The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Gordmans celebrates grand opening at 1032 Oneida Plaza Drive
A new apparel and home decor retailer, Gordmans, is now open for the public to shop.
The store celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 18, where Oneida Mayor Helen Acker, store manager Kristy Weaver, Oneida public officials, residents, and workers gathered to participate in the ribboncutting ceremony.
Gordmans is part of the Stage community stores, which also include Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Stage, andmost familiar to the city of Oneida, Peebles. Gordmans’ nature as an offprice retailer has been popular with guests, according to Stage. Consequently, the aforementioned nameplates will be converted intoGordmans across the country, with Stage claiming that by 2020, there will be over 700 Gordmans total.
Because Peebles is part of the Stage community stores, shoppers may be pleased to find that their Peebles credit cards and rewards will transfer into the new store.
Although the store once stood as a Peebles and will be operated by the same overarching company, what differences can shoppers expect from the now standing Gordmans?
Similar to a TJMaxx price-saving model, Gordmans emphasizes it’s “offprice” concept, claiming to offer “popular name brand apparel, on-trend home decor and other merchandise for the entire family at prices lower than department stores.”
Beyond this, Weaver highlighted the store’s furniture and pet departments as a big draw for guests, as well as Gordmans’ range of casual, business, and athletic clothing for men and women.
Weaver, as a new homeowner in Oneida, has personally taken advantage of Gordmans’ offerings, sharing “I have lots and lots of stuff from this store in my new home. Our home department is awesome.”
What might really set Gordmans apart, however,
is their new “Amazon Counter” service, which appears to be the only one of its kind in the area. Open to anyone who shops on Amazon, customers can ship their Amazon orders to the Gordmans Amazon Counter for “fast, flexible, and secure package pick-up,” Gordmans states.
Weaver added that as a bonus when customers pick up their Amazon order they may also receive a Gordmans store coupon just for using the Amazon Counter service.
It’s sometimes difficult for corporate retailers to make meaningful connections in the community, but Weaver wants to reassure residents that Gordmans is a committed and friendly resource. “We’re all about community engagement,” she said.
The vestibule at Gordmans is open for any person/s, groups, and organizations who are looking for a location to raise money. From girl scouts, church groups, to anyone in need, Weaver assured that shewants communitymembers to reach out, no matter where they’re from. “We want you here. Please, set up tables in my vestibule!”
Another way to make their mark as a community resource, Gordmans donated $1000 to Oneida High School (OHS), as well as one local high school at the 13 other Gordmans locations that opened this week in New York, according to their press release.
Super i ntendent of Schools Mary-Margaret Zehr accepted the check on behalf of Oneida City School District at the grand opening ceremony.
Weaver encourages anyone with thoughts, comments, concerns, or questions to contact her or a member of the Gordmans team, whose objective, she says, is to “make sure guests are first.”
Those interested in checking out the new store can visit at 1032 Oneida Plaza Drive.
Gordmans is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and can be called at (315) 363-2407.