Pearson’s Travel World, a long-time retail presence on Jefferson Highway, is drastically downsizing its retail store to focus more on internet sales, the retailer has announced.
Beginning today, the family-owned luggage and gift store is liquidating its inventory as Ned Pearson, the son of owners Jerry and Lynn Pearson, moves to take over the business.
A smaller version of the luggage and gift store will be rebuilt and unveiled in 2018, Jerry Pearson, the company’s president, says in a statement.
Ned will lead the revamped store and focus on the internet sales via Amazon and eBay in conjunction with traditional retail.
The business’s travel agency will remain open at the business’s current Jefferson Highway location near the Warwick Apartments. The agency will operate under the direction of Cindy Chambers, a 42-year member of the Pearson’s team.
The move to downsize the retail business is due to the impact of online shopping, bogus department store promotions, and direct competition from suppliers, Jerry Pearson says. All have made the Pearson’s Travel World current business model obsolete.
Pearson’s was founded in 1979. It was a tenant in Cortana Mall for 20 years and opened on Jefferson Highway in 1996. The luggage and gift store had numerous locations in Baton Rouge and at different times in Lafayette, Mobile, and Shreveport. The Lafayette store closed in March.
