Opening Stores in a Recession!?

It’s a great time to grow (believe it or not).  While the recession has hit us along with everyone else, LoveSac has still been doing okay, mostly due to the incredible reception of Sactionals which are becoming increasingly popular for media rooms everywhere.   With screaming deals on great locations in malls across the country, we are doing our best to gobble a few of them up.  (RIGHT: THE NEW LENOX LOVESAC AWAITS A STOREFRONT SIGN - ICING ON THE CAKE)  We’ll open 7 stores over the next 2 months: Atlanta, Buford, Minneapolis, New Jersey, LA, Delaware, Baltimore.  In fact, the first two are now already open!   I go to every store opening and work with the team to personally set up the store.  I love being out on the front lines, meeting the team and also the customers.  I even got to make the first sale at Lenox, one of the best malls in the U.S.  That store is gonna rock.  (LEFT: THE ENTIRE GEORGIA STAFF, FOR BOTH STORES, LED BY THE FEARLESS KATIE WHO IS RELOCATING FROM WISCONSIN TO TAKE ON HOTLANTA) 

As I always say, the coolest thing about LoveSac is the people.   Not only our amazing Sac’rs: Alex, Brian, Katie, Torin, and Jesann who worked for days (and nights) just to git ‘er done, but also the Sac fans like Mr. Zach Neuman who travelled all the way down from North Carolina just to say HI and be a part of the newest LoveSac embodiment!  Little did he know he’d find himself on the wall of the store – three times!  Check out this little vid….    

CHECK OUT THESE PICS OF THE LENOX STORE:

On Saturday we opened up at the Mall of Georgia, in Buford, just outside of Atlanta, and two days before that at Lenox – which is THE mall in the Atlanta market.   Store openings are one of the most exciting things that we get to do, but also one of the hardest things that we do.  Even opening up a tiny store, like the one at Lenox (which will be the smallest store in our chain) is just brutal!   Weeks of planning, ordering and coordination happens at LoveSac HQ long before my crew goes out to do the actual work.  Then, it inevitably takes at least 4 straight days (all of them 20+ hours of work each day) to set it up and make it look “LoveSac.”   In the middle of it, another Sac fan, Daniel Devore stumbled in to find me hanging shelves on the wall.  He’s been a Sac owner for years and just came by to see about joining the team.  Check him out….

HERE ARE A COUPLE OF EARLY PICS OUT OF THE MALL OF GEORGIA LOVESAC STORE: 

Having opened stores since 2001, I have to say, this is the best team we’ve ever had at LoveSac and these openings have gone more smoothly (and more inexpensively) than ever.  I really think we are building a smart business these days and it is really due to our great people, from Alex and Doreen at HQ, to my merchandisers in training, Torin, Jesann, and Brian.  

While out at a local favorite, Manuel's Tavern, for dinner we ran into a local Atlanta celebrity!  Chip Caray, the voice of the Atlanta Braves, is a 3rd generation announcer.  Alex, being the BIGGEST Braves fan that is not a resident of Atlanta, was pretty stokedd.  Chip was a good guy. He needs a LoveSac though.

Keep an eye on my schedule at LoveSac.com.  Come out and say HI because when you find me out on the road (as I personally hang all of that art on the walls at each location) and say, “Shawny D., show me the money,” I hook you up with a $25 LoveSac gift card.  This week (end of July) I'll be in Minneapolis (Minnetonka) for the Ridgedale opening Wed-Sat. Next week I'll be in Jersey for the Bridgewater Commons opening, August 4 - 7, with more to follow. Hope to see you at a new LoveSac store, near you.

 

-- Shawny D. 

Comments

[baby k in the murder mitten :D]

I experienced my first lovesac about two years ago. Since then I've been dying to get my hands on one.
With that said, you need to come open a store in Michigan. Retail space is cheap right now, and the economy near Detroit is starting to look better.
You have to come; you couldn't get better advertisement, as I'd scream from the top of my lungs if you obliged me! C :

[Tyler]

Hey Shawny D. Still love the look of the stores! With I could be there. Have fun! I'm always rocking the sac! :]

-Tyler [#1 LoveSac Fan ever!]