California Centers Magazine serves retailers, developers, shopping center owners, investment sales brokers and tenant representation firms throughout the state of California.
Issue link: https://californiacenters.epubxp.com/i/711240
18 California Centers Magazine | August 2016 C C C o-founded by Carl Kirkland in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1966, Kirkland's significant impact on the retail landscape evolved out of a belief that great style can come at a great price. The home décor and gift concept has loftier ambitions than the average home décor retailer. It strives to have its products serve as the back- drop for day-to-day events and mem- orable occasions taking place in house- holds across America; events such as family dinners, children's birthday celebrations, the grandparents' mile- stone wedding anniversary, or weekly family nights spent at home enjoying each others' company. Each Kirkland's store is bursting with inspirational vi- gnettes, the aim of which is to present environments that engage the senses, evoke positive memories, and prompt the imagination. Via an inventory of 9,000 to 12,000 products made avail- able via retail store and web channels, Kirkland's consistently provides its customers with the resources and mo- tivation to create engaging and endur- ing living spaces that set the tone for their lives. The company headquarters are in Brentwood, Tennessee, within the Maryland Farms business communi- ty (in the Nashville area). Jackson is still the site of the chain's principal sales support and distribution cen- ter. At each level of the organization, the company's team members are ex- pected to use their talents to engage customers' interest and spark their creativity. And they appear to be do- ing just that: the company's network of approximately 345 stores operating in 35 states generated $507.5 million in sales in fiscal 2014, and $561.8 million in 2015 (the company is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol KIRK). With that kind of clout, it's difficult to imagine how the brand began as a small gift shop with a distinct vision. Carl Kirkland was immersed in his family's clothing store business in Union City, Tennessee, from a young age. He was initially put in charge of the Boy Scout department, where he gained experience in merchandising. In 1966, he opened a franchised gift shop of his own in Jackson, Tennessee, which honed his talents for procuring and promoting stylish yet affordable items. Concurrently, his cousin Robert Kirkland was doing much the same thing in Nashville. Both experienced success by implementing a business model rooted in offering custom- ers the latest trends in home décor and furnishings at competitive pric- es. The key was to always keep new and interesting products in front of the household decision makers, who shopped the stores frequently seeking fresh ideas for decorating their home environment. A transformation occurred in the late 1970s, following the pair's trip abroad to source one-of-a-kind items that could not be found elsewhere. Kirkland's quickly garnered a reputa- tion for being a leading home décor re- tailer, and subsequently shifted away from being a mall-based gift shop operator. Kirkland's however, never abandoned the founder's mission of offering up-to-the-minute styles at no- table price points. 2005 was a signif- icant year, when the push was made to depart from the chain's roots and transition some 200-plus stores out of their mall locations and into more accessible shopping destinations. This led to Kirkland's expanding the size of its stores and mix of merchandise to include larger items, such as sofas, lounges, vanities and dining sets. As stated by Carl Kirkland, "The Kirk- land store you shop today has the same focus as the Kirkland's you be- gan shopping at over 49 years ago: great style and great value, together with an ability to surprise and delight in home décor and gifts." It's clear the founders have succeeded in forming a company that helps customers ex- press who they are through treasures found in store and online. With new stores being added to the roster on a KIRKLAND'S Transforming home décor. Kirkland's is on an expansion kick in California. The company seeks 4,500 to 8,000 square feet in open-air centers.