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Brandon Borders Ranked 1st Nationwide

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By LAURA FRAZIER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 8, 2007

Updated: 09/06/2007 05:44 pm

BRANDON - It doesn't boast the highest gross profit margins in the country, nor is it the largest in a nationwide chain of 600 bookstores. The Borders at Town Center Boulevard and Brandon Parkway in Brandon was, however, recently ranked No. 1 in the nation by its parent company, Borders Group.

Store manager Darcy Taylor said her staff hit the ground running when the store opened in 2003.

'The first year we were open, we nearly qualified for first place. We ranked first for the first time our second year, in 2004,' Taylor said.

She credits Borders' success to supportive upper management and a focused, goal-oriented store team. The company uses customer service feedback, sales numbers and operating expense control data to determine store rankings.

'We watch things like customer service scores very carefully, that the store is clean, and that people can come in and find what they're looking for,' Taylor said. 'The minute our product comes in, our employees get it on the floor, within 24 hours.'

Employee Darlene Heinl said the staff shares Taylor's dedication to making the Brandon Borders the best it can be.

'Darcy, along with all the employees, has made it an enjoyable place to bring your family to browse for books, study or do business in a relaxed atmosphere,' Heinl said.

Borders locations often tailor their stock to their home community. One fiction genre rivals total fiction sales in Brandon.

'We sell so much African-American fiction that we had to create a special section for it,' Taylor said.
Borders Group contributes to charitable organizations on the corporate level, and the Brandon store has a hand in local efforts.

The store held a book drive in August to collect reading materials for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, which provides temporary lodging for families of hospitalized children.

Employees and customers purchased 1,448 books to donate to the charity, and the store gave 5 percent of the book sales profits.

'It helped the kids, and we feel good about giving back to our community,' Taylor said.

Local teachers can benefit from a Fall Educator Appreciation event at the store Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, when 25 percent discounts will be offered on books, music and movies.

Taylor said, 'Any educator or retired teacher, whether they teach kindergarten or karate, can come in for discounts on things for their classroom or their own personal use. We like to do things for the community.'

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Borders

WHERE: 2020 Brandon Town Center Blvd., Brandon

HOURS: 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; Check with store for holiday hours

INFO: (813) 661-5734 or go to www.borders.com

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523 or lfrazier@tampatrib.com.

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