Consumer Connection

What is the Consumer Connection?

The Consumer Connection is an economic development program that TVA developed to link Valley communities with business opportunities, expansions, and retentions. The program is designed to help community leaders understand retail development and retention in order to expand the local tax and revenue base, enhance property values, support job growth, and enhance capital investment.

Why should Valley communities target the retail sector?

Retail is the second-largest industry in the United States both in number of establishments and number of employees.
The commercial sector of the economy, which is predominantly retail, currently makes up 60 percent of the Valley economy and is the fastest-growing sector.
The retail sector is rapidly saturating the major metropolitan markets and is looking at smaller markets for growth.
Retailers are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in the site selection process and are identifying potential markets 2 - 3 years before development.
Communities that can prove to retailers that they have the unique customer base and sites for their products will be successful in growing their retail sector.
Retail adds value to the community by increasing revenues, creating new jobs, and improving the quality of life.
Retail serves as a catalyst for other large-scale economic development projects.

What does TVA offer?

TVA is partnering with local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and civic leaders to provide market research, consumer segmentation data, information on business opportunities, and market development analysis that will help communities create business and commercial opportunities.

Features of the program

Facilitation of workshops to help community leaders analyze their consumer potential, identify business expansion opportunities, and develop targeted market plans.
Access to consumer business information, databases, maps, expansion plans, and marketing resources to support better understanding of the retail sector and local opportunities.
Participation in regional marketing events sponsored by the International Council of Shopping Centers to promote your community both nationally and regionally.

Claritas
Offers a wide range of databases, including demographic data, drive times, traffic counts, market-analysis and site selection software, customer segmentation systems, and lifestyle segmentation system.

Crittenden
Publishes multiple industry-specific weekly newsletters and a CD-ROM Retail Expansion Directory.

The International Council of Shopping Centers
Helps members develop their businesses through education, research, information, deal-making, and action on legislation and regulation. ICSC hosts conferences and local, state, and regional alliance meetings that bring together developers, property owners, retailers, and lenders for education and deal-making. It offers several useful industry publications, such as ICSC Smartbriefs and Retail Perspective, and a full line of industry-specific books, manuals, and audiocassettes.

Additional data sources and tips

Retail Lease Trac
Provides online access to a database CD-ROM that identifies retail prospects and expansion plans by states. Identifies companies that are seeking to expand into the various states and the criteria and requirements they need to expand (e.g., population, traffic count, income).

Trade Dimensions
Offers a weekly trade newsletter and Retail Tenant Directory CD-ROM. The weekly newsletter, Insider, covers the shopping center industry and profiles expansion plans for new or existing retail chains and major shopping center developments, as well as other issues and news that impact the field. The Retail Tenant Directory is published annually and lists detailed information on 5,400 actively expanding retail chains.

www.nrf.com The National Retail Federation offers a wealth of information regarding the retail industry.

www.about.com Get retail industry news, plus great information and data on a wide array of subjects important to all retail businesses.

www.retailnet.com Retail Net offers retail industry news and information, research reports, e-mail alerts.

www.corenetglobal.com Association for corporate real estate and related professionals.

www.retailtenants.com One of the best sites for retailer prospects and leads.

www.property.com A source for retail expansions plans, leads, and key contacts.