Women's fashion store
Coldwater Creek will open its seventh Maryland store in mid-October at the Mall in Columbia. Known for its comfortable, outdoorsy clothes, the chain selects upscale locations that have a strong mix of retailers, says Erin Mullen, the Sandpoint, Idaho chain's catalog marketing manager.
"The center has the look and feel and the caliber of retailers we want to be among," Mullen says of the Mall in Columbia.
Other shops at the mall include Nordstrom, Macy's, H&M, Williams-Sonoma and Restoration Hardware. The 6,000-square-foot store will open on the first floor in the Nordstrom wing of the mall.
One of the wealthiest counties in the nation, Howard County's demographics appealed to the retailer as well, Mullen says. Howard County's median household income of $101,672 ranked third in the country, according to the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
"We consider ourselves an upscale retailer and we thought it was a good fit," Mullen says. "It's a great area that is diverse and central and our customers are there," she says of Columbia.
Coldwater Creek appeals to women over 35 with an average annual household incomes greater than $75,000.
The county's numerous parks and trails also make it a good location for Coldwater Creek.
"It's a brand that is rooted in nature and a comfortable way of approaching fashion," Mullen says.
Coldwater Creek operates 360 stores nationwide and has been expanding. The company plans to open approximately 20 new stores in fiscal 2010, which ends Jan. 31, 2011.
The company pulled in $1.04 billion in annual sales last year.
Source: Erin Mullen, Coldwater Creek
Writer: Julekha Dash