Are national chains still the key to success?
Like many who work in downtown economic development, people often approach me asking, “Why don’t we get a Gap? (or Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Loft, or H & M.)” It’s a legitimate question. These stores are usually found down the road at the mall and the demographic of the customers often fits well with a particular downtown. […]
Read MoreTrends for Downtown Retail
Interested in what the next year has in store for retail? Carol Gies, presidents of 4Insights, a consulting firm that works with downtowns and other specialty retail areas, shares her thoughts. Who will be buying? The baby boomers are not the primary market they no longer have a steady income and they re worried about […]
Read MoreTop Ten Jobs of the Next Decade
NPR had a story this morning on where this decade’s jobs will come from. The disheartening news was that 6 out of the top seven fastest-growing jobs are low-skill, low-wage jobs. The top ten: 1. Registered nurses2. Home health aids3. Customer service representatives4. Food preparation and serving workers5. Personal and home care aides6. Retail salespersons7. Office […]
Read MoreAre chains the secret to a successful downtown?
Like many who work in downtown economic development, I often have people approach me asking, “Why don’t we get a Gap? (Interchangeable, of course, with Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Loft, Eddie Bauer, or Abercrombie.) It’s a legitimate question. These stores are usually found down the road at the mall and the demographic of the customers […]
Read MoreDifferent nations, same problem
I recently gave a talk to a group of professionals from South Korea who were participating in the University of Missouri’s Global Leadership Program, a year-long program designed to teach government officials and other professionals the intricacies of American business, culture and language. Before my talk began I had a chance to talk with several […]
Read More