A seminar last week taught local officials tips on improving their business-seeking outreach. by … [Learn more...] about Virginia Gateway Region puts pieces of area retail puzzle together
Main Content
Helping communities learn to attract retail,
teaching how data provides options,
and real estate drives decisions.
Education is action
we do this by...
EMPOWERING communities to ask for what they deserve.
EDUCATING communities on what similar towns have received.
EQUIPPING communities to approach retail partners in a smart way.
ENERGIZING communities to meet their true potential.
EMPOWERING communities to ask for what they deserve.
EDUCATING communities on what similar towns have received.
EQUIPPING communities to approach retail partners in a smart way.
ENERGIZING communities to meet their true potential.
Chuck Dart
Yoakum EDC, TX
As the EDC Director in a small rural, city (pop. 6,000), I found traditional retail marketing companies too expensive. Retail Academy provided a greater value, allowing me to focus on identified retailers with the greatest potential fit. The first year resulted in two new retail franchises and one national chain filling 25,000 square feet of existing space and 10,000 square feet of new construction.
Anytime Fitness had already purchased land in a nearby city for a new store. When I presented the franchisee, Chip Bubela, with the demographic marketing materials from Retail Academy and aligned them with available space, “we knew Yoakum would be a home run for an Anytime Fitness”. They opened their new store in December 2018.
The education and marketing materials I received from Retail Academy were a huge help in speeding up the recruitment process.
Our Retail Academy experience provided us with the knowledge, data and tools we need to grow Ashville in terms of retail business. The staff was very professional, knowledgeable, and encouraging. It was a pleasure to be in their office and we look forward to recruiting great things to Ashville!
Chrystal St. John, CMC
City Clerk, City of Ashville, AL
The Retail Academy experience provided us with the data, knowledge base and tools to take our retail recruitment game to the next level. We were very impressed with their highly experienced, knowledgeable and professional team and with the information provided specifically tailored to and focused on our community. They delivered it in a manner that was not only clear and concise but also very interactive. It was both informative and inspiring. We look forward to building upon the partnership we have forged with their team to collaboratively achieve excellent results in retail recruitment for our community.
Bob Tweedie, C.M.
Economic Development Director, City of Tavares, FL
Our experience encountered, the information shared, and the strategies learned during our session at Retail Academy in Birmingham Alabama was worth the time spent and money expended.
James Graham, CEcD
Economic Development Minden, Louisiana
Before Retail Academy our team had a basic understanding of Retail Recruitment, our demographics, and how to tell our story. After attending Retail Academy we realized how much we were missing. The level of sophistication in the deliverables as well as the education opened our team’s eyes to all of the opportunity in our market that we didn’t see. Like many communities, we have a great story to tell with the help of Retail Academy we have the confidence, tools, and roadmap to do it.
John Henry, JD
President, Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority
As the EDC Director in a small rural, city (pop. 6,000), I found traditional retail marketing companies too expensive. Retail Academy provided a greater value, allowing me to focus on identified retailers with the greatest potential fit. The first year resulted in two new retail franchises and one national chain filling 25,000 square feet of existing space and 10,000 square feet of new construction.
The education and marketing materials I received from Retail Academy were a huge help in speeding up the recruitment process.
Chuck Dart
Yaokum EDC"Rural is not always a deal breaker. There are companies looking for rural specifically." "Retail Strategies provides our community with the knowledge to identify our prospects and the tools to recruit." Charlie Moore Alamo, TN
Charlie Moore
Charlie Moore
“The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development is proud to support Retail Academy! Kudos to our community leaders for committing themselves to this effort. Rural communities face a unique set of obstacles when it comes to economic development, and Retail Academy provides the tools necessary to make our communities more attractive to retailers.”
Amy New
Assistant Commissioner, Rural Development Department of Economic and Community Department
"Retail recruitment is a vital component of the rural economic development toolbox. The Retail Academy is the perfect program to provide local officials with the knowledge and roadmap to recruit and create jobs.”
Joe W. Barker
Executive Director of Southwest Tennessee Development District
“My team and I had an incredible experience at Retail Academy. There was so much information that was pertinent to what we were trying to accomplish . The Retail Academy team tailored everything to meet our needs and were more than willing to work with us to accomplish our goals. I would highly recommend Retail Academy to any community seeking to grow their retail and restaurant base.”
Amanda Witt-Cox
President, Martinsville Henry County Chamber of Commerce
“I attended Retail Academy in March of 2017 and was very impressed with the depth of knowledge, professionalism, focus on the client, and the sincere desire to help our community. The deliverables and training exceeded our expectations. I would recommend Retail Academy to any community leader who is looking to attract retail to their community.”
Jenny Mizelle
CEcD Economic Development Town of Rolesville, NC
“Retail Academy afforded us the opportunity to take an in-depth look at New Boston from a retailer’s standpoint. Through the program, we were able to analyze and understand the data and analysis and help focus our efforts on property and land that are best suited for retail development. With the education that we received, we now have the necessary tools and industry connections to effectively recruit retailers to our community.”
Joe Dike
New Boston Industrial Development Corporation
As a new Chamber Exec, learning a new community and developing a new retail development strategy where one has not previously been put into place, the experience of Retail Academy is one that I would highly recommend any Board of Directors and/or Municipality to make available to a new Chamber Executive Director or whomever is going to lead the retail development efforts of their community. The level of education provided in understanding the data, in reviewing all possible scenarios of the market trade data, in exposure to experts in the retail development industry and in post-Academy follow-up services from Retail Strategies is excellent. I will be recommending this experience to any colleagues who are new to leadership roles in retail development in their communities.
Maleia Evans
Executive Director Covington-Tipton County Chamber of Commerce
If your community is desiring a better understanding of retail, what businesses you should be targeting, and how to attract them to your community – you must attend Retail Academy. Their team tailored the information for our communities needs and provided us the back end support needed to execute against our goals. They have been an invaluable partner to our community.
Andrew Ambriz
Executive Director, McCook, NC
Madeline Farr
Director of Retail Academymadeline@retailstrategies.com