Auto sales in Orange County were down nearly 7% in the first half of the year from a year earlier, according to the Costa Mesa-based Orange County Auto Dealers Association.
Blame high consumer debt and a slower economy.
The county’s decline is nearly on par with Los Angeles, which was down 6.1%. Both counties are way off compared to the national average, which was down 1.5%.
New auto registrations, a barometer of sales for the county, are forecast to be down 4% to 174,645 this year, according to the association.
The county is expected to get back on track next year.
In sales of luxury autos, Lexus now is the frontrunner, with 5,467 registrations, up 11.7 % for the first six months. Mercedes-Benz, the county’s longtime luxury leader, had 5,359 registrations in the period, down 4.2%. BMW was up 1.2% to 4,595 registrations.
Lexus has been on the upswing, due in part to the addition of Newport Lexus last year.
For 2006, Lexus had 10,076 registrations, compared to Mercedes at 10,670 and BMW at 8,400.
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Babychix “diapers”: “You have to have a sense of humor when you’re talking about a diaper,” founder says |
This year, Lexus is expected to be the top luxury brand with 10,412 registrations, followed by Mercedes with 10,382 and BMW at 8,057.
The top selling overall brand in OC remains Toyota, which leads in six of 16 segments:
The Yaris in entry cars with 1,159 registrations; Corolla in sub-compact with 3,769; Scion tC in sporty compact with 1,086; Camry in standard midsize with 6,104; Tacoma in compact pickup with 2,751; and Sienna in minivan at 1,896.
For the first half of the year, Toyota had 21,281 registrations. The second highest was Honda with 9,990, followed by Ford at 6,501.
Gainers included Jeep, up 16.5% to 1,415; Audi, up 17% to 1,126; Mazda, up 38% to 1,622; Mini Cooper, up 15% to 506; and Saturn, up 52% to 905.
The rest of the brands, except for Lexus and BMW, were down for the first half.
The biggest decliners included: Chrysler, down 35% to 1,246; Hummer, down 29% to 316; Pontiac, down 29% to 301; Saab, down 33% to 151.
Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Newport Beach, the county’s largest dealership, sold nearly $300 million new and used autos at the half-year point. It sold 3,101 new autos and 1,100 used.
The dealership raised more than $80,000 at its Corona del Mar Scenic 5K and its Spirit Run.
The funds are set to benefit local schools and children’s and senior’s charities. This year’s Jones Cup golf tournament is set to honor Marion Halfacre, the jeweler and prominent OC resident who died earlier this year.
Baby Shower Pizzazz
Rochelle Drumm’s Babychix.com adds some pizzazz to baby shower gifts.
Her venture sells snacks and goodies in ceramic and resin diapers, branded with cute yellow chicks, each representing her niece and nephews. She’s had the brand trademarked.
There are different sizes of diapers. There’s a “teeny” diaper with a candle in it and a “dirty diaper snax” filled with pretzels, dry cereals and chocolate.
“You have to have a sense of humor when you’re talking about a diaper,” she said.
This is a part-time venture for Drumm, who works full-time as senior vice president of retail at St. John Knits International Inc., where she’s been for 16 years.
“What I’m doing is different from high-end luxury,” she said.
One of Drumm’s goals is to get the diaper gifts in Nordstrom.
“It’s probably too cutesy for Neimans,” she said. “My dream and goal is to build a Hello Kitty type of brand.”
Spectrum Fashion Show
Irvine Spectrum Center is holding its annual fall fashion show on Aug. 25. Retailers showing off their fall clothes include Macy’s, Metropark, Nordstrom, H & M;, Quiksilver Boardriders Club and Forever 21. Seventeen magazine is a sponsor.
The show will focus on trends such as the British look, eco-friendly clothes and surf and skate. Gwen Stefani’s fall line of Harajuku Lovers will be featured.
Store Awards
American Rag Cie and The Closet won MR Magazine’s Uptown Downtown awards, which recognize men’s retailers.
MR, part of Norwalk, Conn.-based Business Journals Inc., is a men’s retailing magazine.
Garys’ owner Dick Braeger was honored with a lifetime achievement award. Garys, which sells tailored and casual men’s clothing, has stores throughout OC, including Fashion Island and Irvine Spectrum Center.
American Rag Cie, which has a Fashion Island store, won for its eclectic mix. The awards were presented July 23 at Four Seasons in New York.
