Toughweld Owners Optimistic, Tap in to Online Retail Stores

Toughweld Workwear

Owners: John James, Rich Morris, Terry Turpin

Address: 745 East Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville

Phone: 866-727-8218

E-mail: [email protected]

Hours: Monday-Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Web site: www.toughweld.com

Startup date: March 1

One’s a doctor (John James), one’s a lawyer (Terry Turpin) and one’s a golfer (Rich Morris).

Together, they’re about to open a retail space to complement an already bustling online business. Located at Nelson’s Crossing in Fayetteville, Toughweld Workwear will feature brands like Carhartt and Caterpillar, among many others.

“I think we’ve got a game plan to make this one interesting,” Turpin said.

The floor space that will feature apparel, footwear and other products is part of the 15,000 SF of which the group’s enterprise consists. Much of that is devoted to inventory space for the business’ online component, which is responsible for more than 99 percent of sales, according to James.

The space also includes Scrub Shopper, which deals in – you guessed it – medical scrubs. James, one of the operation’s 13 employees, said Scrub Shopper is the fifth-largest online scrub retailer in the country.

James said the company ships on average between 250 and 500 packages a day, and plans to increase that number as it adds the workwear component. There are plans to add a significant number of brands, including Dickie’s and Timberland, in the next three to six months.

“It’s more a matter of, ‘How fast can we do it?’ rather than ‘Can we do it?'” James said.

While the majority of the business is Internet-related, James said the retail offerings allow local customers to come into the shop and get the same discounted prices afforded online shoppers.

Tough Times For Small Businesses

New and small business owners might not share the general optimism many have for improvements in the economy.

At least that’s the thought expressed by a recently released survey. According to a self-released report, The National Federation of Independent Business’ Index of Small Business Optimism remained below 90 for the seventh consecutive quarter.

The NFIB translates that figure as “indicative of the severity and pervasiveness of this recession” even though the index rose slightly – 1.3 points – above December’s mark.

To give those figures historical perspective, consider the index went below 90 just once during four previous recessions, dating back to 1980. The all-time low was 80.1 in 1980.

In the most recent quarter, only 17 percent of NFIB members reported sales growth, while 47 percent reported drops. A mere 1 percent expected conditions to be better in six months.

“Small business owners entered 2010 the same way they left 2009, depressed,” William Dunkelberg, NFIB chief economist said in a prepared release. “The biggest problem continues to be a shortage of customers.” 

Submit tips about new businesses in Northwest Arkansas to Rob Keys at [email protected] or 479-725-0394, ext. 323.