"A store for her that he loves."

That's the way one person described Victoria's Secret, a ladies intimate apparel shop group which has swept the nation since it was founded a few short years ago.

Victoria's Secret is one of the most requested stores at West Park Mall.

"We keep a 'want list,' here" said Jim Govro. "Victoria's Secret appears on every new list we put up."

Other names on the mall's "wanted" list, in no particular order, include Abercrombie and Fitch LTD, a clothing store; The Disney Store; The Gap; Old Navy; Kirkland's, a home decor store; and Metadolife, a weight loss product store.

Among the biggies on the "want list" list are Dillards and Sears.

Victoria's Secret is one of number of companies owned and operated by Intimate Brands Inc., a specialty retailer of intimate apparel, beauty and personal care products through the Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works brands.

Victoria's Secret products are available through over 850 lingerie stores and catalogues, including 15 stores in Missouri. Victoria's Secret also has outlets at shopping malls in Carbondale, Ill. and Paducah, Ky.

Bath & Body Works products are available in over 1,100 stores, including West Park Mall at Cape Girardeau, and we understand, via the Internet, that Victoria's Secrets is looking to added as many as 10 new shops this year.

Don't count Cape Girardeau out.

Economic Census reveals stats

The United States Commerce Department's Census Bureau released some data from the 1997 Economic Census late last week, marking the premiere of a new business classification system that will be used to measure the U.S. economy in the new century.

The Economic Census profiles the United States economy every 5 years, from the national to the local level.

These are the "first" reports issued from the 1997 economic census.

The numbers were released last week by the Commerce Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Robert J. Shapiro, Census Bureau Director Kenneth Prewitt and Bureau of Economic Analysis Director J. Steven Landefeld.

"The 1997 Economic Census provides the first snapshot of the economy as it enters the new millennium," Shapiro said. "This new and improved version gives business and government a better framework to make decisions that will keep our economy in high gear."

The economic census provides a detailed portrait of the economy every five years, from the national to the local level. Results from the 1997 census will provide information on businesses operating at more than 21 million locations, giving key information on the number of businesses and employees, the value of shipments, sales, receipts, revenue and payroll.

"We'll be following the series of more detailed reports over the next few months.

The first reports for Missouri from the 1997 Economic Census show that the 473 retailers in Cape Girardeau County made $959.5 million in sales during the year, 1997.

That translates into $14,532 in retail sales per capita, topping the statewide average of $9,480 sales per capita and the national average of $9,195 per capita.

The report also show sales or receipts, employment and payroll for 168 different kinds of retail businesses.

The report indicates that there were 473 retail establishments in the county in 1977, including: 130 clothing stores; 54 gasoline stations (40 with convenience stores); 62 motor vehicle and parts dealers; 32 auto dealers; 42 furniture and/or home furnishings stores; 30- health and personal care stores; and 16 grocery stores, excepting convenience stores.

Data for other sectors of the Cape Girardeau County will be forthcoming over the next few months.

We'll be looking for those, and at some of the other key findings of the overall report which include information o a number of sectors publishing, motion picture, telecommunications, and others. Like:

* The nation's information sector, including publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting, telecommunications, and information and data processing services, generates 3.2 million jobs, a $135 billion annual payroll and $642 billion in receipts at 115,000 locations.

* The health care/social assistance sector generates 13.6 million jobs, a a $379 billion annual payroll and $890 billion in receipts at 645,000 locations.

* The professional/scientific/technical services sector, including scientists, engineers, architects, programmers and designers, generates 5.4 million jobs, a $233 billion annual payroll and $609 billion in receipts at 622,000 locations.

* The administrative/support services subsection, including employment agencies, employee leasing services, phone centers, telemarketing bureaus and travel agencies, generates 7.2 million jobs, a $129 billion annual payroll and $262 billion in receipts at 260,000 locations.

* The computer/electronic manufacturing sector generates 1.7 million jobs, a $71 billion annual payroll and $431 billion in shipments at 17,000 locations.