Retail Roundup

Catherine Eberhard

On Aug. 2, 2001 Stein Mart opened its first Huntington Beach location

at the Beach-Garfield Center. Stein Mart is a national chain department

store that offers designer apparel brands for men, women and children at

discounted prices. Sometimes referred to as a hybrid between upscale

department stores and discount stores, Stein Mart targets fashion-aware,

value-conscious customers who typically shop at traditional department

and fine specialty stores. It currently has 226 locations throughout the

United States and its pricing structure is based on everyday low prices

that are up to 60% below department store prices.

Stein Mart began in 1905 when Sam Stein, a young immigrant, began

selling goods door-to-door, calling on wealthy cotton farmers and tenant

farmers. As that business grew, he traded his horse and cart for a small

store in Greenville, Mississippi which soon grew to consume an entire

city block.

In 1949, Sam Stein’s son, Jack Stein, seized upon the realization that

he could develop a new type of business by discounting prices. In this

way, he was able to draw from an enormous customer base that had

previously been untapped.

It was in the 1970s, that Jay Stein, the founder’s grandson and

current CEO of Stein Mart today, began to develop a more upscale business

through special buys on designer merchandise. European suppliers were

contracted to provide the unique decor items found in Stein Mart today.

“To our knowledge, there is no one else in the country who is duplicating

the levels of taste, service and merchandise presentation represented by

our stores,” states Jay Stein.

Jay Stein opened his first branch store in 1977 in Memphis to an

overwhelming response. His vision of selling upscale merchandise at

discount prices in an appealing environment became the blueprint for

developing a highly successful chain of stores employing more than 12,000

people nationwide. In 1992, the company made its first offering of common

stock to the public. It is now traded over the counter and quoted on the

NASDAQ National Market System under the trading symbol of SMRT.

When I recently visited the newly opened Huntington Beach Stein Mart,

I found a large selection of brand names like Evan Picone and Jones New

York in its ladies apparel departments. The Ladies Boutique area of the

store carries casual, career and evening wear. The Huntington Beach

location employs 17 women in the boutique department to serve as personal

shoppers for the customers. These “Boutique Ladies” provide

individualized customer service, take customers through the store and

help them pull together outfits for whatever the occasion or need. They

serve as goodwill ambassadors for the store and advise buyers about the

fashion desires of the people in the community.

In the men’s department of Stein Mart, you’ll find luxury fiber sport

coats, classic khakis and shirts from well-known designers and a large

selection of golf sportswear. If you have difficulty finding that special

size, Stein Mart has a big & tall department for men as well as petites

and plus-size departments for women.

Dress and casual shoes for men and women are available and the

Huntington Beach store has a large selection of fashionable leather boots

for fall. Fine Italian leather handbags, hats, purses, shawls, hair clips

and fashion jewelry can all be found in the accessories department. The

women’s lingerie department carries a variety of nightgowns, sleepwear,

slips and undergarments.

The children’s department of Stein Mart is a great place to find

back-to-school clothes for girls and boys. With prices discounted 30-60%

off, you’ll be able to afford to buy more and mix and match to create

several new outfits. Its baby department also has good deals on apparel

for infants through toddlers.

Finally, the housewares department features everything from French

crystal to sterling silver picture frames. It has a selection of kitchen

supplies, dishes and glasses. The linens department carries Egyptian

cotton towels, goose down pillows, imported cotton placemats and napkins

and sheets and comforter sets by designers like Ralph Lauren. Since

everything is marked down substantially, the linens department is a great

place to find towels and bedding sets that a student going off to college

will need for their dorm room. All other bath supplies, like shower

curtains and soap dishes are also discounted.

Stein Mart offers a Preferred Customer card, which you can sign up for

in any store or online at o7 https://www.steinmart.comf7 . Benefits of

the card include special offers and additional discounts, member-only

shopping days, previews of upcoming sales and fashion events and special

gift opportunities. There is no charge to register for the Preferred

Customer card.

The newly opened Huntington Beach Stein Mart is at 19041 Beach Blvd.

(at the corner of Beach Boulevard and Garfield Avenue). (714) 596-5009.*

CATHERINE EBERHARD is a Huntington Beach resident and her column focuses

on local businesses. If you have items for Retail Roundup, e-mail them to

RetailRoundup@aol.com or fax to (714) 965-7174.