We are just going to always have more full-timers and more people in our store, to the point where it drives my CFO crazy. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) During a recent stroll through his company's store at Valley West Mall, Von Maur President Jim von Maur lamented the fall of former retail giants like Younkers. Von Maur acknowledged that when the company expanded into Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York theres been a learning curve for sure, meaning many shoppers in markets new for Von Maur are getting to know the store for the first time. A grand piano is situated in the center of the first floor of the Rosedale Center Von Maur store. I write about department stores; past and present. Theyre asking for a lot of money, holding out. [14] The three-story, 240,000-square-foot (22,000m2) store opened on November 10, 2012. Based in Davenport, Iowa, Von Maur operates 35 stores in 15 states. [citation needed], On December 5, 2007, the Von Maur location in Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska was the site of a terror attack when a mentally ill teenager entered the store with an assault rifle, killing 8 and injuring six more before killing himself. This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 09:09. Its got better parking, and better stores around it. They are extremely profitable.. Weve been very patient. When I get stuck, I can go to him. Physical is the most important, but you need both. Von Maur, founded in 1872 in Davenport, is owned and operated by the von Maur family, with 32 stores in 15 states. Pursel and R.H. Harned on the corner of 2nd and Brady Streets. We have had a hard time hiring people., Generally, though, Our selling payroll [as a percent of SG&A] would be dramatically higher than our competition, von Maur said. We are a traditional, family-owned, good-old department store. But he gives me a great amount of latitude. Its in the hundreds. During a recent stroll through his company's store at Valley West Mall, Von Maur President Jim von Maur lamented the fall of former retail giants like Younkers. We are getting our Ugg deliveries in., Sign up for WWD news straight to your inbox every day. True retail brick-and-mortar is here to stay, von Maur said. And one thing that I believe [CEO Jim von Maur] is better at than anyone in the industry is that he allows us as leaders to make decisions. What are the biggest advantages and challenges in being a private company? Von Maur devotees are drawn to its specialized customer service, name-brand apparel lines, and its interest-free charge card. We are going to see fewer units go out the door, but at higher price points. But we are not afraid of competition. I said, Give me a percent, and he said, Its a lot. And I said, Would it be like 5%. And he said, More like 30% on the stuff being manufactured right now. Madison (WI) State Journal, 16 April 2017. It has not been as good as we hoped but we are making inroads. Because we dont do a lot of advertising, word of mouth, as well as the internet, billboards and staging a big grand opening, all help. I dont have a business degree. Or they didnt adapt. What areas of the country present the biggest potential for Von Maur? Heather Payne April 28, 2012. cleanest and best bathrooms in the whole mall. With more than 25 years of retail experience at Von Maur, Melody Wright has a unique perspective on the companys growth trajectory. We are always trying to improve it. is von maur going out of business Within the next year and a half, the retailer will make its Madison, Wisconsin debut and expand its presence in the Detroit market. what's von maur how many von maur stores are there how to pronounce von maur The fact that we are family-owned allows us to make smart decisions, von Maur maintained. Were probably not going past the Rockies or anything like that. They didnt have a lot of options. Asked how the business is performing currently, von Maur replied: We have seen a pullback in the younger, junior demographic at Von Maur and Dry Goods. He also said the childrens business recently turned flat. Von Maur expanded into Michigan in 2003 and New York state nine years ago. This is a family that cares about the long-term impact. We want to put our best foot forward in Des Moines.. How NPRs Mary Louise Kelly Does It AllAlmost. Posted in. M Von Maur says that the situation has greatly improved. Sears has been very strategic with how they sell their real estate. Weekend off and Holidays/holiday eves off. Someone told me once that I didnt understand the business, that we werent on the same altitude. The Dry Goods units each generate around $1.5 million to $2 million in sales, while some do as much as $3 million. We dont have to worry about propping up the stock price by growing too quickly, or getting the topline up. Its special and unique.. But vendors can be late to the party.. Want to read more articles like this one? The additional markdowns are done on Wed and the new markdowns are done on thursday! They shop more frequently. Its special and unique.. They were told they could supplement with previously accrued PTO and will be given no additional sick time. In 1916, J.H.C. The 24th store at the Corbin Park Lifestyle Center in Overland Park, Kansas had its soft opening on Monday, November 3, 2008 and the grand opening on Saturday, November 8, 2008. That store opened in 2022 and replaced the Valley West location. Von Maurs 37 department stores, situated in 15 states, sell mens, womens and childrens apparel, footwear and accessories; beauty; soft home; home decor; gifts, and some food. Our aisles are not merchandised. Yue, Loren, . [citation needed], On November 2, 2013, the chain opened its first store in Alabama, at the Riverchase Galleria in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover. Weve grown quite a bit on a comp basis. Want to read more articles like this one? I think its the older demographic that likes the convenience of shopping online.. There is a piano in every store with live music. is von maur going out of business. Its very liberal and easy to make a return.. If the selling slows down, we take the markdown really quickly. von Maur, R.H. Harned, and Cable von Maur. [17][18], In March 2016, the company announced that it would open a second store in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. While employees do receive holidays off, that seems to be the only real benefit of working for Von Maur over traditional retail stores. The next generation of shoppers will always need to be courted and the retailers e-commerce platform will require continuous upgrades and investments. Key brands at Dry Goods include Blowfish Malibu, Lola Grace, Eunina, Originality and Thread & Supply. Nordstrom and Macys would be direct competitors as well but theres also J.C. Penney, Kohls, Walmart, Gap and others. Von Maur feels that customers are starved to make purchasesand are ready to spend. When I talk to the young executive trainees, they will tell me they prefer to go out and shop. [all] >The color (s) blue is/are claimed as a feature of the mark. Von Maur selects markets with minimum populations of 400,000 to 500,000 and locations that are readily accessible off a major artery to draw customers from a wide radius. [21], In August 2022, the company announced it would open a store at South Hills Village in suburban Pittsburgh, the first store in the state of Pennsylvania. A re-creation of a historic sign that speaks to the roots of Von Maur is part of the women's clothing department at the company's new store at West Towne Mall. We will have mainstream vendors, recognized brands, and we will seek smaller ones youre not going to find anywhere else.. We had seven presidents in our companys history. When I talk to the young executive trainees, they will tell me they prefer to go out and shop. That has allowed us to think long term, and not be carried away with all the whims out there, said von Maur. You dont run into a rack or a dump table. is von maur going out of businessviper volleyball open gym. We have exciting merchandise, he added. Its a good augmentation to our brick-and-mortar and an important part of our business.. The competition is anybody selling apparel and accessories., On the other hand, Practically all the family department stores that used to be in America no longer exist, von Maur observed. The store eventually expanded and moved into their flagship store, the Redstone Building at 2nd and Main Streets in Davenport. We are just customer-first. The Dry Goods womens specialty division of Von Maur. But sometimes its astounding how many people, after five or six years of being in a market, just discover our store., Asked how he feels about being in business for 150 years, von Maur said, This is a great source of pride for the company, the family and the community. Its a complement to our stores. [12][13], Von Maur announced in early January 2012 they would be opening their second Atlanta area store at the soon-to-be shuttered Bloomingdale's location at Perimeter Mall in north suburban Dunwoody, while the company's president said that he would like to have four or five stores in the market during this time. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Other factors have sustained the business. Von Maur does see a silver lining in a recession. rea do cliente. We maintained that philosophy, while other people overbuilt. Its no coincidence that Von Maur stores often resemble Nordstrom Asked if there could be a cap on the openings, We see no limit there, von Maur replied. Von Maur, an anchor at the mall since 1976, just a year after Valley West first opened, is permanently closing and moving to Jordan Creek Town Center less than five miles away. (KMTV) On Sunday, the Omaha community is remembering those who lost their lives 14 years ago during a shooting at the Von Maur store at Westroads Mall. Von Maur is cautiously opening new ones. Is there good visibility [from inside and outside the mall]? Theres been management continuity, not the typical revolving door of executives seen at many other retailers. I wanted things to be perfect. But if we end up buying another chain to grow faster than our typical rate, its possible. Von Maur acknowledged that when the company expanded into Georgia, Pennsylvania and New York, theres been a learning curve for sure, meaning many shoppers in markets new for Von Maur are getting to know the store for the first time. On Saturday, September 13, 2008, Von Maur opened its 23rd store, a 140,000sqft (13,000m2) store in Phase II of The Greene, a project of Steiner Associates in Dayton, OH. If they want to buy it online, we will certainly take care of it. Petersen's son, William D. Petersen, sold the family store to a partnership of R.H. Harned, C.J. Key brands at Dry Goods include Blowfish Malibu, Lola Grace, Eunina, Originality and Thread & Supply. They didnt have a lot of options. All Rights Reserved. We are pretty much one of the last ones thats still family-owned. Navigating all these new things that are popping up, retailing is not like it used to be. He also discussed the secret sauce behind his companys longevity, his expectations for continuing to grow his business, and his philosophy on shopping. We have always prided ourselves on doing what we need to do to get the customer the information they need and what they want. They realized they didnt want to be one of those stores that had a blowout sale every weekend. "If you keep giving the customer what they want, they're going to keep . Interestingly, Von Maur has been very progressive. Its really dependent on the supply chain and I think sales associates will hang in there. And he seems dubious about retailers that come up with slick corporate mantras to impress investors, or identify as tech companies to seem cutting edge. Pros. It currently represents a low, double-digit percent of the company's approximate $1 billion annual volume, whereas in 2019, it was 8% of the. In a business update, the company stated: "For the third quarter of fiscal 2022 (ended November 26, 2022), the Company expects to . Our Dry Goods banner is a good example. If a customer doesnt respond to an item immediately, and we know its not going to sell, we mark it a third off right away. Melody Wright: They truly value everyone who works for the company. The old one was getting a little tired. It gave them the confidence that their formula could work anywhere. Von Maur stores can now be found in markets such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Indianapolis, and Rochester. First time going to a Von Maur and the thing that stuck out to me the most was there was an actual person playing a grand piano by the escalators making it give off very classy vibes. Goods have been coming in. There are very few retailers that have experienced the success and longevity of Von Maur. Von Maur was founded in 1872 in downtown Davenport and has grown to 35 stores in 15 states. Jim von Maur, company president and CEO, is the fourth-generation leader of the family retail [+] business. To get from one end of the mens department to the other, it took a lot. The store was renamed Petersen Harned Von Maur, which was often shortened to "Petersen's". Find out what life is like at Von Maur, then browse jobs and apply today! I think our new store is going to be more shopper friendly, with better sight lines and more symmetrical than the old store. Asked what new geographies the company could expand to, von Maur said, Its more opportunistic. He serves as a guide. The families grow and some members want to get out, some want to continue. Or they didnt adapt. It has not been as good as we hoped but we are making inroads. QCBJ Newsmakers: Von Maur: a family department store tradition for the ages By Jennifer DeWitt - January 4, 2023 Jim von Maur poses next to the actual signage from the former Harned & Von Maur store in downtown Davenport. The company also operates 70 Dry Goods specialty stores selling contemporary womens fashion, accessories, shoes and gifts. we werent trying to stick it to them and that has been the OG program. Thats why vendors love us so much because we are not constantly promoting their product. The lack of competition is encouraging because we are not dealing with a lot of promotional department stores like we used to.. Powered by Certainly, this has helped the company not just weather the pandemic, but last 150 years in a notoriously difficult industry. They are working long hours and covering a lot of square footage.. Werevery content.. Von Maur's first northeast location opened on October 26, 2013. They let them know when something new has arrived to the store, or if something is marked down, said von Maur. CEO Jim von Maur discusses what's behind the department store's longevity in a difficult sector to survive in. And I mean zero. Jim von Maur is the companys president and CEO, the fourth-generation leader of the family- owned retailer. Jordan Creek will be the scene of Von Maurs biggest 150th birthday celebration, with giveaways, gifts with purchases, a charity donation and what von Maur described as a massive free gum ball machine that, depending on the color of the gum ball dispensed, a customer could get a $15 gift card or a $500 gift card, or just a piece of chewing gum. But we never got ahead of ourselves in taking on too much debt, or getting into all the trends that are out there, von Maur added. Melody Wright. They saw what worked at Nordstrom and knew it could work at Von Maur. by . Thats No 1. She joined Von Maur as a sales associate in 1996 and served in a variety of increasing leadership positions . Von Maur has outlasted large retail nameplates that were either gobbled up by other retailers or went out of business on their own, like Marshall Fields, Hesss, Carson Pirie Scott, Parisian, Younkers, Bambergers and Abraham & Straus, among others. In 2021, just one store opened, but back in 2019, the company opened 10 units. You dont get people bumping into you. It hurts the earnings. We do it by running a clean business. Its an interest-free charge card with no late fees and no annual dues. We have always been omnichannel., Related Mark For: VON MAUR REWARDS trademark registration is intended to cover the category of providing incentive award programs through issuance and processing of loyalty points for purchase of goods and services. Through the holiday season, Demand is going to be extremely strong. You dont need to staff your stores as much as in good times. We have a rental program for tuxedos, which has been huge. Von Maur selects markets with minimum populations of 400,000 to 500,000, and locations that are readily accessible off a major artery to draw customers from a wide radius. Geographically, we would eventually like to be coast-to-coast, but its so hard to predict the future, von Maur said. The volume may stay the same but we are not going to be moving as many units, for the most part. The company is working out what home products make financial sense to offer and a lot of that has to with Von Maurs free shipping service. Des Moines has been one of our best markets since we opened there in the 1970s. Theres improvement and diversification, and thats amazing to see., Footwear News is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The rest of the business has been very solid, he said, citing womens sportswear, mens clothing, shoes and handbags. When we launched our website in 2005, we treated it like a physical store. When we opened in Madison, we had so many customers come into the store and saying they had no place to buy shoes. Make it a great experience. In late 2005 it opened a store at Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio, the 23rd store in the chain. Call it whatever you want, von Maur said. A lot of that is because we are family-owned. His uncle, Charles von Maur, serves as chairman. But sometimes its astounding how many people, after five or six years of being in a market, just discover our store., Asked how he feels about being in business for 150 years, von Maur said, This is a great source of pride for the company, the family and the community. These are concerns that all retailers face, especially those who have a substantial brick-and-mortar footprint. Perpetrator. Kenneth Cole Is Celebrating 40 Years With Limited-Edition Capsule Collections, Collaborations & More . Because of the growth of e-commerce, theres pressure on Macys, Kohls and other publicly held retailers exerted by activist shareholders to separate the dot-com and brick-and-mortar store operations into separate companies. , who have not completed their previously-announced rounds of closures, Von Maur is moving forward and expanding. During a wide-ranging interview from his headquarters office in Davenport, Iowa, a city on the Mississippi River with a population of 101,000, von Maur made the case for operating a privately owned versus a publicly owned company. We have always been omnichannel., Von Maur does have a growing digital business. As the company shifted its focus to malls, the Petersen Harned Von Maur flagship store in downtown Davenport closed in 1986. Von Maur offers free gift wrapping year-round as well as free shipping year-round. You walked in their stores and they all seemed the same. For the Von Maur business overall, I always say we are all fighting for the same dollar. But we are not afraid of competition. MW: I grew up in a rural area. It is incredible when you think about it, von Maur told WWD, discussing the companys longevity and why it has been in business for so long. The volume may stay the same, but we are not going to be moving as many units, for the most part. During that time, we opened one to two stores a year. We, like everyone else, are trying to be optimistic for the holiday season but there are a lot of headwinds, von Maur said, referring to inflation, declining consumer confidence and recession fears. Von Maur also entered New York State with a store in Victor, which is near Rochester. They can be West Coast/East Coast-centric. Were not screaming 40 percent off. Its 100 percent still owned by the family.. 0:50. Another branch store opened at SouthPark Mall in Moline, Illinois, in 1974. You dont get people bumping into you. When they do find us, however, they realize they are missing out on great margins and a stable business, so those that get it, get it. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The Carson's closed last year with the shuttering of all Carson's . CEOs are coming in and out. We are making gains in Atlanta, von Maur said, though he acknowledged, It is hard when [customers] dont know you as well.. MW: E-commerce is our largest store, so to speak. They felt that the absence of walls would make Von Maur resemble a discount department store but the family persisted. As early as 2006 Von Maur had been eyeing the Madison area when it considered sites at Greenway Station and West Towne. We dont have to worry about propping up the stock price by growing too quickly, or getting the topline up. It marked a beginning for the firm, now simply renamed Von Maur. Thats just not what we are about. No matter how pricey the item, they do NOT put it in a box. If we were reporting to Wall Street investors, they would be questioning why do we offer all these services. The card has been around since 1988. While markdowns are taken, We dont have any true sales events unless its vendor specific no promotions, von Maur said, explaining, If, for example, Under Armour for Thanksgiving is doing 25 percent off, we go along with it. [11], In November 2011, it was announced that Von Maur would enter New York State with its first store at Eastview Mall, outside Rochester, replacing a Bon-Ton store. Were not screaming 40% off. Its hassle free. We have great merchandise. We have a lot of places where we could open a department store.. It closed its downtown Davenport flagship store, eliminated its home department, and shortened its name.