The Franklin Shops — Attraction in Fort Myers

Review from the viewpoint of a former store vendor as well as customer

Everything started out great until what I’m assuming was new management coming in. They say that they promote and market your items, but they don’t. They might post a store video on instagram every now and again, and it’s usually just showing dogs in the store. You pay over $100 a month for a small space plus what they take from each item. I ended up out of hundreds at the end of my lease due to unsold items. I spent more in my space rental than I made in profit. The manager had wanted me to renew my lease for another year with them, where I had declined and explained the lack of sales and bringing most of my stuff home. She said “she wished I would’ve told her sooner.” If you’re the manager, you see everyone’s sales, don’t say you didn’t know. Major lack of effort and communication on their part. I would go months only selling 1 or 2 items, even during the holidays there was no uptick in sales. I put so much time and effort into what I make. Everything is done completely by myself and 100% handmade. I truly love and value my items so it’s a slap in the face when shops around the store are just mass produced items that aren’t handmade or are already actual brands. On the other hand, they have vendors in there that don’t sell handmade items, fake “repurposed” designer items, and things that can be found at other stores. Random assortments of things that are taken from a craft store, put their own label on it with a price increase, and resold. There’s also been fluctuations of the quality of items and vendors. There seems to be no minimum standard as to what they bring in. The quality of certain things simply isn’t there. The last time I had stopped in the lady working the cash register was rude, looked annoyed when I handed her cash, and literally just walked away without saying anything after handing me my bag. The staff is all over the place as far as professionalism. Overall I feel bad for the real small business vendors who are trying to make a profit or think that this store will do anything to help their sales or market their items. The ones who actually make quality handmade items are getting the short end...

Today I went into franklin shops looking for a dress that I had seen there before to try on. I also found two other dresses that I wanted to try on. I had them in my hand and was walking around to just browse the other clothes until a worker comes up to me saying that they are closing (in 30 minutes) and basically stopping me to try on immediately. I told her I was looking for my boyfriend so he could see the dresses I was trying on as well. When I get into the fitting room with the three dresses, this lady is standing DIRECTLY outside of my door the entire time, staring at me every time I was opening the door to get my boyfriends opinion on the dresses, she was not even trying to move a little over so I would have some privacy. As I am in the middle of showing my boyfriend the second dress I tried on, she proceeded to ask if “us kids” are done (we are both 20). When I am finally done trying on, she is still standing outside of my dressing room. I had the dress that I was going to buy in my hands until she literally gets up in my face and demands that she has to take it because of the “price point” and then accused me of trying to steal it, even though I told her directly I’m going to get this one and the other two dresses that I didn’t want are hanging up in there, and I had no bags or any loose clothing that could indicate I was hiding something. She then LITERALLY takes the dress out of my hands and walks away saying she will meet me at the register because they are closing (in 15 minutes). At the end of the day, you guys can keep your lousy $200 dress and I will go buy it online from the direct shop cheaper instead of giving your business ANY of my money and will make sure to let all of my friends and family know the same thing. Good luck selling anything to customers with that disgustingly rude old lady...

UPDATE 3/29 - It took you 3 months to reply, which again screams volumes to your disorganization and lack of respect. It's standard operating practice to have a one-sheet, detailing leasing info - like literally every real estate business has. If you repeatedly refuse and gate-keep something so simple as pricing - it screams your shady and a nightmare to work with. Again - you're not only interviewing small businesses - we're interviewing you. I stand by review. Glad I moved on.

12/20 I contacted this store to get leasing info in their shop. Today 1/1 I still have not been provided info even tho I've requested it multiple times via email and phone. Unsure why Haley Hanson the Office Manager is been gate keeping leasing info when this store is only in business - because of small business owners such as myself leasing space in their store. Numerous emails were ignored. She insists we needed to have a phone call. Fine - I've called this girl 4 different times and she's never there. Last time was 12/29 12:51P. Typical zero response until today 1/1 at 7:26P to insist we schedule a conference call. A conference call to discuss pricing?!? If you can't summarize your leasing info on a one sheet and promptly send it - this screams you're also going to be a nightmare when it comes time to pay out. I replied with Why do I need to set up an appointment to discuss pricing? Why can’t you just send me info?" Zero response. I have zero desire to do business with this company. They clearly have zero customer service and can't be trusted to be a...