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Saturday, January 9, 2010
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BIZ BUZZ: Bass Pro buys Brainerd lakes marine store
Senior Reporter Bass Pro Group bought the Crystal-Pierz Marine store near Brainerd.
Larry Whiteley, spokesman for Bass Pro, said the store here wouldn't be a full Bass Pro store. But many of the other details are still being decided. The company is known for its destination stores complete with restaurants, waterfalls, giant aquariums and regional flavor. The company puts an emphasis on enjoyment of and conservation of the great outdoors. This is the Missouri-based company's store entry into the Minnesota market.
Bass Pro Group also purchased the Crystal-Pierz stores in Shakopee, Ramsey, Rice Lake, Wis. and Fargo, N.D. Financial figures weren't released.
Whiteley said Bass Pro hopes to add jobs here. He didn't say how long the negotiations had been ongoing for the sale or when the interest was sparked other than to confirm buying the stores was an opportunity to get into the market.
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Bass Pro bought five Crystal-Pierz Marine stores, including the one by Brainerd International Raceway along Highway 371. Plans for the store have yet to be fully decided beyond the sale of the Bass Pro boat lines. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
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Bass Pro plans to install its boat lines - Tracker, Nitro and Sun Tracker - into the area and continue the boat storage offered here for the time being.
The marine industry, like many others, has been struggling during the recession.
In July 2008, Crystal-Pierz Marine closed six stores and laid off about 100 employees, but kept its Brainerd, Lake Shore and Walker stores. At the time, Crystal-Pierz Marine reported it was taking the action as "necessary steps to keep itself viable in the struggling marine market."
Luke Kujawa, Crystal-Pierz Marine president, said the move last year was akin to cutting off a limb to save a life. The company closed stores in Rogers, Forest Lake, St. Cloud, Duluth, the seasonal site on Lake Mille Lacs in Onamia and Clear Lake, Iowa, but kept Brainerd, Lake Shore, Shakopee, Walker, Fargo, N.D., and Rice Lake, Wis.
Industry insiders said this is the worst marine market in more than 35 years. Crystal-Pierz Marine traces its own history back to 1956. In 2008, the company said the industry's market was down 40 percent nationwide compared to 2007, also a soft year.
Bass Pro traces its history back to 1971 and founder Johnny Morris.
Retirement Learning Center recently purchased the historic Brainerd Carnegie Library along Washington Street by The Barn restaurant that was home to the law firm of Askegaard and Robinson.
Erik Askegaard was named to a Crow Wing County District Court judge's post. Chris Robinson said with that change after a partnership of more than 17 years, the vintage library offices were offered for sale. Robinson moved his law practice to the multi-level office building at 416 South Sixth Street.
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Retirement Learning Center purchased the historic Carnegie Library in Brainerd that was home to the Askegaard and Robinson Law Firm. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
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Retirement Learning Center describes itself as a local start-up company. In business for five years, the company's offices were on West Laurel Street. The company also has offices in Boston and New York.
Owners are Andy Larson, a lifelong Brainerd resident, John Carl of New York and Jenny Kiffmeyer who has been an area resident for 17 years. Kiffmeyer said the employees here, with six in the office and a couple of people working from home, are former Universal Pensions Inc. employees. UPI evolved into Ascensus, the retirement services company with offices in Brainerd and Baxter.
Retirement Learning Center serves the financial services industry by providing education to financial advisers around the county - asset managers, broker dealers and independent financial planners. The company was settling into its new space last week.
The company had been looking for office space when Robinson and Larson happened to talk and Robinson noted the building was for sale. With Retirement Learning Center's logo of a pillar, moving into the columned former library seemed a perfect fit.
Kiffmeyer said they feel fortunate. The move doubled the company's space and provides an iconic building setting that is expected to increase the business' community visibility. There is additional space to host training session and conferences in Brainerd. The company works with Columbia Management.
Retirement Learning Center gave a few hundred seminars its first year. Now that number is close to 3,000. The business has a call center to take calls from financial advisers across the country. They also write and produce collateral material on educational programs.
"We do have a real knowledge base on retirement issues here in Brainerd and the country is starting to look toward little Brainerd as being a thought leader in the retirement industry," Kiffmeyer said.
Carl was named one of the 100 most influential people in the 401(k) industry by 401kWire, an industry publication.
Retirement Learning Center employs 10 and expects to double its staff in 2010.
Widseth Smith Nolting and Innovative Design & Management Services announced the merger of their firms "to provide expanded architectural, municipal/civil engineering, and surveying services to a growing client base in southeastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota." The businesses are now jointly in Innovative Design's offices in Sioux Falls, S.D. Innovative Design has worked on a range of projects - industrial, retail, commercial and warehouse.
WSN has offices in Sioux Falls, Alexandria, Bemidji, Brainerd/Baxter, Crookston, Red Wing, Rochester and Grand Forks, N.D.
Ronda Jeans Bridal shop is closing its doors after eight years.
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After eight years in the bridal business, Ronda Cool is closing her Ronda Jeans Bridal shop on Washington Street. Cool plans to pursue other interests, but will continue to perform wedding ceremonies. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
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Owner Ronda Cool said the decision wasn't based on the economy but came as she was seeking a change. The timing, she said, was based on choosing a moment when she didn't have outstanding orders with brides in progress. But she has seen a number of women looking for deals for upcoming nuptials.
"There were a lot of women who were proposed to over Christmas," she said.
Cool said she loved what she was doing but it felt like it was time for a change.
"I've done this for eight years," she said. "I've had the prom girls who turned into brides who turned into mothers and brought their babies in here. Now I feel like I'm being called in another direction. It's kind of good to go out on a positive note.
"There is a constant need for change whether that's location or career it doesn't matter, but you have to follow your heart."
Cool started performing weddings a couple of years ago and intends to continue that work. She said she'll miss guiding women through the big event in an effort to reach their vision of their wedding day.
Now Cool said she may take a break and spend time as a grandma.
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve continues to seek nominees for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award through Jan. 18. National Guard and Reserve service members and their families are eligible to nominate employers who have gone beyond the call to support Guard or Reserve employees. Fifteen employers are to be recognized with the award. For more information, go online to www.freedomaward.mil.
RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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