By LOIS KINDLE
lekindle@aol.com
The Flip Flop Shops is celebrating its fifth anniversary in the Cypress Village Shopping Center this year, and owner Pam Perera's goal is to celebrate five more.
Since the beginning, she’s been all about elevating customer experience — continually refreshing inventory, adding new brands of casual beach and relaxation footwear and accessories, eliminating slow sellers and reworking her displays to accommodate the changes. The store is packed wall-to-wall.
The upgrades are clear the moment you walk through the door, and if you haven’t visited recently, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
But like most small retailers facing the onslaught of rising costs and online competition, Perera needs the community's support to keep moving forward.
“We rely on our local customers to help keep us going,” Perera said. “If people continue to shop online, ultimately we’ll be gone.”
There are many advantages of shopping in person.
You have the ability to actually see the product up close, assess its comfort and fit, and immediately compare it with options right in front of you.
You can get immediate help from an actual person, who can answer questions, make suggestions and solve problems on the spot — and you actually know who you’re buying from.
Shopping locally keeps dollars in the community, strengthens small businesses and builds relationships between neighbors and the people who actually serve them.
Employee Sheri Cameron and owner Pam Perera, of South Shore’s only Flip Flops Shops location, invite you to come the see its refreshed merchandise and displays. If you haven’t visited recently, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
And beyond all that, an in-store visit provides you with a full sensory experience — colorful displays, an inviting atmosphere and the simple pleasure of connecting with others.
And there’s a common misperception that everything online is always so much cheaper. In reality, once you factor in shipping, return hassles and the risk of getting something that doesn’t fit or feel right, in-store shopping often offers the better value.
“Every single item in my store is MSRP, set by the manufacturer, and I have price points for in the store for everyone,” Perera said. “I offer a good mix of stylish, high-quality, comfortable merchandise to choose from.”
Her loyalty program provides customers a $5 coupon that continually rolls over until used for every $100 spent in the store.
The Flip Flops Shops is at 3818 Sun City Center Blvd., Ruskin/Sun City Center, in the same plaza as Home Depot, Beall’s and the Hungry Greek.
Its flip flops and relaxation footwear brands include OluKai, Cobian, Oofos, Reef, Teva, Flojos, Birkenstock, Rainbow, Havaianas, Archies, Nuusol and HydroSport water shoes.
Currently being discontinued, Crocs and Hey Dude are now $30 and Buy One, Get One for 50% off, respectively.
The store also features much more. Shoppers will also find Periwinkle, Pure Vida, Luna and Lotus jewelry; Fahlo bracelets; Sock Guy fun socks; Sun Bum sun-screening products; Kanga cooler bags and water bottles; Sand Cloud beach towels, Aloha splash-resistant beach bags; Peace Frog, Beach Billy and Saltwater Soul T-shirts; straw hats, fedoras and ball caps; Knockaround and Goodr sunglasses; and other fun items.
“I love the store,” said Wimauma resident Bonnie Peacock. “I don’t wear anything but flip flops, and Pam carries such a wide variety of brands. She’s such a nice person, so outgoing and positive.”
Look for the Flip Flop Shops $10 OFF coupon in today’s issue of The Observer News and every second week of the month on the South Shore Chamber’s ad page.
For more information, visit Flip Flop Shops Sun City on Facebook or flipflopsshopssuncity on Instagram, email flipflopshop307@gmail.com or call 813-938-5523.