Many business districts face high vacancy rates and a poor mix of retail tenants.
They typically lack the market research support available to the big retailers and shopping center developers. In response to this situation, the University of Wisconsin-Extension now has a market analysis education program to help local business leaders, entrepreneurs, developers and economic development professionals understand the changing marketplace and identify retail and service opportunities that make sense for their community. The program helps the local business district and community representatives sort through and use the most relevant secondary data available. Local survey research is used to fill in important information not readily available through secondary sources. Education and Assistance Extension staff work closely with local study groups of five to eight residents to examine retail and service activity in each community.