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BIRMINGHAM , AL – The Alabama Retail Association (ARA) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham today recognized the Belk and the Hess families as “Retail Giants.” The presentations preceded the “Retailers of the Year” and “Alabama Centennial Retailers” awards at The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel during UAB’s 2007 Retail Day Luncheon.

John R. Belk, president and chief operating officer of  Belk Inc. and the keynote speaker for the Retail Day luncheon, accepted Belk Inc.’s “Retail Giant” award on behalf of himself, his brothers and the company.  Donald Hess , former chairman, president and chief executive officer of Parisian , accepted the Hess family’s “Retail Giant” award. The Retailer of the Year judges voted to present these special one-time awards to recognize the significant contributions to retailing made by Parisian and the Hess family as well as Belk Inc. and the Belk family.

John R. Belk, H.W. McKay Belk and Thomas M. Belk Jr., are the grandsons of Belk’s founder, the late William Henry Belk, and sons of the late Thomas M. Belk, longtime Belk president. John R. Belk has served as president and chief operating officer, H.W. McKay Belk has served as president and chief merchandising officer, and Thomas M. Belk has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Belk Inc. since May 2004, and they have served the company in various positions since 1983, 1979 and 1981, respectively.

In August of 2006, Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk bought the Alabama-based Parisian chain from Saks Inc. The Parisian stores were rebranded earlier this month (Sept. 12) as Belk stores. Belk Inc. currently operates 23 stores in 20 Alabama cities. Its newest Alabama store is in Trussville, and it completed major expansions this year of its two stores in Huntsville as well as stores in Decatur and Tuscaloosa. Other Alabama cities with Belk stores are Alabaster, Auburn, Birmingham, Cullman, Dothan, Florence, Gadsden, Guntersville, Homewood, Hoover, Jasper, Mobile, Montgomery, Prattville, Selma and Spanish Fort.

Belk Inc. is the nation’s largest privately owned department store company with almost 300 stores operating in 16 Southern states and revenues totaling more than $3.7 billion.

Three generations of the Hess family operated Parisian Inc. from 1920 until 1996 when the then 38-store chain was sold to Profitt’s Inc. (In 1998, Proffitt’s acquired Saks Fifth Avenue and changed its name to Saks Inc.) In 1920, German immigrant Carl Hess and his partner, William Holiner, bought the business, which was founded in 1880 as Parisian Dry Goods & Millinery Co. After World War II, Carl’s son, Emil, a Wharton School of Business graduate, joined his father in the business. The company continued to grow and in 1968, it was named “Brand-Name Store of the Year.” In 1970, the third generation of the Hess family, Donald Hess, joined the company after graduating from Dartmouth College. Emil, Donald and their partner, Harold Abroms, along with thousands of dedicated associates, expanded the company beyond the South and established its reputation as a premier specialty department store. Donald left management of Parisian in 1997, but continued to serve as chairman emeritus until Belk bought the company in 2006. Hess continues to serve on the board of Saks Inc.

It was during the Hess and Abroms years that Parisian became known for its extraordinary customer service. The retailer garnered loyal customers by always delivering on the promise, “You’re Somebody Special at Parisian.”  The “history of outstanding customer service and merchandise selection” prompted former Parisian employee, Karen King of Huntsville, to nominate Parisian and Belk for these awards.

The Retailer of the Year judges felt strongly about recognizing the Hess family and Parisian for all the contributions they made to the retail industry in Alabama as well as welcoming the Belk family and Belk Inc. to Alabama and acknowledging their significant investment in Alabama retail.

“These two retailing families truly are ‘Retail Giants,’ and it is an honor to celebrate their contributions, past, present and future,” said ARA President Rick Brown.

The association and UAB also recognized nine outstanding Alabama retailers as “Retailers of the Year.” This marked the eighth presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999. The awards returned this year after taking a hiatus in 2006.

An independent panel of judges chose the Retailer of the Year finalists in three categories by Alabama annual sales volume: less than $1 million; $1 million to $5 million; and more than $5 million. Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented in each category.

Annual Sales More Than $5 Million

• Gold Award: Steven M. Sandlin , Pay-Less Pharmacy Group, Decatur; nominated by John Seymour, president and chief executive officer, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce.
• Silver Award: Jerry G. Beasley , Beasley Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Ozark; nominated by Jeanette Reeves, executive director, Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Bronze Award: Bryan K. Owens and John B. Marshall , Unclaimed Baggage Center, Scottsboro; nominated by Rick Roden, president and chief executive officer, Greater Jackson County Chamber
  of Commerce.

Annual Sales $1 Million To $5 Million

• Gold Award: Jo Ellen Jordan , Cook & Sons Ace Hardware Inc., Albertville; nominated by Jennifer Palmer, president, Albertville Chamber of Commerce.
• Silver Award: Mickey, Michael and John Gee , Pants Store Inc./Taylor Company Inc., Leeds; nominated by Tricia Ford, executive director, Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Gee, vice president, Taylor Co. Inc.
• Bronze Award: Michael Ray Jones , Mike’s Merchandise, Guntersville; nominated by Virginia Bagwell, Guntersville.

Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million

• Gold Award: Shawn Beitelspacher , Southern Sole, Tuscaloosa; nominated by Lauren Skinner, Ph.D., assistant professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
• Silver Award:  Anne A. Appleby, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Auxiliary Gift Shop, Foley; nominated by Fran Barr, South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Auxiliary.
• Bronze Award: Montez Oudenaarden , My Favorite Things, Monroeville; nominated by Sandy Smith, executive director, Monroe County Chamber of Commerce.

“This was an exciting day for us,” ARA President Brown said.  “It is an honor to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers. Each retailer honored is a credit to the profession and a community asset.”

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Media Contact: Nancy King Dennis | 334.263.5757 Ext. 101 | 800.239.5423