Michigan builder opens retail store in N.Y.
MIDDLEVILLE, Mich. – Lakeland Boatworks, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of wood/composite recreational watercraft based in Michigan, has negotiated a lease to open a showroom/retail store in Syracuse, N.Y., the company said in a release this week.
The site will be developed by Lakeland to be its first showroom/retail store outside of the state of Michigan.
With approximately 5,000 square feet of space, Lakeland’s new showroom will serve as the anchor tenant for the nine-story commercial building across the street from the Syracuse Hotel and Towers development, the Galleria Complex and will be a short walk from the popular shops at Amory Square.
In addition to displaying the company designed recreational watercraft, Lakeland will be offering marine accessories and gifts, fowl-weather gear, marine engines from their three OEM partners, Nissan Marine, Volvo Penta and Yanmar and marine electronics. Restoration and repair services through Lakeland’s manufacturing facility in Middleville can be marketed through the company showroom as well.
“We chose Syracuse as the site for our flagship store, due to it’s proximity to the Finger Lakes regions of New York, the boating culture that exists there and the huge investment in re-development in their downtown business district,” said Joe Rahn, Lakelands’ president. “In this age of relationship marketing, the Lakeland Syracuse showroom and retail store allows us to know all of our customers by name. By having direct oversight of the manufacturing, distribution and sales functions of our business, we can assure that the customer has direct access to knowledgeable staff and that they are getting the best service and value possible.”
Lakeland Boatworks, Inc. contracted with Horst Group International, Retail Designers & Strategic Brand Imaging Consultants from Long Island to make the Syracuse facility “a boating experience.”
“We expected Doug Horst’s group would exceed our expectations,” Rahn said, “based on their documented experience with major retailers and based on the preliminary design concepts, we are more than excited.”
Construction is scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2008, with the store opening planned for March 1, 2009.
While Lakeland Boatworks, Inc. will keep its manufacturing facilities in Middleville, the company plans to open two additional retail showrooms in the next three years. Communities in Virginia and Florida are likely targets for the new Lakeland retailing centers, the company said.
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