Daily Record Financial News &
Monday, November 20, 2017
Vol. 105, No. 004 • One Section
35¢
www.jaxdailyrecord.com
At Rogers Towers, a new business strategy
Stein Mart seeks 4th quarter pickup Comparable store 3Q sales fall 6.9 percent as hurricanes disrupt business, new ad campaign. As Jacksonville companies reported third-quarter earnings over the past few weeks, nearly every one disclosed some kind of financial setback from Hurricane Irma. For fashion retailer Stein Mart Inc., the storm was particularly untimely because it coincided with the launch of a new campaign to reinvigorate its sagging sales. Stein Mart last week reported total sales for the third quarter ended Oct. 28 fell 4.7 percent to $285.4 million and comparable-store sales dropped 6.9 percent. C o m p a ra ble-store sales are sales at stores open for Kleffner more than one year and are considered a key indicator of a retailer’s performance. As sales dropped, Stein Mart recorded a net loss of $14.6 million, or 31 cents a share, in the quarter. During the company’s conference call, Chief Financial Officer Gregory Kleffner said 44 of Stein Mart’s 293 stores are in Texas and 46 are in Florida and most of those had to close or reduce hours as hurricanes Harvey and Irma came ashore. One store in Bonita Springs remains closed because of storm damage, but is expected to reopen at the end of this month. Kleffner said the direct impact of those closures reduced comparable-store sales by more than 1 percentage point. “The indirect impact from lower traffic caused by concern
Photo by Max Marbut
Rogers Towers Chief Financial Officer Robin Simmons and Chief Operating Officer Thomas Birdsong direct the business side of the law firm’s operations.
One of city’s oldest law firms creates corporate suite, hires CEO and COO. By Max Marbut Associate Editor One of Jacksonville’s first law firms has implemented the most significant change in how it operates since the two founders started the business in 1905. Rogers Towers added to its staff a chief operating officer and a chief financial officer who are handling the business side of the firm, which has grown over the past 112 years to 55 attorneys in five offices. “These hires are a part of a long-term strategy calculated to enable us to continue to provide our clients with the high-quality service that we are recognized for and, at the same time, deliver the level of value that the marketplace demands,” said Rogers Towers Man-
aging Director Fred Franklin. Thomas Birdsong, COO, came to the firm after 16 years as executive director of operations at BorFranklin land-Groover Clinic. He will oversee management, administration, information technology and marketing. He received his MBA from the University of North Florida. Birdsong also served eight years in the U.S. Navy as a legal manager and information systems security officer. Before she joined Rogers Towers, Chief Financial Officer Robin Simmons Rogers Towers
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ABOUT ROGERS TOWERS Founded: 1905 Offices: Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Amelia Island and Fort Lauderdale Attorneys: 55 Total staff: 123 Practice areas: Nearly 50, including banking and financial, litigation, construction, corporate, labor and employment, environmental, eminent domain, elder law, family law, health law, immigration, intellectual property, land use, public finance, real estate, taxation, transportation and logistics and trusts and estates. Attorney board certifications: 14 Attorneys AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell: 30 Website: rtlaw.com
Basch
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The Marbut Report: JBA needs holiday helpers Members needed to purchase, wrap and deliver gifts for Senior Holiday Project. Public
legal notices begin on page
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