*In Store Report* AG Closing Hawaii Test Store - Ala Moana Center

 

The 3,000-square-foot boutique was designed to test the waters in the Honolulu market to see if the market could support a permanent American Girl store.  About one-third the size of American Girl’s regular stores, the shop at the Ala Moana Center opened last October and closed in April.

The site was intended to be temporary from the start, Parks said, “to determine the success/viability of an American Girl store in the Hawaiian market, a top tourist destination.”

She said the company was “pleased with the overall performance” but has no plans at this point to set up a permanent American Girl store in Hawaii.

The store, which is located on the second level of the mall’s Ewa Wing between Kate Spade New York and Ben Bridge Timeworks, is scheduled to close on April 26 or earlier, depending on how its closing sale goes. 

 

The Wisconsin-based company opened stores in Arizona and Tennessee last year, and expanded into Canada in October 2013.

The company has sold more than 147 million American Girl books and more than 25 million dolls since its inception in 1986, according to its website. 

The American Girl catalog is one of the largest consumer toy catalogs in the United States, and ranks as one of the top 30 consumer catalogs in the country. 

Link courtesy Madelon

*NEWS* Ivy AGP Hawaii Exclusive

Ivy Ling has become an AGP Hawaii exclusive $115. They will not ship and do not have a personal shopper. All of the current stock is what is available, no new shipments. 

*NEWS* AG Opens Oct 3 - HAWAII (Holiday Outfit Sneak Peek)

 Honolulu Family

American Girl, the popular doll retailer owned by toy giant Mattel, is opening its first Hawaii store at Ala Moana Center next month, a temporary boutique designed to test the waters in the Honolulu market, a company spokeswoman confirmed to PBN on Thursday.
The 3,000-square-foot temporary specialty boutique, which will be located on the second level of the mall’s Ewa Wing between Kate Spade New York and Ben Bridge Timeworks, will be open from Oct. 4 through April 2015.

"We'll be using this as a test and learn opportunity to determine if the Hawaiian market could support a permanent American Girl store," American Girl spokeswoman Stephanie Spanos told PBN in an email. "[We] will have a selection of our bestselling dolls, books, accessories and girl clothing."

An Ala Moana Center spokesman did not immediately respond to a message left by PBN.

American Girl, according to an advertisement on Craigslist, is looking to hire people for various positions, including assistant store manager, sales lead and sales department clerks.
The Wisconsin-based company opened stores in Arizona and Tennessee this year, and expanded into Canada in October 2013.

In 2011, American Girl debuted “Kanani Akina,” who hails from Kauai, as its “Girl of the Year” doll, books and accessories line.
The company has sold more than 147 million American Girl books and more than 25 million dolls since its inception in 1986, according to its website.

The American Girl catalog is one of the largest consumer toy catalogs in the United States, and ranks as one of the top 30 consumer catalogs in the country.

American Girl opens October 3, 2014 at 

Ala Moana Shopping Center Honolulu, Hawaii.