Bomgaars' new Sioux City store humming - CFO says sales up by double digits
By Dave Dreeszen / Journal Business Editor | Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Customers walk into the new Bomgaars on Hamilton Boulevard on Oct. 23.
SIOUX CITY - Bomgaars' new store along Hamilton Boulevard appears to be a hit with customers.
"The fall and holiday seasons were very, very good," Torrey Wingert, vice president and chief financial officer for the Sioux City-based retail chain. "Sales were up double digits. We were very pleased with the first three months."
Last October, Bomgaars closed its longtime store in downtown Sioux City and relocated the staff and merchandise to a former supermarket in the Perry Creek Plaza.
The new farm and home store carries the same mix of merchandise Bomgaars is known for, stocking more than 150,000 items in departments from clothing and housewares to automotive and tools to pet care and lawn and garden.
Though similar in size to the former downtown site at 333 Douglas St, the new 67,000-square-foot store offers a number of shopping-friendly amenities, like wider aisles, brighter lighting and better signage. A new design also groups together multiple items of major brands, such as Dickies apparel and accessories and Dewalt power tools.
Featuring large colorful photos of merchandise, the special displays are "kind of a store within a store," said Dave Meyer, Bomgaars senior vice president/chief operating office. The chain is introducing the concept in additional stores, he said.
Besides expanded merchandise, the Perry Creek Plaza site offers nearly 20,000 square feet of outdoor storage space, and three times more customer parking than its former downtown store along Douglas Street.
Prior to last fall's move, Bomgaars had had a retail presence downtown since 1952, when founder W.H. Bomgaars, an automotive jobber, began selling to the public.
The family-owned and operated chain has grown to 44 farm and country stores in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. A second Sioux City store, known as Bomgaars East, at 6001 Gordon Drive, opened in April 2000.
Like the new Perry Creek Plaza store, Bomgaars East posted double-digit increases in sales during the fall and holiday seasons, Wingert said.
"Our east side store has grown phenominally since the opening," he said. "That was a pleasant surprise as well."
The simulatenous growth at both Sioux City stores suggest the retailer is attracting new customers, he said. For many metro area residents, the new Hamilton Boulevard location is more convenient than the former site downtown.
Bomgaars' Perry Creek Plaza store, which employs about 50 people, is open 8 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
"The fall and holiday seasons were very, very good," Torrey Wingert, vice president and chief financial officer for the Sioux City-based retail chain. "Sales were up double digits. We were very pleased with the first three months."
Last October, Bomgaars closed its longtime store in downtown Sioux City and relocated the staff and merchandise to a former supermarket in the Perry Creek Plaza.
The new farm and home store carries the same mix of merchandise Bomgaars is known for, stocking more than 150,000 items in departments from clothing and housewares to automotive and tools to pet care and lawn and garden.
Though similar in size to the former downtown site at 333 Douglas St, the new 67,000-square-foot store offers a number of shopping-friendly amenities, like wider aisles, brighter lighting and better signage. A new design also groups together multiple items of major brands, such as Dickies apparel and accessories and Dewalt power tools.
Featuring large colorful photos of merchandise, the special displays are "kind of a store within a store," said Dave Meyer, Bomgaars senior vice president/chief operating office. The chain is introducing the concept in additional stores, he said.
Besides expanded merchandise, the Perry Creek Plaza site offers nearly 20,000 square feet of outdoor storage space, and three times more customer parking than its former downtown store along Douglas Street.
Prior to last fall's move, Bomgaars had had a retail presence downtown since 1952, when founder W.H. Bomgaars, an automotive jobber, began selling to the public.
The family-owned and operated chain has grown to 44 farm and country stores in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. A second Sioux City store, known as Bomgaars East, at 6001 Gordon Drive, opened in April 2000.
Like the new Perry Creek Plaza store, Bomgaars East posted double-digit increases in sales during the fall and holiday seasons, Wingert said.
"Our east side store has grown phenominally since the opening," he said. "That was a pleasant surprise as well."
The simulatenous growth at both Sioux City stores suggest the retailer is attracting new customers, he said. For many metro area residents, the new Hamilton Boulevard location is more convenient than the former site downtown.
Bomgaars' Perry Creek Plaza store, which employs about 50 people, is open 8 to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
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