Past Winner Stories
Day Furs
www.dayfurs.com
Kevin and Ann Day have guided Day Furs from modest beginnings of a ten-garment inventory to one exceeding 1,000 garments during the height of the selling season. Day Furs currently offers -fur, leather, cashmere and Shearling outerwear for men and women. Accessories for outerwear now include fur hats, earmuffs, headbands, fur, cashmere, alpaca and silk scarves, Fendi and Prada handbags as well as cashmere and leather gloves.
A significant element of sustaining business has been the unwavering support of Ann and Kevin's parents. Another significant element of Day Furs' sustained growth has been the addition of customized computer programs to assist with invoicing, accounting, inventory tracking, sales tracking, specific garment data and marketing.
The retail fur industry overall has encountered unpredictable seasons driven by the status of the economy and weather. To counter this, Day Furs has sought to expand its merchandise selection and broaden its business through non-traditional measures. Day Furs rescued another family-owned retail furrier that was considering closing in Columbus, Ohio, by purchasing majority ownership in 1999. Additional growth is coming with the opening of a second Day Furs location in South Bend, Indiana and a third location in Louisville, Kentucky. Realizing the financial commitment of opening additional stores, Day Furs has begun an innovative retail alliance program called POSARS - Point of Sale and Referral Stations. By creating an association with an upper-scale retail-clothing store, Day Furs can display a computer monitor allowing that stores' customers to access the Day Furs Web site. The opportunity to introduce Day Furs products to customers of non-competing stores has proven to be a successful venture. Addressing the broadening customer base, the Web site, allows customers and potential customers a visual introduction to Day Furs.
A significant element of sustaining business has been the unwavering support of Ann and Kevin's parents. Another significant element of Day Furs' sustained growth has been the addition of customized computer programs to assist with invoicing, accounting, inventory tracking, sales tracking, specific garment data and marketing.
The retail fur industry overall has encountered unpredictable seasons driven by the status of the economy and weather. To counter this, Day Furs has sought to expand its merchandise selection and broaden its business through non-traditional measures. Day Furs rescued another family-owned retail furrier that was considering closing in Columbus, Ohio, by purchasing majority ownership in 1999. Additional growth is coming with the opening of a second Day Furs location in South Bend, Indiana and a third location in Louisville, Kentucky. Realizing the financial commitment of opening additional stores, Day Furs has begun an innovative retail alliance program called POSARS - Point of Sale and Referral Stations. By creating an association with an upper-scale retail-clothing store, Day Furs can display a computer monitor allowing that stores' customers to access the Day Furs Web site. The opportunity to introduce Day Furs products to customers of non-competing stores has proven to be a successful venture. Addressing the broadening customer base, the Web site, allows customers and potential customers a visual introduction to Day Furs.