Cape Coral retailers remain optimistic

news-press.com
January 19th, 2010

1:51 P.M. — Teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikinis aren’t flying off the shelves, but the tankinis are holding their own.

Customers took a dip at The Bikini Company after the biggest holiday of the year, ensuring that owner Debbie Watts wasn’t left high and dry.

“Christmas was a little bit below last year, but New Year’s was double,” Watts said.

Watts’ shop is in Cape Harbour, a destination venue where customers stroll by with time to browse. By being open until after midnight New Year’s Eve, Watts started the new year with the ringing of her cash register.

“We did much better this year,” Watts said.

That optimism is a common thread running among many small-business owners in Cape Coral. Mike Quaintance, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said members have a positive outlook heading into the new year.

“Some had a really good Christmas season,” Quaintance said. “Most folks did as good or better than last year.”

Quaintance said the chamber office has seen an increase in business so far this month.

“We were up 42 percent in the first seven days of 2010,” he said.

Watts cited location and her knowledge of the swimwear industry with her increase in sales. After being open for 14 months, she has developed an idea of who is going to buy and when.

“Right now it’s seasonal customers,” she said. “In the summer it’s more locally based.”

That means she will sell more bikinis in the hotter months, more one-piece and tankinis in the winter. Watts estimated that about 60 percent of her winter clients are international visitors, so she stocks suits from Italy, France, Canada, Germany and the United States. If the economy continues to recover she plans to work her own designs into the lineup and eventually feature her exclusive line.

“My goal is in four years to have nothing but my line,” she said. “It’s not off the ground yet.”

The holiday season wasn’t as profitable for Cathy Sangiovani, owner of Razzle Dazzle, a women’s clothing store on Cape Coral Parkway. It never is.