Retail at the End of 2017 (Issue 185, December 2017)

Consumer Market Segments December 2017 — Overall, consumer demand and behavior have changed significantly over the past decade. At the end of 2017, those changes are having a lasting impact on the industry. Deliberate Consumers. These consumers are cautious about spending. They now expect and search for bargains, an expectation that retailers have unhappily fostered […]

Five Keys to Downtown Success (Issue 183, December 2015)

December 2015 — The gut reaction most civic leaders have to a loss of business or population is to focus on growth strategies. It may be a better strategy to first focus on resilience rather than growth strategies. Resilience is how we maintain vitality in the face of adversity such as population decline, loss of […]

Downtown Storefront Improvements Analyzing Return on Investment (Issue 180, March 2015)

March 2015 — Do downtown storefront improvement projects provide an adequate return to the property owners, outside investors, or public funding entities? If so, what are the returns in both economic and other terms? This article summarizes findings from 24 case studies of storefront improvement projects in Wisconsin over the past 15 years. While not […]

Downtown Internet Connectivity Summary of Survey Results (Issue 179, October 2013)

October 2013 — Embracing the internet can help downtown businesses grow and compete. This article summarizes the responses to a survey concerning access to and use of broadband in downtown districts. The sample consists of the 35 responses received from downtown development and Main Street professionals in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Ohio. This was not a […]

A Profile of Wisconsin’s Small Town Downtowns (Issue 178, August 2013)

August 2013 — Downtown districts in Wisconsin’s small cities and villages have significantly different demographic and economic characteristics from those in larger cities. These differences can help us understand their particular issues and opportunities for downtown revitalization. This article profiles small town downtowns from the perspective of who lives downtown, who works there, and what […]

Importance of Buying Local (Issue 169, September 2010)

September 2010 — A growing body of evidence suggests that the businesses most beneficial to a community are those that are independent and locally owned. This article provides an introduction to the potential economic, social, and environmental benefits provided by local business. Economics  Perhaps the most compelling reason to buy local and independent is economics. […]

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