Business Types that Succeed and Make Downtown Successful

1. Business Types that Succeed and Make Downtown Successful presented by • Bill Ryan, University of Wisconsin-Extension • JD Milburn, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation • October, 2011

2. Discussion Points Current Business Mix in Wisconsin’s Downtowns Openings and Closings in Main Street Communities Examples of Vibrant Downtown Businesses Market Analysis Tools to Plan a Vibrant Business Mix Looking Beyond Restaurants and Retail – Downtown’s Role as a Place of Employment

3. Before We Start – Understand the Presence of Wal-Mart in Wisconsin

4. What percent of Wisconsin’s total population is within a 30-minute drive of a Wal-Mart store? Quiz Question

5. 1. Current Business Mix in Wisconsin’s Downtowns • A Study of the downtowns of 310 Wisconsin City/Villages with populations of 1,000 – 100,000 • Current business mix • Change in number of businesses (1998-2009) • Average sales by business category

6. Current Business Mix – Cities/Villages of 1,000-100,000

7. Current Business Mix – Analysis by quarter, half and one 1-mile Rings

8. What are the three most common business categories in Wisconsin’s small town downtowns (pop 1,000-2,500)? Quiz Question

9. .5-Mile Radius around Cities/Villages with 1,000-2,500 Pop. • Current Business Mix – Top 15 Business Categories in 2009 Source: InfoUSA

10. What are the three most common business categories in Wisconsin’s larger town downtowns (pop 50,000-100,000)? Quiz Question

11. .5-Mile Radius around Cities/Villages with 50,000-100,000 Pop. • Current Business Mix – Top 15 Business Categories in 2009 Source: InfoUSA

12. .5-Mile Radius around Cities/Villages • Current Business Mix – Differences in Sales Per Business Source: InfoUSA

13. See: Retail and Service Business Mix Analysis of Wisconsin’s DowntownsAccessible through the updated Downtown Market Analysis toolbox:fyi.uwex.edu/downtown-market-analysis/ • Current Business Mix – Analyze the Mix in Your Downtown Source: InfoUSA

14. 2. Openings and Closings in Main Street Communities Discussion by JD Milburn, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

15. 3. Examples of Vibrant Downtown Businesses Innovative Downtown Businesses Clearinghouse • Case studies of retail and service businesses that are Innovative • Searchable by • Type of business • Size of community • Eventually include hundreds of businesses from small to medium sized downtowns http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/downtowns/

16. Grocery Store Just Food Co-op, Northfield, MN • Emphasizes organic and locally produced foods. • Cooperatively owned by 1,600 community members. • Keeps dollars and business local. • Changing the way people shop for groceries (browsing leisurely at a community meeting place). 16

17. Restaurants Titletown Brewing Company, Green Bay, WI • Attracts locals and tourists alike • Variety of home brews and quality food/pricing • Anchors the downtown area/easily identifiable landmark • Provides variety of spaces, both inside and out 17

18. Theater, Arts and Entertainment • Fergus Theatre, Fergus, MN • Renovated 1921 theatre seats 400 • Programming includes live theatre, independent and foreign films, documentaries, live music, professional and local dance performances, visual art exhibitions, workshops and literary events, arts classes.

19. Retail - Recreation and Sporting Goods • Earth Rider Bike Shop and Hotel • Combination bike shop and B&B, • Organizes bike tours of the back roads and trails of Green County, Wisconsin and nearby communities. Tours are designed for various cycling skill levels and have various theme such as farm tours and history tours. 19

20. Retail - Home and Garden Stores • Old Spud Warehouse, Gaylord, MI • Located in renovated potato farmer’s cooperative built in 1900 • Unique furniture, lighting, and home accents • Products are purchased individually and mix is always changing 20

21. Retail - Local Specialty Foods • Galena Canning Company, Galena IL • Produces over 350 old fashioned canned and sauce items • Purchased and renovated 1942 hotel in 2006, noted a 400% increase in sales • Added a small bakery and coffee shop, which is a vibrant draw throughout the entire day 21

22. Retail - Book Stores • Autumn Leaves Used Books, Ithaca, NY • A unique selection of hard-to-find books and records • Serves as a gathering place with coffee shop in store • Attraction for visitors to the area • Ithaca HOURS program participant (local currency keeps business local)

23. Retail - Coffee Shop/Bakeries that Serve as Gathering Places • Red Mug Coffeehouse, Superior, WI • Organic and Fair-trade drink and food • Local meeting and leisure place • Promotes social activism in their community • Cooperation with other businesses in the arts community 23

24. Retail - Unique One-of-a-Kind Retail • Hoffman’s Patterns of the Past, Princeton, IL • Known throughout the world for extensive china selection • Over 175,000 pieces • Special store events coincide with local festivals 24

25. Retail - Local Arts & Craft Shops and Galleries Wind, Water & Light, Champaign, IL • Features 180 local and national artists in a variety of mediums. • Educates the shopper about the art, the process and the artist. 25

26. Retail - Variety Store • Pick & Shovel Building Materials, Newport, VT • Attends to daily needs of residents and visitors • Sensitive to local preferences regarding inventory and pricing • Makes downtown a must-stop • Provides a friendly community gathering place (ice cream stand) 26

27. 4. Market Analysis Toolbox to Plan a Vibrant Business Mix • Self-help toolbox for downtown economic revitalization • Intended for downtown professionals, planners, local study groups, and market research consultants • Provides proven techniques for conducting commercial district market studies. • Joint Effort of Wisconsin, Ohio and Minnesota Extension, along with the Wisconsin Main Street Program http://fyi.uwex.edu/downtown-market-analysis/

29. 5. Looking Beyond Restaurants and Retail – Downtown’s Role as a Place of Employment University of Wisconsin-Extension research examined the current business mix and employment estimates of businesses and organizations located within a half-mile walk of center of each of Wisconsin’s downtowns (300+ places with a municipal population of over 1,000). Data was examined by municipality size, ranging from small cities (pop. 1,000 to 2,500) to larger cities (pop. above 100,000).

30. Average Downtown Employment in Wisconsin Cities and Villages

31. Downtown Employment Mix in Wisconsin Cities and Villages

32. Downtown Employment by Sector

33. Downtown Employment by Sector

34. Downtown Employment by Sector

35. Downtown Employment by Sector

36. Downtown Employment by Sector

37. Downtown Employment by Sector

38. Downtown Employment by Sector

39. Downtown Employment by Sector

40. Downtown Employment - Discussion • Downtowns are important employment hubs. • Downtowns have a diverse employment mix. • If economic development is about leveraging the assets that currently exist in an area, then downtown’s role as an employment center must be recognized. • Many of our downtowns have the ability to be a catalyst for local job growth. • Programs and spaces to support entrepreneurship • Labor force can be groomed at downtown educational institutions • Physical proximity allowing for innovation through face-to-face meetings • Downtown’ central place supports sustainability. • With more new jobs downtown, pedestrian traffic will followand support vibrant retail stores, eateries and environment we all want to see downtown. http://fyi.uwex.edu/downtown-market-analysis/

41. For More Information Bill Ryan University of Wisconsin-Extension Center for Community Economic Development 610 Langdon Street, Room 329, Madison, WI 53703-1104 Phone 608-263-4994 bill.ryan@uwex.edu JD Milburn Wisconsin Main Street, Economic and Community Development Dept. Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) 201 W. Washington Ave., P.O. Box 1687, Madison, WI 53701 Phone 608-267-2252 john.milburn@wisconsin.gov