STRICTLY BUSINESS: CAPE GIRARDEAU A RETAIL AND MEDICAL HUB

It's no surprise that the Cape Girardeau retail market is attracting large numbers of "out-of-area" residents to town.

The city, home to a large shopping mall and numerous other large retail stores -- Lowes, Sam's, Wal Mart, Kmart, Sears, Target -- has long been known as a "hub" in Southeast Missouri.

And, the numbers are staggering.

Cape Girardeau County had annual retail sales of about a billion dollars in 1998, says Chauncy Buckheit, deputy director of Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission, which keeps up with the economy in seven counties.

Cape Girardeau has great diversity in retail products and medical facilities, said Buchheit. The area attracts a large number of people from outside the county.

More than a third of the retail sales generated in Cape Girardeau County over the past four years come from people who live outside the county.

Look at the figures:

-- $347 million of $874 million in 1995.

-- $328 million of $874 million in 1996.

-- $333 million of $896 million in 1997.

-- And, $370 million of about a billion dollars in 1998.

What do they buy?

General merchandise and automotive products have been the big purchases over the same period of time, totaling about $200 million a year by our visitors. Automotive sales have accounted for about half of that total.

Next on the list appears to be eating and drinking (restaurant and lounges), followed closely by furniture sales.

One surprising note is the sales of food (groceries) over the past few years.

In 1995, visitors to the area purchased more than $34 million in food. That total dropped to $24 million in 1996, and to $19 million in 1997. The total breakdown for 1998 was not immediately available.

Buchheit discussed retailing figures during an economic conference, held at Southeast Missouri State University last week.

Buchheit and Glenn "Skip" Smallwood, business development executive for AmerenUE, were members of a two-man panel of local economic experts at the three-hour conference.

Smallwood presented an overview of activities on the Southeast Missouri manufacturing scene, from Park Hills in the Mineral Area region, to the Arkansas border.

Manufacturing base

"We have a diverse manufacturing base, including automotive supplies, food processing, metals, plastics and more" said Smallwood. "A lot of companies are expanding, and others that I can't name at this time, are looking at the area."

The manufacturing forecast for Missouri and the Southeast Missouri are good, added Smallwood.

Missouri is one of the big manufacturing states, and the Cape Girardeau area is listed No. 11 in the state with manufacturing facilities.

Little wonder.

The Cape County area has an interstate (I-55) for highway traffic; the Mississippi River for water transportation; and a regional airport for air transportation.

Smallwood touched on a number of industries throughout the Southeast Missouri.

Automotive parts:

-- Gates Rubber at Charleston, expanding, increasing its work force at Charleston from 150 to about 400. Gates also has a facility at Poplar Bluff.

-- TG(USA), at Perryville, employs between 900 and 1,000, following expansions over the past few years, provides automotive parts.

-- Dana Corp (Spicer Axle) at Cape Girardeau, which provides axle components, has expanded and employs between 350 and 400.

-- Avon Auto at Dexter manufactures mufflers.

-- Plastene at Portageville makes grills for cars.

Food products:

-- Tyson Food of Dexter.

-- Gilster-Mary Lee of Perryville.

-- Good Humor Ice Cream recently expanded at Sikeston.

Metal:

-- Norando Aluminum of the New Madrid area employs more than 1,200 workers.

-- Loxscreen Co. at Hayti.

Plastics and glass:

-- Spartech, with two facilities in the Cape Girardeau area.

-- Flat River Glass at Park Hills.

Other specialties:

-- Procter & Gamble Paper Products, north of Cape Girardeau, in process of a $350 million expansion.

-- Trinity Marine of Caruthersville makes barges.

-- Foamex of Cape Girardeau makes carpeting pads.

-- Biokyowa Inc. of Cape Girardeau is in the process of expansion.

-- Rowe Furniture at Poplar Bluff.

--Briggs & Stratton of Poplar Bluff.

These are just a few of the more than 550 manufacturers in Southeast Missouri that provide more than 34,000 jobs, including more than 130 plants in Cape Girardeau County, which provides employment to more than 7,000 people.

It's that time again!

The Southeast Missourian's "Top 60" industries, based on the number of employees, started as a "Top 25," six years ago, but due to growth, expansions and new industry, the list went to "Top 40 in 1995 and "Top 60" in 1997.

The 1999 list has been redesigned. This year, we'll present three lists -- a "Top 50" Southeast Missouri list on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies; a "Top 25" Cape Girardeau County list including all employers -- manufacturing, retail, medical, education and others; and a "Top 10" list of largest employers in Southern Illinois.

Companies eligible for the lists are urged to submit company name, type of product or business, and total employment to:

B. Ray Owen, Strictly Business, Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.