Retail Recruitment Strategy

1. COLLEGE STATION
RETAIL RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

2. RETAIL RECRUITMENT STRATEGY
BACKGROUND
SERVICES PROVIDED
COVID-19 PIVOT
2021 FORECAST

3. BACKGROUND
 The Retail Coach Partnership started in 2015
 International Council of Shopping Centers membership
and trade show attendance
 Launched economic development website (grow.cstx.gov)
 Commercial preservation projects
 South College Station secondary market
 All Up In Your Business Podcast
 Growth

4. THE RETAIL COACH
 Partnered with College Station since 2015
 Analysis and understanding of the College Station Market
(Retail Trade Area, Demographics, Retail Demand, etc.)
 Building relationships with existing property owners and brokers
in College Station
 Aggressive outreach to prospects, via email, phone calls, and trade
show representation
 Trade Show Representation: ICSC Recon, ICSC Deal Making
and Retail Live
 Successes: Another Broken Egg, Conns, Dunkin, Five Below,
HomeGoods, Krispy Kreme, Lululemon, Snooze, Dutch Bros,
and more

5. SERVICES PROVIDED
 Retail Prospect Outreach and Recruitment
 Maintain knowledge of current site inventory
 Connect retail prospects with potential site matches
 Highlight Retail Market Profile & feature available retail sites
on grow.cstx.gov
 Facilitate introductions and meetings with city staff
 Foster relationships with developers, brokers and site owners
 Highlight retailers on podcast and in news interviews

6. COVID-19 PIVOT
 Shifted focus to retaining retail businesses in addition to
recruiting
 Economic Assistance Grant
 Health Reimbursement Grant
 Bridge Loan Program
 Bandit Signs
 Holiday Shopping Campaign “Shop College Station”
 Backfilling vacant space
 Continued retail recruitment

7. NATIONAL 2021 FORECAST
 2020 Holiday Sales were up four percent over 2019.
This growth is expected to continue.
 Retail expected to be back in full force no later than June of 2021
 Emerging trends:
 Expanded drive-thru options
 Expanded patio seating
 Expanded curbside pickup
 New emerging brands
 Influx of available space due to store closings
 Growing retail sectors include: home improvement, sporting
goods,
grocery, health and personal care stores, furniture, general
merchandise

8. LOCAL 2021 FORECAST
 New team member - Stacey Vasquez
 Fusing tourism with retail - ensuring the biggest
sales tax impact from visitors
 Launching retail Business Retention & Expansion (BRE)
program
 Focus on backfilling vacant space
 New brands entering the market- Buff City Soap, Lucchese
Bootmaker, Rush Bowls
 Continued growth in South College Station, to include
Midtown Business Park Commercial