• How brick-and-mortar stores can benefit from e-commerce

    The impact of e-commerce on physical stores is not as negative as many believe—downtown merchants can thrive in this environment through omni-channel marketing and creating unique experiences.
    This is one of a series of ongoing Public Square articles on the market, technological, and cultural transformation of the $5 trillion retail industry—and how it relates to a continued shift toward walkable, urban living. It is quite popular to blame the “retail apocalypse” myth on the growth of e-...Read more

  • The ‘retail apocalypse’ is a myth, and that's good news for the shopping industry and downtowns

    A Google search for the so-called "retail apocalypse" generates more than 13 million results, but brick-and-mortar retail is growing. The data presents a more confident picture for urban and town planners, developers, investors, and merchants.
    This is one of a series of ongoing Public Square articles on the market, technological, and cultural transformation of the $5 trillion retail industry—and how it relates to a continued shift toward walkable, urban living. It is essential to debunk the myth of the “retail apocalypse” and change the...Read more

  • Why downtown retail is coming back

    Even as e-commerce takes market share and national chain stores close, demographic shifts have created a growth market for downtown retail and mixed-use.
    This is one of a series of ongoing Public Square articles on the market, technological, and cultural transformation of the $5 trillion retail industry—and how it relates to a continued shift toward walkable, urban living. In 1964, British pop singer Petula Clark released Downtown , a number one hit...Read more

  • A brief history of retail and mixed-use

    From the decimation of downtowns to the “retail apocalypse,” massively changing retail has been the norm for the last seven decades. Urban retail may benefit from the current transformation.
    This is one of a series of ongoing Public Square articles on the market, technological, and cultural transformation of the $5 trillion retail industry—and how it relates to a continued shift toward walkable, urban living. In the beginning, we built beautiful main streets and downtowns, and we all...Read more