Retail Resource

Redefining Retail: Re-Opening Downtown for Business

published: May 29, 2020
4:27 pm

We spoke on an IDA webinar in May titled, Re-Opening Downtown for Business, and received several questions during and after the event. We’ve created an FAQ document with answers that address a broad spectrum of concerns from downtown leaders. We hope you find this document useful.

WEBINAR Q&A

WEBINAR Recording

Sample questions include:

POST WEBINAR Q&A

What about the fact that this is more of a female oriented pandemic. Hospitality workers that are laid off tend to be more female and front line workers in hospitals tend to be more female. And then childcare and now teaching from home type issues? Previous recessions were more male based, so how is the impact and recovery different if it is more female oriented?

To date, women make up more than 60 percent of workers who have lost jobs because of the coronavirus, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Women add a tremendous amount to the workplace, to the creative aspect of retail development and
merchandising, and to our overall economy. It’s unknown how this disparity will affect recovery efforts, but we recommend focusing on closing the wage gap within your own small businesses, supporting women in the workplace, and being mindful of childcare barriers that all families are facing. -JG

Any best practices for DDA Directors to support retailers and small business access to funding grants and business expertise through the hard times ?

Our top recommendation would be to become a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers. While that may seen counter-intuitive to downtown revitalization efforts, ICSC’s membership for public sector employees is $100 per year and includes access to training, webinars, white papers, and up to the second information about federal funding and national retail development. These trends and strategies can easily be translated to a more local level. -JG

Do you know of services like Doordash that do non-food delivery? I’m thinking for our urban garden center, our clothing stores, our hardware stores. Are you seeing more of this need?

In many communities, locally owned delivery service companies are emerging that utilize relationships with local businesses to deliver all sorts of goods and services. The need for this service is growing, especially as the older or more immuno-compromised populations remain isolated or quarantined. -JG

REDEFINING RETAIL

Re-Opening Downtown

Post-webinar questions answered.

Post webinar Q&A

Retail Resources

What do you need?

John Feary

City Manager

Claremore, OK

Service: Small Business Support

We are excited to have a turnkey program that supports all sectors — retail services, restaurants, traditional retail, and landlords. This platform will empower our small business owners with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.

Andrea de la Rosa

Assistant Director of Small Business Development

City of Bloomington

Service: Retail Strategies

I really enjoyed the meeting with Laura Marinos and Jennifer Gregory of Retail Strategies! They were very informative and supportive. They gave me so much information and tips for taking my business to the next level in the marketing area where I lack tremendously. I finally decided on a new name so I will be putting their tools into action soon!

Stacy Grant

Business Owner

Youngstown OH

Service: Retail Strategies

Retail Strategies has been an incredible asset to both my clients and me in deal-making. Their folks do a great job of listening to retailers’ requirements and providing value. They’ve proven to be a strong conduit between municipalities and retailers supporting growth through connections.

Casey Smallwood

SVP, Managing Principal & Market Leader, SRS Real Estate Partners

Service: Retail Strategies

I would highly recommend Retail Strategies. They have been a great partner to the Hendry County Economic Development Council in our recruitment efforts to bring more retail opportunities to the county. Their experience, knowledge, and relationships throughout the retail community combined with their friendly approach has made them a valued partner in our community’s growth efforts.

Keitha Daniels

Executive Director of the Hendry County Economic Development Council

Hendry County, Florida

Service: Downtown Strategies

The thing that we really liked about Retail Strategies is that they work together with you and the community. We had to put together an executive committee that consists of some town employees, officials, some citizens and plus myself from the chamber. Retail Strategies has a very diverse background. They have people that are from economic development, they have people that were realtors, they have people that are downtown development directors, people that are in tourism, people that are in retail, so they really have all avenues.

Redefining Retail: Re-Opening Downtown for Business