Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/528948
In addition, most of Boot Barn's competition comes from smaller, inde- pendent retailers with only one or two stores. Boot Barn does compete with a few regional retailers that have a similar format, such as Cavender's and She- plers, but the chain is already four or five times larger than its nearest com- petitor, and growing, says Keith. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the company's net sales climbed by some 13 percent year on year, to $130.5 million, and same-store sales rose by 7.2 percent. "We believe our continued success [for the] quarter and over our 30-year history is rooted in our leading position as a lifestyle retail brand that serves the Western, country and work customer groups," said Boot Barn President and CEO Jim Conroy in an earnings call. The company's growth strategy is built on four aspects that have stayed consistent over the past several years. First, Boot Barn is intent on building out more stores, which typically mea- sure about 10,000 square feet. The com- pany is also working to boost same-store sales through a combination of mer- chandising, marketing and customer service. Then, too, Boot Barn is set on increasing its private-brand sales — such as Moonshine Spirit apparel and foot- wear, by country singer Brad Paisley. And fourth, the company aims to keep improving its omni-channel capabilities, including online-payment option PayPal and enhancement of its mobile website. In February Boot Barn opened a store at Arapahoe Crossings in Au- rora, Colo. "We think it brings a new type of retailer to the center to further diversify the tenant mix," said Rob- ert Dake, vice president of national accounts for New York City–based Brixmor Property Group, which owns the 466,000-square-foot Arapahoe Crossings. Boot Barn already has five other stores at Brixmor-owned proper- ties, plus two leases under negotiation. "They really do a good job of making the interior look as close to the interior of a barn as possible," said Dake. "It is a beautiful build-out, and they do a really good job of merchandising — from the hats to the boots to the clothing." The fact that Boot Barn has already opened stores in half the states in the U.S. is further proof of its appeal to consumers beyond regions tradition- ally associated with country-western music and culture. "The country theme is fairly ubiquitous across the country, and work wear obviously translates to anywhere," said Keith. "Our view is that it has a much broader appeal than what people realize." S C T For leasing, contact Aaron Brown- i n g , d i r e c t o r o f r e a l e s t a t e , a t abrowning@bootbarn.com; or John Neppl, vice president of real estate and construc- tion, at jneppl@bootbarn.com; or phone either executive at (949) 453-4470. The fact that Boot Barn has opened in half the U.S. states is proof of its appeal beyond regions associated with country-western music and culture. r e T a i l i n g T o d a y J u l y 2 0 1 5 / S C T 15