Disappearing jobs, along with evaporating wealth from home values and other investments has forced consumers to downsize their spending.
“Most of the consumer behavior we saw in 2008 will continue well into this year,” said Rosalind Wells, National Retail Federation chief economist.
|
Advertisement |
The Montrose Area Merchants Association’s contract requires the organization to fund a shopping habits survey. That process is currently underway. Juli Messenger, director of MAMA, said they are looking at the objectives again, and talking to the city, to see if it should include input from the city’s recent downtown assessment by adding downtown questions.
The city finished an assessment Feb. 6 of the downtown area that looks at ways to bring it revitalize it. The assessment will be available on the city’s Web site in the next month.
The retailers are trying to work together and have organized several groups based on location. The Heart of the City committee involves downtown businesses. It has started the monthly Art Walks and worked to spruce up the empty storefronts along Main Street.
Another assessment of the whole city will take place sometime in April through the state Office of Economic Development. It will be similar to the first assessment, but look at the whole city and will include tourism and infrastructure, said Assistant City Manager Scott Sellers.
The South Townsend committee, involving South Townsend business, is also working on event ideas to get locals out shopping. One idea includes a “Tuesday on Townsend,” and also an Easter event.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
• Be respectful of others, the writer and the subjects in the story.
• Be relevant. Keep your comments on point.
• See the guidelines for TalkAbout. Perhaps your comment is best for that community forum, available from the home page, instead of commenting on a particular story.
Comment posters are responsible for the opinions they express and the accuracy of the information they provide. We urge comment writers to treat this as a public forum where manners matter. We encourage a collegial, non-insulting tone. All readers comments must be approved by our staff before posting to the Web site. Be aware, in accordance with the Communications Decency Act and provisions upheld in judicial appeal, that you are responsible for comments posted on this Web site. Montrose Press is not liable for messages from third parties.
DO NOT POST:
* Potentially libelous statements or damaging innuendo.
* Obscene, explicit, or racist language.
* Personal attacks, insults or threats.
* The use of another person's real name to disguise your identity.
* Comments unrelated to the story.
Opinions, advice and all other information expressed in montrosepress.com's reader comments represent the individual's own views and not necessarily those of the Montrose Press. Montrose Press does not endorse and is not responsible for statements, advice or opinions offered by anyone other than authorized Montrose Press spokespersons.
Thank you for your comments!