South Carolina Power Team Shares Early Success with Retail Strategies
For years, economic development organizations have focused heavily on industrial recruitment. New manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and business expansions create jobs and drive investment. But as communities grow, another challenge emerges: providing the retail, dining, and service amenities residents expect.
That challenge led the South Carolina Power Team to launch a new retail recruitment initiative across its network of electric cooperative communities.
“We’ve been amazingly blessed with growth in our state and growth within our system,” said James Chavez, CEO of the South Carolina Power Team. “Now we’re trying to bring amenities to really fast-growing areas of our state or areas of our state that are very rural and have no amenities.”Â
For Chavez and his team, retail recruitment is about more than attracting new stores. It’s about supporting quality of life, strengthening communities, and creating additional economic growth opportunities across South Carolina.
From Industrial Growth to Retail Growth
As an economic development organization representing 19 electric cooperatives, the South Carolina Power Team has spent years helping communities attract industrial investment.
Today, many of those same communities face a new reality. Population growth is creating demand for restaurants, retailers, entertainment options, and everyday services. In rural areas, residents often travel outside their communities to spend money elsewhere.
Recognizing the opportunity, South Carolina Power Team’s leadership approved a retail recruitment initiative designed to help communities capture more local spending and attract the amenities residents want.Â
“It was a great opportunity,” Chavez said. “Our board said, ‘ Let’s go after this retail initiative.’ ”Â
The Value of Data in Modern Retail Recruitment
Retail recruitment has changed significantly over the last decade.
Chavez previously worked as a local economic developer and attended industry conferences years ago. While relationship-building remains important, today’s retailers expect communities to support their story with accurate, current market intelligence.
One of the first advantages Chavez pointed to was Retail Strategies’ access to advanced market data through its partnership with Kalibrate.Â
“The partnership you have with Kalibrate, what that does to give us access to really incredible data has been great for us,” Chavez said.
For economic development professionals, access to trade area analysis, consumer spending patterns, mobility data, and retail demand insights can help answer the questions retailers ask during site selection. More importantly, it allows communities to proactively position opportunities before a retailer visits the market.
The South Carolina Power Team plans to use this data to support developers and strengthen conversations around retail opportunities throughout the state.
Relationships Still Matter
While data helps tell the story, relationships help open doors.
One of the most common challenges economic development organizations face is identifying the right retail decision-makers and securing meaningful conversations. Retail site selection involves corporate real estate teams, brokers, franchise groups, developers, and numerous other stakeholders.Â
Building those connections independently can take years.
According to Chavez, having access to Retail Strategies’ network immediately removed a significant burden from his team’s workload.
“We’ve got a full slate of meetings today,” he said. “The time it takes to set these appointments, trying to find out who’s the right person to contactâyou guys already have that.”
Instead of spending months researching contacts and coordinating introductions, South Carolina Power Team was able to focus on advancing its broader economic development goals, while Retail Strategies facilitated conversations with retailers and industry professionals.Â
Extending the Capacity of Economic Development Teams
For many economic development organizations, staffing and resources are limited. Teams are often responsible for industrial recruitment, workforce development, support for existing industries, infrastructure projects, grants, and community development initiatives.Â
Adding retail recruitment to that list can be difficult.
That’s why Chavez views the partnership as a force multiplier.
By combining market intelligence, retailer relationships, conference representation, and recruitment support, Retail Strategies allows organizations like South Carolina Power Team to expand their reach without expanding internal staff.
“It took a load off our team’s plate so we can do the other things we’re supposed to be doing,” Chavez said.
A Strong Start with Long-Term Potential
Although the partnership is still in its early stages, Chavez says the results have been encouraging.
“It’s been a great investment so far,” he said. “We’re really happy.”
For communities looking to strengthen quality of life, support population growth, and capture more local spending, retail recruitment is becoming an increasingly important part of economic development strategy.
The South Carolina Power Team’s experience illustrates an important lesson: attracting retail isn’t just about finding the right businesses. It’s about combining data, relationships, and dedicated outreach to create opportunities that communities can’t pursue on their own.Â
When those pieces come together, communities are better positioned to attract retailers, restaurants, and amenities that support long-term economic growth.
Next Steps
If your community is experiencing growth, losing retail spending to neighboring markets, or looking to attract new retailers and restaurants, Retail Strategies can help.
Our team combines industry-leading market data, licensed real estate expertise, and direct relationships with retailers to help communities move from analysis to action.Â
Schedule a conversation with our team to learn how a retail recruitment program can support your economic development goals.
