Rising gas prices and belt-tightening airlines led to a modest decline in traffic at Los Angeles International Airport and LA/Ontario International Airports in 2006.
Several airlines decreased flights in an attempt to boost profitability, according to Katherine Alvarado, spokesperson for Los Angeles World Airports. As a result, overall traffic at LAX was off nearly 1 percent and international traffic down more than 3 percent. There was minimal (0.3 percent) increase in domestic traffic.
Dan Mishell, the new research director at LA Inc., suggested that last year’s overheated oil market was a factor, too.
“One of the theories is that with the increased cost of fuel, airlines are sort of maximizing efficiency,” he said. “We think they’re trying to maximize loads on occupancy on international flights.”
Mishell added that since LA Inc. has been charting increases in traffic through the local airports for several years, LA Inc. doesn’t see these statistics as a cause for concern.
In raw numbers, LAX served 61 million passengers in 2006, down from 61.5 million in 2005. The international count fell from 17.5 million to 17 million in 2006.
In Ontario, traffic was down more than 2 percent to 7 million, from 7.2 million a year ago. International traffic from the airport, largely travel to Mexico, jumped 31 percent to 156,660 from 120,367.
Part-Time Lovers
Stein Mart Inc. is opening is 22nd California location next week. Twenty of those locations are in Southern California and the new store will open in La Mirada on February 15.
A cornerstone of the new store will be its “boutique” sales staffing strategy.
As part of it, a rotating team of part-time workers creates a sort of store-within-a-store, in which these staffers function as personal shoppers, providing extra attention and service for regular customers.
The company Web site describes the staffing as follows: “Each Boutique is staffed by a fashion-savvy group of women who work part-time at Stein Mart. Off the job, their lives are much like yours: a busy mix of community events, volunteer work, child raising, and in some cases, a second career.”
For the La Mirada store, there are 10 boutique employees who will each work one day between Monday and Friday or every week.
“We do not advertise with the boutique positions,” said Holly Carr, the program’s recruiter. “I go into the community and I speak to all different types of women’s organizations and I explain to them about the boutique program to pique their interest.”
The boutique concept began at Stein Mart in the 1970s when Jay Stein, chairman of the board, heard from female associates that they would be interested in working at the store one day a week.
“We’re the only retailer in the U.S. that staffs this way,” Carr said.
Today the company’s Boutique concept has 4,700 employees.
The enticement for Boutique customers includes discounts between 20 percent and 60 percent on designer fashions as well as special attention, according to Carr.
In all, the 30,000-square-foot La Mirada site will have 55 full- and part-time employees. Prior to its official opening, the store will be the site of a La Mirada Community Services Foundation benefit for Splash La Mirada Aquatics Center.
Model Home
Former supermodel Cindy Crawford is bringing her sense of style to the world of home furnishings. Santa Monica-based Cindy Crawford Home Licensing struck a deal with Simi Valley-based Malibu Designs last week to develop a home line. It will include table-top, entertaining, outdoor and kitchen d & #233;cor items, and be out by summer.
“Cindy will be working very closely with us on every aspect of the development, from the exact items introduced to the fabrics, materials, and colors of the items,” said Jeff Haines, co-chief executive of Malibu Designs. “We’re very excited to bring her vision and decorating style to retailers nationwide.”
Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 235, or at [email protected].
