Services

Retail-related economic development and training assistance includes a variety of services designed to improve and capitalize on a company’s core strengths. The Center’s assistance can include research, technical assistance, training or combinations of services. Examples of research subject areas include:

• Market feasibility analyses examine the potential for a new retail store location, including a review of the market size, competition, trends, and consumer profiles. Prepare a one, five, and 10 year business plan based on specific economic, distribution, and market driven characteristics.
  
  
• Customer segmentation and targeting project to help an organization better identify, understand, find, and reach the target market more effectively. The Center specializes in lifestyle segmentation and marketing efforts.
  
  
• Conduct economic feasibility and economic analysis evaluations regarding the financially sound choices for a retailer to move into a community, region, or state.
  
  
• Analyze consumer shopping patterns among channels (e.g. brick-and-mortar vs. Internet) as they influence retailer’s sales and profits.
  
  
• The Center for Retailing prepares clients for the current fluctuations in the retail economy by disseminating information via presentations, workshops, and newsletters.
  
  

Presentations

The Center provides on-site presentations to communities, organizations and businesses. We offer the following presentations:

Introduction to Retail Marketing: The basics from the retail marketing plan are addressed including: Place, Price, Promotion, Product, Placement, Packaging.

Introduction to Category Management: The basics of category management and its implication for product distribution, inventory management, and profits.

Influential Factors that Encourage U.S. Consumers to Buy: An overview is given regarding factors that encourage U.S. consumers to purchase. Examples of factors that specifically cite consumers to spend are given.

Impact of the Internet on Women-owned Businesses: The impact of the Internet on women-owned businesses is discussed.

Consumers Desire for Uniqueness and its Influence on Retail Channel Selection: In an era of branded merchandise, consumers are seeking a sense of uniqueness in their clothing and home furnishings. This presentation addresses methods of marketing and selling store and national branded merchandise while simultaneously offering uniqueness among the company’s product offerings.

Understanding Employees and Consumers through Clothing and Appearance: Regardless of the product being sold (e.g., fashions, medical equipment, sail boats), consumers will have a stronger propensity to trust and patronize a store when the retailer’s image and its employees are consistent with the product offerings. This presentation addresses the facts and myths about clothing, appearance and its impact on a retailer’s sales and profits.