Retail Showcase
Focus - Upscale & Adult Retailers
Contributing writers: Janet Heller, Alejandro Marti and Craig Sherby  

Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain, is the inspiration behind the international brand that bears its name. The brand’s creator, Montblanc, is a company committed to superlative quality according to the traditions of European craftsmanship. All of Montblanc’s products, which include writing instruments, leather goods, watches, eyewear, jewelry and accessories, are handmade by highly skilled craftsmen that hand down their knowledge from one generation to the next. The company’s theory is that “our own hands are still the most important tool.” 

Locations: Montblanc boutiques operate worldwide, with locations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, South America, Latin America and the United States. The company currently has 27 locations in California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington. The 600-sq.ft.-900-sq.ft. stores are located in urban/downtown sites, specialty centers, and regional malls. 

Expansion: Six to eight new stores are sought. Typical leases of 10 years, vanilla shell, specific improvements and/or TI are sought. Desired demographics include a population of 75,000 within 5 miles with an average family or household income of $100,000. Upscale co-tenants are ideal.

Parent Company: Montblanc

Contact Information: Bruce Koniver, Felenstein Koniver & Associates (exclusive Montblanc broker), 407 Lincoln Road, Suite 704, Miami Beach, FL 33139; 305-532-6100, Fax 305-532-6101. 

Watch World International

Watch World International stores offer a very wide range of styles and brands, with the cost of merchandise ranging from $40-$1,000 apiece. Some of the brands that Watch World carries include Swiss Army, Calvin Klein, Fossil, Armani, Skagen and Tissot.

Locations: Since Watch World founder Mati Weiderpass opened his first store in Manhattan’s Soho district in 1994, the company has been committed to providing superior quality products and service to its customers. Weiderpass started the company after leaving Swatch, which turned down his plan to create a retail site for the company. Since then, Watch World has experienced tremendous growth and today boasts more than 100 retail locations throughout the United States. Weiderpass was also named one of New York’s top ten entrepreneurs of 1999.

Watch World’s success is due in part to its stores’ unique gallery-like design. The company employs a team of watch specialists and provides a variety of services that include everything from repairs to band adjustments to battery changes.

Expansion/ Leasing: Watch World International plans to continue its growth trend in major malls throughout the nation. Spaces of 400-800 sq.ft. in high-traffic fashion districts are the company’s preferred venues. Ten-year leases are standard.

Parent Company: Watch World International

Contact Information: Mati Weiderpass, founder/CEO, Watch World International, 10 West 33rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10001; 888-464-3187, ext. 225; homepage: www.watchworld.com.

Godiva Chocolate

Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. was founded in Brussels, Belgium more than 75 years ago by Joseph Draps. Godiva, named in honor of the legendary Lady Godiva, has since become the epitome of chocolate candy. The Draps family opened the original Godiva store in 1926 in Belgium. The brand remained a European treat until 1966, when Godiva chocolate was introduced to the United States. In 1967, Campbell Soup Company purchased the Godiva name and recipes.

The Godiva products can now be found in fine department stores, specialty stores, and even in local grocery stores in the form of Godiva ice cream and in liquor stores as Godiva Liqueur. Godiva can be purchased at www.godiva.com, and the brand is also sold in Godiva retail locations. Godiva’s Fifth Avenue Boutique, in New York City, has more than 100,000 visitors per year. 
Locations: Godiva operates 210 “specialty boutiques” catering to the upscale shopper in 27 states. Parent company Campbell looks for mall and outlet locations.

Expansion/Leasing: The company plans 50 new “boutiques” in the 800-sq.ft. range within the next 18 months. The tenant mix sought is upscale and typical leases signed by the company are 10 years. Desired demographics are a population of 250,000 within 10 miles with an average family or household income of $45,000.

Parent Company: Campbell Soup Company

Contact Information: A.J. Sell, director of real estate, Campbell Soup Company, 1 Campbell Place, Camden, NJ 08053, 609-968-4413, Fax 609-968-2808.

Wenches & Rogues

Wenches & Rogues is a Canadian clothing retailer that specializes in presenting fashions almost exclusively from Canadian designers. The pricey fashions range from $45 T-Shirts to $800 dresses that are generally very diverse in style. The store focuses more on the individuality of the designers as opposed to featuring a prevalent style.

In 1994, Wenches & Rogues’ first store was established by owner Jane Mifflin in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Although the area was in an economic downcycle, the store took off to an impressive start. Mifflin attributes the success to the fact that many Canadian designers have distinctive styles and are not “slavishly following trends.” While the clothes are high-end, they are not unwearable. They appeal to many different types of customers and it is common to see customers from the ages of 16-70 years old shopping in Wenches & Rogues. Many of the designers that sell in Wenches & Rogues are also Hollywood favorites, which gives both designers and the retail concept an added exposure edge that has been helping it to grow.
Locations: Since the opening of the first shop in St. John’s, Wenches & Rogues has established two more streetfront locations in the upscale shopping areas of College Street and Yorkville, both in Toronto. Setting up in similar highly visible and trendy areas will be a criterion for the company’s anticipated growth throughout Canada.

Expansion/ Leasing: While no specific plans have been made yet, Wenches & Rogues hopes to expand to ten locations, all similar to the 2,350-sq.ft. Yorkville shop, throughout Canada. Vancouver and Calgary are two targets for Canadian growth. New York and Los Angeles are slated for U.S. expansion. 

Parent Company: Wenches & Rogues

Contact Information: Pete Alward, Wenches & Rogues, 110 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, Canada M5R 1B9; 416-920-8959.