The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Marketing & Industrial Distribution and the Alabama Retail Association invite you to MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Tuesday, Sept. 23! That is the date for the 2008 Retail Day. The program will include a morning panel discussion from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, focusing on “Retail as Economic Development.” The keynote speaker for the awards lunch will be Martin MacDonald with Bass Pro Shops. The morning seminar, luncheon and awards program will be at The Club, 1 Robert Smith Drive, Birmingham. The panel discussion on “Retail as Economic Development” will dig into the issues that concern many emerging communities. The panel will discuss relevant topics in today’s retail market including,
· What are retailers with a centralized plan going to do to withstand the economic conditions and gas prices?
· Can we expect to see smaller stores pop up closer to where people live?
· Will we see more neighborhood markets and fewer super centers?
· What can we do to entice retailers to blaze new trails into our more rural trade areas while we are in an economic downturn – without giving away the bank?
· The future of Brick and Mortar vs. Internet Retailing
· Importance of retail development in a community’s economic well being
· Strategies for retail economic development in Alabama
The cost for the day’s activities will be $75 for the Retail Awards Luncheon and the panel discussion. For more information, contact: Cassandra Walker walkerc@uab.edu 205.934.8840
Your Town Alabama
Designing Alabama's Future