Internet search leads to opening Flip Flop Shop
Post by (ugg boots günstig) Oct 2010
Women’s on the left and men’s on the right, that’s the setup and the display mantra for the Flip Flop Shop.
Philip Breeze, a software programmer by trade and Bay County native, bought into the franchise in late August of 2009 and he spent nearly a year getting prepared and searching for locations for his new businesses. The Flip Flop Shop opened in Pier Park on June 8 and the business continues to expand.
During the first few months of operation the store traffic mostly consisted of tourists, approximately 600 people a day walked through the doors, Breeze said.
The flip flops range from $20 for a pair to upwards of $100, which is shocking for some people who expected to see inexpensive throw away flip flops. The largest demographic for flip flops are women 19 to 35.
Breeze recounted an encounter with a male customer that was shocked by the $120 price tag for a pair of the open-toed shoes. The customer was wearing a pair of expensive cowboy boots at the time.
“You’ll wear flip flops more often than $600 cowboy boots,” Breeze told the customer, who ended up buying the pair.
Being a seasonal market, the bulk of sales are shifting from tourists to locals. Breeze was warned by the retailer that the winter months are tough for flip flop sales, so to deal with that expected decline in business the store owner has started stocking closed toe shoes and more fashionable and dress flip flops for women, or as Breeze referred to them, shoes with bling.
First foray into retail
“I couldn’t find what I wanted,” Breeze said. “Everyone seemed to have the same product. I just thought what a great idea to have a one-stop shop.”
Breeze searched the Internet using the search term flip flop shop, only to realize there was already a retailer catering to that market that had franchise opportunities available.
The Flip Flop Shop is the first national retailer of just flip flops, Breeze said.
“I purchased the franchise because I was frustrated with trying to buy flip flops this time of year,” Breeze said. “There is no one else that does just flip flops.”
There are Flip Flop Shops in Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and a store coming soon to Gainesville. The Panama City Beach location is the smallest market for the retailer but has one of the larger stores operating in 800 square feet of retail space.
Breeze, an avid wearer of flip flops, wanted to give back to local schools where his children attend so he worked with Springfield Elementary School and Mowat Middle School to offer flip flop days. The students paid a dollar on Sept. 24 to wear their flip flops to school and Breeze matched the $1, he said.
The fundraiser generated more than $600 between the two schools.
The store currently carries 11 brands of flip flops including Vans, OluKai, Reef, Flujos, Gravis and Rainbow Sandals and has an inventory of more than 2,000 pairs of flip flops.
Breeze has also purchased the rights to opening a franchise in Destin; he is currently in the process of scouting out some new locations and is leaning toward the Destin Commons.
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