FORT MYERS, Fla.- A brand-new shopping space is opening its doors in downtown Fort Myers, and doing so in a unique way. Franklin Shops is home to an array of local retailers...and putting a modern spin on an old storefront.
The old downtown Franklin Hardware building on First and Broadway has an all-new look. It's now home to Franklin Shops, a storefront holding 27 different local retailers, and offering one-of-a-kind treasures around each corner.
"We have a lot of original pieces, whether it's jewelry, home accessories, handbags. We even have a leather boutique and we'll be having a swim boutique as well," Franklin Shops CEO Allison Campbell said Tuesday.
With 10,000 square feet of space, the shopping destination has plenty of room to grow. They're hoping to attract shoppers looking for unique goods, crafted and sold right in Southwest Florida.
"The Internet brings you a diversity of people but that's not necessarily local. It's nice to stay local and to be able to do business with your community," Franklin Shops retailer Elle Vail said.
Franklin Shops operates much like a department store- offering a venue to sell goods, without the headache of managing a business.
"We handle everything. The employees, loss and prevention. All the daily operations that are involved in operating a retail storefront," Campbell said.
In exchange, they take a small cut of commission and charge rent as low as $50 a month, depending the size of space.
"We've got something as small as an 18x18-inch box, or we can have something as big as 1,000 square feet. So really we're in a great position to work with entrepreneurs and business owners to serve them," Campbell said.
Franklin Shops officially opened on New Year's Eve. They plan to host a grand opening event in February.
When life gives you lemons what else to do but make lemonade!
Studio Six Eleven Events along with Goodwill Industries of SWFL is preparing a Lemonade Wedding Giveaway for a deserving couple that has come upon some sour times! We are searching for the couple that wants to get married but may be faced by financial obsticals, job loss, health risks or complicated situations beyond their control. Fill out the contest entry form to tell us your sweet love story along with the bitter times you’ve shared and a picture of the two of you. Studio 6XI and friends are putting the squeeze on this delightful event. Contest runs from May 25th to June 25th and is open to all Florida Residents over the age of 21 that are engaged before September 12, 2010. Visit the website at http://www.lemonadewedding.com/ for more details.
Goodwill and their community partners are throwing a wedding for one lucky couple and 50 guests. It's their Lemonade Wedding. To enter write Goodwill with your sour economic story and why you deserve to have it made into a sweet day. http://www.lemonadewedding.com/ or http://www.goodwillswfl.org/.
To watch the interview go to Fox 4 News.
When life gives you lemons, what else can you do but make lemonade?
Studio Six Eleven Events and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida are planning to help make lemonade — figuratively — for an engaged Southwest Florida couple facing sour times.
Couples who want to get married but have been unable because of financial obstacles or other complicated situations are invited to enter the “Lemonade Wedding Giveaway” for an opportunity to win a wedding and reception for 50 guests. The contest began this week and concludes June 25.
Entry forms will be available at select Goodwill Retail & Donation Centers in Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Hendry counties.
“We came up with the concept of the Lemonade Wedding by experiencing the struggles of starting a new business in this tough economy” says Rachael Schoof, design consultant at Studio Six Eleven. “We can only imagine what couples are going through right now trying to find a way to plan and pay for weddings.”
The winners of the Lemonade Wedding giveaway will get married Sept. 12 at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
