Not happening here yet in Hawaii, but mainland big box stores are already changing their business concept to stay in business than closing its doors.
During the current economic downturn, as many companies are closing stores and cutting costs, it might seem counterintuitive to be opening new stores.
Not here in Bothell, around 20 miles northeast of Seattle, where in January, OfficeMax opened one of its three new concept stores in the Seattle area that offer a pared-down selection of its most popular products. Each of the new stores, called Ink Paper Scissors, covers only 2,000 square feet — about a ninth the size of a typical OfficeMax — and offers basics like copy-making supplies and printer-cartridge refills.
Retailers like OfficeMax are opening scaled-down versions of their stores or inventing outlets entirely to test new concepts without a hefty investment. The stores are a relatively safe bet despite the recession because the space is cheaper and the stores require less inventory, fewer employees and smaller spaces.
(Via New York Times)
Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s Inc., is considering outlet business to help boost sales. Saks Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. are amongst the retailers that operate outlets. Retailers are desperate to be creative and scrambling in this tough times.
Kapiolani Medical Center, Hawaii’s largest specialty hospital for women and children, has gotten the ok to expand and rebuild its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units for all their locations on Oahu.
Hawaii’s largest specialty hospital for women and children has received state approval to start the first phase of a multimillion-dollar, multiyear renovation and expansion, its largest construction project in more than 30 years.
In a 12-page decision dated May 1, State Health Planning and Development Agency Administrator Ronald Terry granted a certificate of need to Honolulu’s Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children to start work on the $36.3 million expansion of its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Both have outgrown existing space and need upgrades to accommodate the rising demand for services.
Construction on the first phase is expected to start in the fall of 2013.
(Via Pacific Business News)
If you are eager to learn more about the city of Kapolei in West Oahu, these 2 websites are geared about the current happenings as well as future plans. In a nutshell, the city of Kapolei is projected to be the next Honolulu which is already engulfed with residential and commercial developments.
The monthly newsletters are worth the read to learn the ongoing projects and also forsee the people’s voices of Kapolei. Kudos to the team involved in sharing the news about Kapolei!
In this recession, pilots are also getting affected. JALways Co. Ltd. has announced to cut down the pilots, close its Honolulu office and layoff five local employees.
Hawaii Aviation Contract Services owner Alexander Bell, whose Honolulu-based company provided JALways with 18 pilots, said there was a reduction in pilots because “routes were canceled (globally) and airplanes were sold.”
“There are more pilots than were needed to do the jobs, and so Japan Airlines thought the best thing to do was the reduce the number of pilots,” he said. “And, obviously, the first to go would be the expats.”
Redwood City, Calif.-based IASCO said that 62 of its pilots were terminated, while Las Vegas-based World Aviation Systems Inc. said it lost about 50 pilots.
The five round-trip daily flights between Hawaii and Japan that the Honolulu-based JALways pilots used to operate are now being flown by Japan Airlines pilots who are based in Japan. A sixth daily flight between Hawaii and Japan already had been operated by Japanese national pilots for Japan Airlines.
(Via Star Bulletin)
Hakata Noodle and Gyoza. Read about it here.
On the weekend of King Kamehameha Day, a floral parade took place along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. This is one of the most beautiful parades on Oahu as countless numbers of colorful flowers are decorated. There were floats, horses and marching units honoring the King Kamehameha celebration. Coincidentally, I met Bruce, a long time surfer from Pops and a chef at Chili’s Restaurant in Waikiki. Nice day to watch and enjoy the Hawaiian breeze.
PENNE RUSTICA – Succulent shrimp, tender grilled chicken and smoked prosciutto tossed with Parmesan cream sauce and imported penne pasta, then baked until golden.
INSALATA ROSSA – Fresh slices of strawberries, spinach, arugula, red onions and radicchio topped with grilled chicken breast, fat-free feta and drizzled with strawberry balsamic dressing.
After months of filing bankruptcy, Hilo Hattie has been sold to a clothing manufacturer. The potential bankruptcy sale to Maui Divers Jewelry has ceased.
A group of California investors transferred the ownership and operation of Hilo Hattie to a Honolulu-based apparel manufacturer late last week, on the eve of a hearing to consider the bankrupt company’s sale to another Honolulu-based vendor. The company’s sale to Maui Divers Jewelry may be off the table after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris delayed ruling on the company’s bid to buy Hilo Hattie for $1 million.
(Via Pacific Business News)
If you are a fan of cup cakes, there is a cute little shop in the Aina Haina Shopping Center called Cake Couture that serves delicious cup cakes and special order cakes. As you walk in the store, various cup cakes are nicely presented and the ones we got were the chocolate and the red velvet cup cakes. Their selections vary on a daily basis and quite popular amongst all girl’s gatherings and baby showers.
