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TREND 2025: Retail’s Big Split: what small town retailers can do now

By Becky McCray

A few people shopping in an attractive retail store in refurbished downtown building.

Remember the Retail Apocalypse around 2017? In a media interview this week, I brought up that it was actually Retail’s Big Split, not an apocalypse, and it’s ongoing. The reporter asked me to explain, so here’s my update for today’s retail landscape.   “Everything gigantic in American life is about to get smaller or die.” […]

December 11, 2024 Filed Under: Best of, entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local, Survey of Rural Challenges, trends Tagged With: experience economy, retail

How one town stopped business owners and staff from parking in front of downtown businesses

By Becky McCray

Without making people mad! One common small town parking complaint is business staff taking up customer parking. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this brought up in discussing downtown businesses. Sometimes business owners or business employees park right in front of their business or along the Main Street. They might park out […]

October 21, 2024 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, mistakes, rural, shop local Tagged With: business district, downtown, main street, parking, retail

Shop Local tools: Easy Editorial, Letter to the Editor template to copy

By Becky McCray

It's the Most Wonderful Time to Shop Indie Local

Promote local shopping with a letter to the editor or editorial Step by step instructions Ready to promote local shopping to more of your community? Try an editorial or a letter to the editor. You can submit this to your local newspaper, share it in any organization newsletters, and post it on social media! Step […]

November 27, 2023 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local Tagged With: holiday shopping, shop indie local, shop local

Shop Indie Local Week and Holiday Season, it’s way more than Shop Small Saturday

By Small Biz Survival

A cat wearing a plaid bandana shown over a background of Shop Indie Local graphics

Guest post by Jen Risley, AMIBA Thank you for your commitment to building the local economy movement! Wishing you an inspiring Shop Indie Local Week with the entire community. My cat Shamu (above) can’t wait for Plaid Friday! One practical step: #ShopIndieLocal It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Any local business or group can start by sharing social […]

November 20, 2023 Filed Under: entrepreneurship, marketing, rural, shop local Tagged With: shop indie local

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