Breakout Retailer Awards
Five dynamic retail and restaurant brands — Altar’d State, Bentley’s Pet Stuff, MOD Pizza, Sugarfina and Warby Parker — took home the honors as the winners of Chain Store Age’s annual Breakout Retailer Awards.
The awards, selected by CSA’s editorial board and sponsored by Paint Folks, recognize innovative retail and restaurant concepts that are on their way up —brands that have crossed the “newbie” line, and are well positioned for growth, in store, online, or both.
The winners received their awards during a special presentation at CSA’s annual SPECS conference. Executives from the winning brands were on hand not only to accept the awards, but also to share insights into their companies and future strategies at a Q&A session during the conference. Representing their companies on the panel were:
Dave Bolen, CEO, Bentley’s Pet Stuff;
John Dikos, VP of partnerships, MOD Pizza;
Kelly Radford, VP, head of development, Warby Parker;
Ryan Nelson, VP, retail, Sugarfina; and
Aaron Walters, chairman and CEO, Altar’d State.
Here is an overview of the award-winning concepts:
Altar’d State
Based in Knoxville, Tenn., Altar’d State combines a bohemian fashion sensibility, affordable prices and a distinctive store experience with a deeply ingrained mission: to change the world for the better.
“The give-back mission isn’t just what we do — it’s who are,” Walters said “From the very beginning our mission has been to help the less fortunate in and around the communities where we have Altar’d State boutiques.”
Founded in 2009, the young women’s apparel retailer has expanded its footprint to 73 stores, with 15 to 20 new ones on tap for this year. The merchandise mix includes clothing and accessories, with select home décor and gift items integrated throughout the store. The feminine-styled interiors are rich with detail and include chandeliers and vintage accents.
Altar’d State has a number of giving-back initiatives, including a commitment to consistently give at least 1% of sales to local and global philanthropic efforts on an annual basis. The company actively supports programs in local communities, and also supports employee volunteerism.
Bentley’s Pet Stuff
Dedicated to healthy nutrition for dogs and cats, Bentley’s Pet Stuff is positioned as a neighborhood pet store in the fastest-growing segment of the billion-dollar pet food industry: natural foods. Its emphasis on healthy nutrition, smaller-sized, neighborhood store format, and focus on customer service has won it a growing following.
Bentley’s, which was founded in 2008, currently operates 65 stores, with plans to reach a total of 90 to 100 locations by year-end. Stores average 2,200 sq. ft., with a bright, inviting interior and a signature green paw print on the exterior canopy. The merchandise mix includes a curated assortment of natural pet food brands, along with treats, toys and accessories.
Customer service is a top priority at Bentley’s, which has a strong local bent.
“We educate our team members so they are a resource to our customers,” said Lisa Senafe, founder of Bentley’s Pet Stuff. “Our community involvement is extremely important to us. We are the neighborhood pet store in each town we are in.”
MOD Pizza
From the husband-and-wife team that founded Seattle Coffee Company, MOD Pizza is one of the pioneers of the fast-casual, artisan-style pizza trend and one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the nation.
In just nine years, MOD (short for made on demand) has grown to more than 200 locations in 20 states, with plans to open some 100 new units in 2017. The restaurants, which are typically located in retail centers and have a cool casual vibe, serve up fresh-made pizza (and salads) in minutes, with a choice of toppings, for one set price.
But the secret to MOD’s success is more than a quality product. The company’s dedication to a people-first culture, in which everyone thrives, has won it considerable goodwill and loyalty in the communities it serves.
MOD has a number of ongoing philanthropic initiatives, but nothing exemplifies its culture better than the way it treats employees, or its “Mod Squad.” From above-average pay and benefits to hiring people with special needs or those in need of a second chance, MOD has stayed true to its goal of putting people first even as its growth has skyrocketed.
“We have a great value proposition, and our stores are designed with the community in mind, with a focus on creating a fun, friendly atmosphere,” said Charlotte Wayte, marketing manager at MOD Pizza. “But what people will also find is a really authentic customer experience, delivered by our MOD Squad, who are at the core of our business.
Sugarfina
Featuring sweets made by artisan candy makers from around the globe, Sugarfina is a gourmet candy boutique for adults. Launched online in 2012, the brand flourished, fueled by savvy marketing and social media buzz.
Sugarfina made the jump offline with style, opening its first retail location in 2013 with a 1,200-sq.-ft. boutique in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Los Angeles-based company currently operates 23 freestanding stores, along with in-store shops at Nordstrom, and Harrods and Harvey Nichols in the United Kingdom. It expects to open another 12 locations this year.
Sugarfina carries approximately 120 unique candies from around the world, more than three-quarters of which can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. As much as the product, it’s the overall aesthetic that defines the brand — everything about it is luxe. The stores have an upscale, sophisticated feel and a chic, feminine look.
A-level malls, upscale lifestyle centers and high streets make up Sugarfina’s real estate strategy. Stores vary in size, depending on location. The smallest is a jewel box of a shop, a 225-sq.-ft. unit in Manhattan’s Time Warner Center.
Warby Parker
In coming up with a radical new model for selling and buying eyewear online, Warby Parker helped pioneer a new category: retail disruption. The hip eyeglass retailer upended a market long dominated by high-profile — and high-priced — brands by selling its own stylish frames at very affordable prices and offering consumers home try-ons and free returns. The company controls the design and manufacturing of all its eyewear.
Warby Parker has proved itself as adept — and disruptive — in the physical space as it is in the virtual one. Its stores meld the best of online and offline retail, and boost a high-service, low-price model. Shoppers can opt to receive their glasses by mail or pick them up on site. Nonprescription frames can be purchased on the spot. An in-house optometrist is on hand for exams.
No two Warby Parker stores are exactly alike. Instead, the company combines its signature library-inspired design details with elements unique to each locale.
The company has 47 stores, and plans to open a minimum of 25 more this year.