Minyard Plans to Test 'Bazaar' Concept
COPPELL, Texas - Minyard Food Stores is designing a "bazaar" concept in the ultracompetitive Dallas market.
In the next few months the private company will begin leasing out one of its former 50,000-square-foot Sac 'n Save buildings in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood to individual kiosk owners, who will sell a variety of wares, according to the Dallas Business Journal.
Minyard spokeswoman Debbie Krznarich told Progressive Grocer that the bazaar will be, in essence, "a mini-mall offering everything from shoes, belts, cosmetics, hair salons, and clothing to game rooms."
If the concept is successful, the company might consider a similar model for closed-store locations, although it wouldn't consider converting an operating location at this time, Krznarich said.
The idea for the bazaar came when Minyard leased out another vacant grocery store to an entrepreneur who successfully converted the space into a bazaar, Minyard's president, J.L. "Sonny" Williams, told the Dallas Business Journal.
Never one to stand still, Minyard has tested a number of new concepts and merchandising ideas in its stores in recent years. One of its latest successes has been adding dollar shelves and aisles to its 72 stores.
Williams told the Dallas Business Journal that the company may make the dollar store a bigger part of its future company strategy. "It's possible within the next 12 months we could open up a dollar store; we've done our homework," he said.
Although Minyard has experienced relatively flat sales in recent years, in the first quarter of 2004, sales at all three of its divisions -- Minyard, Sac 'n Save, and Carnival -- were back on track, Williams noted.
In the next few months the private company will begin leasing out one of its former 50,000-square-foot Sac 'n Save buildings in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood to individual kiosk owners, who will sell a variety of wares, according to the Dallas Business Journal.
Minyard spokeswoman Debbie Krznarich told Progressive Grocer that the bazaar will be, in essence, "a mini-mall offering everything from shoes, belts, cosmetics, hair salons, and clothing to game rooms."
If the concept is successful, the company might consider a similar model for closed-store locations, although it wouldn't consider converting an operating location at this time, Krznarich said.
The idea for the bazaar came when Minyard leased out another vacant grocery store to an entrepreneur who successfully converted the space into a bazaar, Minyard's president, J.L. "Sonny" Williams, told the Dallas Business Journal.
Never one to stand still, Minyard has tested a number of new concepts and merchandising ideas in its stores in recent years. One of its latest successes has been adding dollar shelves and aisles to its 72 stores.
Williams told the Dallas Business Journal that the company may make the dollar store a bigger part of its future company strategy. "It's possible within the next 12 months we could open up a dollar store; we've done our homework," he said.
Although Minyard has experienced relatively flat sales in recent years, in the first quarter of 2004, sales at all three of its divisions -- Minyard, Sac 'n Save, and Carnival -- were back on track, Williams noted.