FLIP FLOP WORKSHOP
• Address: 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas (outside and inside Fashion Show mall)
• Phone: 702-582-2828
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: flipflopworkshops.com
• Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
• Owned/operated by: Katie and Jeff Kraatz
• In business since: 2011
Who are your customers?
Tourists, locals, children, adults, birthday parties, wedding parties, couples out on a date — anyone interested in fashion and comfort.
We have been invited by a number of the hotels and casinos to bring our program to their events and venues. We bring our team and full-service pop-up model to their property so their guests can take home and wear a lasting memory.
What made you decide to bring your business here?
General Growth Properties, which owns Fashion Show mall — one of top 20 most visited malls in the country — also owns the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. Our successful flagship store is at Ala Moana. General Growth management was so impressed with the store in Hawaii that they invited us to come to Las Vegas and replicate the concept at Fashion Show.
What will customers experience when they visit one of your stores?
Flip Flop Workshop is an entirely new concept where customers design their own custom flip-flops. Customers delight in creating one-of-a-kind flip-flop from a rainbow of soles and straps, and hundreds of unique embellishments that can last for years.
What’s the most important part of your job?
Listening to customers from around the world “talk story” and tell us where they are from, what brings them to Las Vegas, and what is exciting about their visit. We also hear about what new embellishment ideas they have. With this we have a continual flow of our next bling to develop.
What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?
The unexpected cold weather during the winter months. Also, getting the word out about us. We do amazing parties for any age. Birthday parties include flip-flops at a discount, balloons and painted toenails. Our party-goers just love it.
What obstacles has your business overcome?
Every city has its own rules and permitting regulations. Finding a good general contractor to help navigate and expedite things really helps.
How can Nevada improve its business climate?
Bring more professional sports teams to the city.
What’s next for your business?
To expand to a third and fourth store in Las Vegas with the leadership of our strong regional manager, Shaunna Fisk.
We are in discussions with potential franchisees nationally and internationally who discover our concept here. We are excited to open other Flip Flop Workshop outlets worldwide.