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"Your generosity made me feel so good, that I purchased another box of chili lights. Now, every time I fly into or out of Phoenix I will stop and shop at your store."
Linda Duff
Orange, CA
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A Profile of Growth
Once a single gifts and accessories store 33 years ago, DELSTAR has grown to become a diversified business enterprise
owning and operating 18 retail specialty shops in Arizona and California. Winning acclaim for creativity, concepts,
imaginative product lines, innovative merchandising themes and exemplary customer service spurs DELSTAR to even
further growth.
That’s what NFIB president, Jack Faris said when he presented DELSTAR with the National Grand Prize in the prestigious
Best Of The West and Best Of America Small Business Awards competition. The National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB) and Dun & Bradstreet sponsored the award, acknowledging DELSTAR as one of the companies that “. . .
embody the spirit and determination that are making small business a strong, growing component of the U.S. and world
economies.”
DELSTAR’s shining inspiration is the creation and operation of a personal and business skills training school for minority
employees at the Phoenix home office complex. The result—the spread of growth to others and national recognition for
DELSTAR as an innovative leader in minority enterprise issues.
HIGHLIGHTS
DELSTAR On The Rise:
| 2005 |
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Opened Arizona Highways news and gifts Store, The PHOENIX souvenir store, See’s Candies retail kiosk,
Native American Gift Gallery-Pueblo Spirit. Additionally, awarded contract for a specialty pet concept and
chocolate concept set to open 4th quarter 2005.
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| 2004 |
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Awarded through a competitive bid process-retail contracts for four stores at Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport, retail development project.
Opened 1,200 sq ft gift shop at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas.
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| 2002 |
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Opened retail locations in two new major resorts in the Phoenix Area. Toonerville Trading Post at the 750 room Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, and five stores, Pamela Paloma Fashion Boutique, Pueblo Spirit Native American Store, Presents Gift Gallery, I.M. Mann Men's Apparel Shop, and Arizona Byways gifts news and sundries, at the 950 room J.W. Marriott Resort & Spa.
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| 2001 |
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Opened our fifth newsstand at SFO, NewsWatch, in the north terminal of San Francisco International Airport
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| 2000 |
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Opened nine stores during this growth year for DELSTAR. Arizona Sol and Peppermint Bay at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; Retro Rad, Laundry Matt’s, Cirque de Bijoux and Awesome Atom’s at Universal Studios CityWalk retail venue in Hollywood, California; and three NewsWatch newsstand stores at the new San Francisco Airport International Terminal. In addition, Tommy Hawks, at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix was complete remodeled in 2000.
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| 1999 |
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Awarded through a competitive bid process -2600 square feet of space in the new N1 concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Arizona Sol will present “four stores within a store”: Spirit of Arizona, Funzy’s, Pages News and Books and Arizona Sportz.Leased space for two stores within a store at Mesa Grand in Mesa, Arizona. Peppermint Bay and Funzy’s opening December 1999.
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| 1998 |
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Awarded three concession spaces for newsstands at the new San Francisco International Airport Terminal, to be opened in the Summer of 2000.
Opened five new stores in the North Terminal of San Francisco International Airport: Peppermint Bay, Club USA, news sfo.com, Shift’n Gears and Awesome Atom’s.
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| 1997 |
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Opened four exciting stores at the new Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, Arizona: Awesome Atom’s Science Store, Wild, Wild, Best!, Way to Glow and Magnetude!Contracted with the City of Scottsdale to purchase merchandise and operate the ICONS of the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Progress gift shop.Contracted with new Arizona Science Center, 2770 Sq. Ft. of retail space for an inter-active educational and learning store called Awesome Atom’s - opened April 5, 1997.
Opened Arizona Science Center satellite store, Awesome Atom’s, at Terminal 4, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Opened Peppermint Bay, a candy and gifts store at Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center.
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| 1996 |
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Negotiated, planned, designed, and implemented key location outposts for SUPERBOWL XXX successfully selling diversified assortments of merchandise to upscale clientele at several five-star resorts. NFL Properties Inc. Vice President Roger Atkin acclaimed DELSTAR and its outstanding staff for successful planning and execution.
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| 1994 |
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Opened new headquarters in the DELSTAR Group complex, Phoenix, Arizona. Training program moves on-site in a specially designed classroom.
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| 1993 |
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Successfully competed with international firms for a primary lease for the North Terminal at San Francisco International Airport. Opened five new retail concessions at that facility.
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| 1991 |
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Supported recruiting and training programs of The Phoenix Urban League, Chicanos Por La Causa and The Phoenix Indian Center by donating airport store sales.
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| 1990 |
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Increased home office staff and added headquarters space, personnel and computer support to accommodate expanded store base.
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| 1989 |
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Forged partnership with three community based organizations. Bid successfully on stores at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport against international billion-dollar companies for Terminal 4 concessions. Won approval for an unprecedented six stores representing four new concepts.
Created and launched Small Business Entrepreneurial Training Program. 60 new employees, mostly disadvantaged people with no previous retail experience, attended off-site classes to learn retailing and life skills. Group graduated and opened new Terminal 4 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport stores to national attention and accolades.
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| 1988 |
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Signed sole concession contracts to sell souvenir merchandise and game programs at all sporting events over a two-year period for the Phoenix Cardinals and Arizona State University Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Operated twenty booths in stadium. Opened team shop in ASU athletic building.
Opened two specialty shops at the Scottsdale Princess.
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| 1987 |
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Expanded presence to prestigious metropolitan Phoenix resorts. Opened two specialty shops in Litchfield Park and Phoenix.
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| 1985 |
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Opened second shop in Terminal 3, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
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| 1979 |
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Successfully bid against national corporations for primary gift shop concession in Terminal 3, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
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| 1972 |
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Opened first store in Scottsdale, Arizona. By George! appeared on Fifth Avenue. |
Retail Achievements
- Woman of the Year Award, 2005, presented by The National Italian-
American Foundation, Outstanding Community Contribution in Arizona
- Spirit of Enterprise Special Achievement Award, 2004, presented by ASU
and the W.P. Carey School of Business
- Airport Revenue News, Feature Article, July 2003
- Best News & Gift Operator, Airport Retail News
- Excellence for Retail Award, The Trail of Painted Ponies
- Retailer Award in Customer Relations, Oasis Gift Show & GIFTWARE
News
- Best Airport Retailer, World Airport Retail News
- Retail Entreprenuer of the Year, Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine
- “Reps Best”, Arizona Republic for Awesome Atom’s at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Best Place to Buy a
Cool Gift that fits in a Carry-On Bag
- Design 100 Spirit Award, Metropolitan Home
- Awesome Atom’s Science Store featured in Retail Entertainment for its innovative and inter-active
approach to merchandise presentations
- Magnetude! Featured in Chain Store Age Magazine for its exciting storefront and imaginative
design concept
- Outstanding Store Design, Peppermint Bay recognized by International Design Association,
Southwest Chapter
- Best Interior Use of Carpet Award, Awesome Atom’s Science Store awarded 1st Place Retail,
Durkan Diamond Award
- Best New Specialty Retail and Most Engaging Retail Store Front, Pueblo Spirit by World Airport
Retail News
- Silver Crystal Award for outstanding achievement in Gift Shop Design by Gift & Decorative
Accessories Magazine
- Best New Kid’s Store, Best of Phoenix, New Times for Awesome Atom’s Science Store
- America’s Top 500 Woman Owned Businesses, DELSTAR, Working Woman’s Magazine
- Best of America National Grand Prize Winner and Best in the West Award, DELSTAR, Dun & Bradstreet National
Federation of Independent Business Best of America awards competition
- Best of America Award, DELSTAR selected as the Arizona winner in the Dun & Bradstreet National Federation of
Independent Business
- National Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award, DELSTAR, for demonstrating the ability to seize opportunities and
meet challenges
- Phoenix Rising Star Award, by City of Phoenix and Phoenix Chamber of Commerce for demonstrating growth
potential and successfully filling a market niche
- Corporation That Makes a Difference, International Women’s Forum awards DELSTAR for supporting women and
minorities in business
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