Facelogic, a day spa franchise which offers products and servicesexclusively for the face, is opening three additional ColoradoSprings-area locations.
Marion Swafford and Clara Mueller's franchise is scheduled to openSept. 8 at 5735 Constitution Ave. The duo plans to open two more in2008.
Sherryl Ford, Shari Nevarez and Evangelina Eastman started thefranchise when they opened a spa next door to a Curves gym in SanDiego about two years ago.
The businesses began offering dual memberships. Facelogic isseparate from Curves now, but has the same target market, women ages35 to 70, Ford said.
Within two years, Facelogic opened 21 locations, and the businesshas sold franchise agreements for 76 more, including three in Canada.Ford hopes to have 100 sold by the end of year.
July retail sales strong
Driven by back-to-school spending for electronics, apparel andother necessities, July retail sales rebounded from a slow start tothe summer.
According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry salesfor July (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants)rose 4 percent unadjusted compared to last year and 0.5 percentseasonally adjusted from June. June retail sales were also revised upfrom 3.4 percent to 3.8 percent.
The U.S. Commerce Department report shows that total retail sales(which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos,gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 0.3 percent seasonallyadjusted from last month and 3.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
'Back-to-school shopping sprees and summer clearance promotionsdrove consumers to department and specialty stores in July,' said NRFChief Economist Rosalind Wells. 'While concerns of a housing marketslump and high gas prices still weigh heavily on consumers' minds,many people still hit the stores last month, giving retailers a nicerebound from earlier this summer.'
While apparel sales were expected to remain flat this summerduring the essential back-to-school shopping season, seasonallyadjusted month-to-month sales show clothing and clothing accessorysales increased 1.3 percent from June and 4.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
New MP3 players, laptops and other electronics also helped boostJuly sales. Electronics and appliance stores sales increased 1percent seasonally adjusted from last month and 2.5 percentunadjusted year-over-year.
Health and personal care stores did surprisingly well, increasing0.7 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month and 6.3 percentunadjusted over last July. General merchandise stores sales increased0.9 percent seasonally adjusted from June and 4.7 percent unadjustedyear-over-year. Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores salesincreased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted from June and a solid 5.6percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Culinary to commerical
The National Food Laboratory Inc., an independent affiliate of theGrocery Manufacturers Food Products Association, has created a 30-member in-house team to help lead companies from product conceptionto commercialization.
The Innovation Group uses experts in new product strategy, marketintelligence, consumer design and execution strategies to helplaboratory clients translate culinary concepts into commercialproducts.
The group is comprised of individuals with years of brandmarketing, product development, and consumer insight experience.Heading up the effort is newly named Vice President of InnovationLucinda Wisniewski, most recently a laboratory sales director.
The organization's clients include Subway, PepsiCo, Bush Brothers,Tyson, Tree Top, Clorox and POM Wonderful.
Joan Johnson covers retail for the Colorado Springs BusinessJournal.
