Autocross Blogs - Chrls Iicey

To see more of The Florida Times-Union or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.jacksonville.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Distributed by tiffany-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).Nov. 01--Classic movie fans might remember the scenes in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's," in which Audrey Hepburn stares longingly at the diamonds and jewels in the window of the iconic Tiffany & Co. jeweler.And on Dec. 10, those windows will come to Jacksonville for the first time as Tiffany & Co. opens a new 3,500 square foot store at the St. Johns Town Center.With the jewelry and other merchandise comes the store's signature light turquoise gift boxes tied with white ribbon. But there's much more to it than that: its brand has built a reputation and prestige that perhaps is unparalleled by any other U.S. retail brand.Although exclusive Tiffany jewelry designs shape the store's most famous wares, today it offers more, store director Kyle Wilkinson said. Tiffany exclusivity has been extended to watches, silverware, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances and accessories. As of July, according to its second-quarter results statement, the company operated 223 Tiffany & Co. stores and boutiques. It had 91 in North and South America, 57 in Japan, 48 in Tiffany Bangles on sale and the Pacific rim and 27 in Europe, and had grown internationally by 12 stores since the second quarter of 2009.The St. Johns Town Center Tiffany will make its home toward the south end of River City Drive, located between Louis Vuitton and Mayor's Jewelers. It will be the first Tiffany & Co. store between Orlando and Atlanta, and Wilkinson said the number of Jacksonville-area customers shopping at the Tiffany & Co. stores in those cities and on the tiffany.com website supported opening a store here.

"It's just waiting for the right spot, the perfect situation and the construction," Wilkinson said. "That spot made itself available, and we were on it. We definitely think there is a demand in Jacksonville."Advertising and public relations company The Callaghan Agency called 25 Jacksonville customers who have shopped for Tiffany merchandise online or at the stores in Atlanta, Orlando or New York and asked them what they thought of a store opening in Jacksonville."The ladies were so excited about Tiffany's coming here," agency company president Charles Callaghan said. "They feel it really validated Jacksonville."As Tiffany has grown, so has its product line, Wilkinson said. A recent addition has been a line of handbags. The company's line of silver jewelry is priced to be accessible to buyers who may not be able to afford Tiffany diamonds, gold and Tiffany Bracelets on sale higher-end jewelry. The store also sells gift items and has a bridal department."When they see that blue box, sometimes it doesn't matter what's in it," Wilkinson said. "It's going to be a quality gift."The company works to support its brand by permeating every aspect of the customer experience in a sense of high quality in every aspect, Wilkinson said."It's just consistency. When they come in, it's an experience. Just that history. That's a long time to be at the top of your game in an industry. It's a good feeling," he said.

To imbue new hires with that sense of quality takes a great deal of training, he explained. Tiffany is to hire 19 employees in Jacksonville -- three in management, including Wilkinson, and three security guards, he said.We do look for the best," he said.New hires will undergo three weeks of training prior to the store's opening two weeks before Christmas. One of those weeks will include training in New York City, which includes a trip to the flagship Tiffany store."Everything is going to be done the right way," Wilkinison said. "We look for the best. Customer service is the Tiffany Cuff Links on sale important thing we do. We want to empower the employees so they're confident when they're in front of a customer."Wilkinson spoke highly of the Jacksonville area applicants he's spoken to so far. Several of the spots for the new store have been filled, but applications still are being accepted via the chain's tiffany.com website, he said."We were very impressed with the talent pool of Jacksonville. Very impressed," Wilkinson said.Credit: The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville Canada and the United Kingdom coming in above plan and losses in Germany lower than expected. Sam's Club operating profit was flat at $218 million, despite a sales increase of 11% to $7.2 billion.J.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas, said its fiscal first-quarter net income more than doubled. "The changes we are making in our merchandise, marketing and store presentation are registering with the customer," said Allen Questrom, Penney's chief executive.