About Us

John and Kathleen Avila started what is now Avila Retail Development & Management, LLC thirty five years ago as wholesalers of Native American jewelry. The Avila’s evolved this wholesale   enterprise into retail and have operated retail stores since 1978. The AVILA RETAIL Development & Management, LLC headquarters and corpo­rate offices are based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Airport DBE retailers since 1991, the Avila’s used those early opportunities to learn how to work together as a husband and wife team and build the financial means to grow AVILA RETAIL, providing career opportunities for many employees and participation in the com­munity at large.

The Avila’s business has grown from a two-per­son, one-store enterprise to twenty-three specialty retail stores operating in three states with a diverse staff of approximately 180 people. Members bring their individual talents together to make each store profitable, successful, and a delight for customers.

The Avila philosophy includes a responsibility to provide growth opportunity to employees, both personally and professionally.  Dedication to people is the driving force behind the Avila’s commitment to business growth.

AVILA RETAIL has developed the vision, mission, and values that form the foundations of the

AVILA RETAIL culture.  It is the AVILA RETAIL culture that gives people

more than a place to work … it’s a place to grow, learn, and contribute.

Avila Service Philosophy

“We are all customers”

The AVILA RETAIL Team believes that everyone is a customer.   We apply this service ideal in all our interac­tions with staff. We all stop what we’re doing to help the frontline customer. Having said that, we also have primary customers in the people we lead. This gives them the support, acknowledgement, and direction they need to serve the frontline customer.

Operations

With over 85 years of combined experience, John and Kathleen Avila and Teresa Curl, VP of Operations, are responsible for the development and management of Avila Retail. With the help of key staff members we develop concepts, write proposals, design stores in partnership with our architects, manage build out, and the opening of stores. We oversee the management and operation throughout the terms of all contracts by providing on-site staff with support. The Home Office staff is seen as the support entity. They are a group of dedicated individuals who love the tourism and travel business and are committed to quality customer service. Members bring their individual talents together to make each store profitable and successful. We oversee contract compliance at each of our specialty concept stores

Marketing

Marketing is romance. We create stories through in­novative feature displays, store design, merchandise themes, signage, and creative props. An abundance of quality product, strategic display placement, and light appeal to the customer’s senses every day in every display. Store front feature displays are changed to keep the presentation fresh and attract the frequent traveler. Signage is consistent throughout the store celebrating individual artists, product information. The quality of the store design draws customers into the space and compels them to return.

AVILA RETAIL has received accolades for many ac­complishments in retail operations. The following is a listing of some of the awards, articles, and features honoring the accomplishments and business acumen of the people at AVILA RETAIL.

Accolades for accomplishments in retail operations:

• SBA BUSINESS PERSONS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2005

• ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD WINNER 2005

• TOP 100 RETAILER OF AMERICAN CRAFTS NOMINEE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS – A            

  DESIGNATION MADE BY CRAFTS PEOPLE THROUGH NICHE MAGAZINE

• CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE 2004 – EXEMPLARY PRACTICES IN RETAIL

• MERCHANDISING DISPLAY AND TRENDS AWARD – 2002 ALBUQUERQUE CHAMBER OF 

  COMMERCE

• APPRECIATION OF EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM FIMO CREATIONS AS THEIR TOP

  RETAILER OF HANDCRAFTED GOODS

• FEATURED ARTICLE IN AIRPORT RETAIL NEWS SPOTLIGHTING EARTH SPIRIT

  ALBUQUERQUE

  AND AVILA RETAIL AS LEADING ARTS AND CRAFTS RETAILERS IN AIRPORT CONCEPTS

• ALBUQUERQUE HISPANO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2002 BUSINESS MAN OF THE YEAR

• NATIONAL HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER PRESIDENT’S AWARD 2003

• FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER OF THE NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY &

  SCIENCE AND STORE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

• SUPPORTER AND FUNDRAISER FOR NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTIONS AND THE NATIVE

  AMERICAN HOSPICE OF ARIZONA

• TOP 100 RETAILER OF AMERICAN CRAFTS NOMINEE FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS

• NICHE MAGAZINE FEATURE ARTICLE 1995

• NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION NATIONAL CONVENTION 2003 SPEAKER

• MICROSOFT CASE STUDY ON INTEGRATED POS AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

• MULTIPLE LOCAL NEWS ARTICLES ON RETAIL TRENDS

• FIRST COMMUNITY BANK COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• FEDERAL RESERVE BRANCH BANK DIRECTOR

• BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

• AMAC RETAIL TRENDS SPEAKER

• UNITED WAY WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER