to our belief in classic, timeless children’s CUSTOMERS, CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY the eggs in a nearby green space and then watch as clothing, but also are aware of and stay current with the community children delight in filling their baskets with Story by Nancy King Dennis. Photo by Melissa Johnson Warnke. trends.” The store’s brand the multi-colored eggs. focuses on the “Southern To start the event, the MEMBER baby,” she said. Easter Bunny arrives on SINCE the Mountain Brook Fire 2007 Linda attributes her Department ladder truck. stores’ success to The oversized, fluffy white paying attention to her rabbit lingers after the customers. “We listen to hunt to pose for pictures our customers and get with the children on a their feedback,” she said. picturesque bench. “The customers become our friends. We help first- “It gives me great joy time parents prepare to see so many of for a life they’ve never our customers and Shop the Once upon a time stores at 201 Country Club Park in Mountain Brook and 2900 18th experienced before.” their young children Street South in Homewood. Visit online at onceuponatimebaby.com participating in this event, It is a labor of love. “I love and I am thankful for the opportunity to personally give buying for the store,” she said. “I love moving everything back,” says Linda, co-owner of the Once upon a time stores around and making it new again.” in Mountain Brook and Homewood. Suzan with the Mountain Brook chamber emphasizes, “This A grandmother of seven, Linda began designing baby linens is not a hobby for Linda. She has really great ideas. She’s as a business venture more than a decade before she had always ready to try new things.” her first grandchild. Some of those “new things” caught the attention of the “I discovered my passion for the retail industry when my Retailer of the Year judges. “Once upon a time shows sisters and I got together one weekend and created the amazing adaptation to reach their target market – mothers nursery of my youngest sister’s dreams,” said Linda. “I and grandmothers – by utilizing video on social media,” the started out as a little cottage industry doing nursery décor, judges said. Weekly videos feature the store’s associates making custom linens in my home. In less than two years, and are posted and promoted on Facebook and Instagram. we had a retail space.” In the past year, Once upon a time also launched an online store that includes a baby registry. In November of 2016, the original Once upon a time store in the Crestline Village of Mountain Brook celebrated 20 years “Throughout the years, I have had the privilege of creating in business. Just the month before, Linda and Once upon a nurseries and outfitting precious little ones,” Linda said. Linda Flaherty is the owner of time earned the title of Alabama’s Gold Retailer of the Year What’s next? Expanding Once upon a time’s footprint in the Once upon a time, nursery décor in the Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million category.