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I recently read an article about the top retailers that purchased the most “Green” power to run their operations .

Consumers are becoming more aware of the environment in today’s market and as a result, willing to spend more to buy environment friendly products. To answer this heightened awareness, many retailers are responding to consumer demands for planet friendly products and environmentally responsible practices. While some retailers only see the cash register green that can be gained from promoting and exploiting this latest consumer trend, other retailers see a cause that desperately needs the cooperation of the retail industry in order to advance.

Examples:
Whole Foods set the green standard for bagging long ago. They have encouraged the recycling and reuse of bags and paying back the customers who bring their own bags since inception.

Something from concepts like EcoShoppe that deserves attention is their use of “seed paper” for in-store signage. The store will print its promotional signs on this special seed paper (with soy ink) and instead of throwing the signs away when the promotion is over, the EcoShoppe employees will cut them up and give the pieces to customers. Customers can then plant the paper scraps in the ground in order to grow wildflowers from the seeds that were embedded into the paper in the manufacturing process.

Other U.S. retailers that are proving their green commitment in a tangible way earned a spot on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power list for the first quarter of 2009. This EPA list recognizes American corporations that are purchasing green power to run their operations.

Wind, solar, and biomass energy are examples of “green power” which is energy that is generated from renewable resources. Businesses and consumers often have a choice to purchase green power, although to do so often means a higher utility bill. Of the top 50 green power purchasers on the EPA list, 23 of them are from the retail industry, which is a proud retail accomplishment.

Green Power List
Whole Foods Market topped the list with 100% of its energy being green power. Whole Foods uses 463,128 megawatt-hours of biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar and wind power.

Starbucks has 20% of its 150,000 megawatt-hours being wind power.

Safeway purchases wind power for 2% of the 87,000 megawatt-hours it uses annually.
Staples purchases biogas, biomass, solar and wind power for 10% of the 49,457 megawatt-hours it uses annually.

FedEx Office purchases green power for 15% of its 40,600 megawatt-hours used annually. The company did not specify which types of green power it purchases.

HEB’s Austin region operations purchase biogas and wind power for 26% of the 27,600 megawatt-hours used annually.

Liz Claiborne’ corporate headquarters uses wind power for 100% of its 25,000 megawatt-hours used annually.

prAna also uses wind power for 100% of its 16,500 megawatt-hours.

Lowe’s Home Centers in North Carolina, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas use biogas, solar and wind power for 4% of their 16,473 megawatt-hours.

Shaw’s Supermarkets in Rhode Island rounds out the list with 6% of its 2,000 megawatt-hours coming form biogas and solar power.

Reference:
DSN Retailing Today
Barbara Farfan, About.com Guide to Retail Industry

While some retailers are shutting their doors, leading to ever growing dark spaces in community store fronts, others are taking advantage of the lower lease rates these vacancies leave in their wake. Retailers still in expansion mode are beginning to adapt their plans to include this existing space, in some cases adapting their models to include new approaches to meet the desires and needs of the consumer. (more…)

How can local governments help retailers that are already located in their City and how small communities can increase foot traffic?

All across the country local governments are getting creative to help promote retailers already located in their city.

One example of what cities are doing is creating websites for local retailers. These sites give consumers detailed information for local shopping and dining establishments such as services, directions, store hours and links to store websites.

A perfect example is Santa Clara, CA. They have created www.shopsantaclara.com for local retailers to advertise and promote their businesses. This program and site has helped Santa Clara jump back into the top 25 as one of the best retail cities in the nation.

The majority of communities have not utilized a local website for retailers to promote their businesses. That still does not seem to deter millions of retailers to take online advertising into their own hands. Local online advertising will reach 7.7 billion in 2009 as reported by Borrell Associates. They also report email marketing will increase 54% to $233 million by years end. Below is a list of great sites to showcase your local retail and restaurants:

TrueLocal.com
MerchantCircle.com
Dotster.com
Local.com
Reach Local.com

One last note for small communities; local festivals and fairs for smaller communities is a great way for retailers alike to work together to showcase and promote all retail. What’s good for one is good for the other. Increasing foot traffic is a win/win situation for all. Generally when your retail neighbor increases sales and traffic, your numbers will increase as well. So working together to better increase the quality of life for citizens and consumers alike will help promote and enhance shopping and dinning opportunities for all.

We’ve been hearing from several fronts that a “crisis” or “recession” is a terrible thing to waste (the “recession” was the term used by some until others decided “crisis” had a better ring). Well, from this Wall Street Journal article, it looks like Buffalo Wild Wings, Panera Bread and Burger King are making vacated stores an opportunity to expand at a lower cost. These specific concepts may not be looking for sites in your area, but there are still others looking. Again, the headlines are the store closings, but numerous retailers and restauranteurs are still expanding, even if at a more modest rate. Here’s a link to the full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123845664424871607.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Long-term retail development success depends far more on continuity of marketing efforts than it does on waiting for economic conditions to improve. A historical perspective shows that economic declines are temporary and while it is difficult to predict the timing of recovery it is usually just around the corner.

Community leaders often decide to wait “until times are better” to continue or to initiate a retail development initiative. But waiting on the sidelines means you are less likely to benefit fully when economic conditions improve.

Don’t let your emotions sway you. It is difficult to keep an optimistic view while the prognosticators and new channels deliver a constant barrage of bad economic news. It is easy to lose sight of the resiliency of the economy and the fact that successful retail development programs are grounded on an optimistic premise. The economic potential of a community is never achieved in a negative environment.

As difficult as today’s economic conditions maybe there is one thing that community leaders can control: how aggressively they market their community. Successful communities tend to follow several time-tested marketing principles which help them achieve their retail goals.
(more…)

Here is a somewhat uplifting story by Carrie Kahn that I heard on NPR’s Morning Edition (Wednesday March 25th).
In Carmel, Bailout Money Makes It To Main Street

I encourage you to give it a read or a listen. Basically this story illustrates how one bank, Pacific Capital Bancorp, actually did what they were supposed to do with their TARP money… they lent it.

As a result a key local business was able to not only stay afloat, they were able to grow. And that one business’ new found vitality, courtesy of the loan from Pacific Capital Bancorp, made a positive impact on other businesses in the local economy.

I think it is important to share the good news when it is out there. I hope that you find this story as inspiring as I have. Buxton has developed hundreds of wonderful partnerships with cities across the nation. And we have always worked to provide services that can help Main Street and local businesses within our partner cities. During this recession we have seen many of our main street friends suffer through some hard times. It is good to see a bank like Pacific Capital Bancorp actually do what they are supposed to do. It is good to see Main Street actually start to get some help.

So what other “good news” stories like this are out there? There have to be more. We would love to hear from you. Please let us know what you are seeing in your corner of the world.

Chris is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, currently serves on the planning committee for the 2009 Conference of the International City Managers Association, and has served in an advisory and resource support role to multiple academic programs related to the field of consumer analytics. During his tenure with Buxton, Chris has worked as a senior analyst and project manager providing solutions for hundreds of retailers, healthcare providers, and cities.

With the economy how it is, this year is not a year to skip out on ICSC’s annual RECon event according to an article in April’s Shopping Center’s Today. Cities are chasing after retailers harder than they ever have before and retailers are ready to make appointments with them.

If you are a first-timer to ICSC, there is a breakout session on Sunday, May 17 from 9:30 – 11:00 am. The session is titled First Timer’s Orientation and will be an informative overview of how to maximize your convention experience. Learn the in’s and out’s of navigating this event from those who are in the know.

Chaired by:
John Crossman President, Crossman & Company, Orlando, FL

Panelists:
Wanda Dunaway Director of Business Development, Balfour Beatty Construction, Atlanta, GA
Jane McVey Director of Economic Development and Redevelopment, City of Oceanside, Oceanside, CA
Chip Rodgers Senior Vice President, Buxton, Fort Worth, TX

To make an appointment to meet with Buxton at ICSC RECon, Cliick here.

Learn how to grow your economic prosperity!
Join us at CALED’s Annual Training Conference April 15-17, 2009
http://www.caled.org/economicdevelopment/services/caleds-annual-training-conference

CALED is “Partnering for Prosperity” with the California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program (CCCEWD) to create a unique opportunity for economic development professionals and workforce development practitioners to network and share solutions for an improved local economy.

For More information please click here http://caled.org/09AC_reminder.html

Each year CALED presents California’s largest economic development conference designed to train attendees to implement effective practices to assist businesses and grow local economies. During this time of economic downturn, it has never been more apparent that Economic Development and Workforce Development share one goal: To get people to work!

This joint conference will target special issues and solutions facing local governments, businesses, and economic development. In addition, critical workshops focused on creating jobs and ensuring a skilled workforce will complete the “Partnering for Prosperity” puzzle.

Buxton will have a booth at the conference and will be speaking on April 16 on “Site Selection: Using Technology to your Advantage”