Breakfast Briefing and Conversation

Gibbs’s Recipe For Retail Power-Centers

What would it take to turn our shopping districts into retail power centers? Robert Gibbs, international retail consultant and the principal researcher and author of the Gibbs Planning Group’s (GPG) 2011 Santa Cruz Retail Market Analysis, has just released a book, Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development. The book is an overview of the many elements and forces that coalesce to determine success or failure of retail areas – the things great and small that create a vibrant, productive environment for shoppers and store owners.

On February 22 the Chamber will present a report on Gibbs’s Principles book with an emphasis on its relevancy to Santa Cruz and the GPG Retail Market Analysis of Santa Cruz.

Participants will discuss some of Gibbs’s First Principles and how they apply to Santa Cruz such as:

• Sustainable [retail] centers sell the goods and services (brands and price points) the people desire and need
• Street-front retailing requires on-street parking
• Anchors are essential for downtowns and most shopping districts
• Retailers must… earn profits on their investment – not just wages

We will also look at the Case Study of Santa Cruz, included in the book and discuss next steps in implementing efforts to take advantage of the issues and opportunities that have been identified.

This briefing and conversation will be of particular interest to:
• Retailers
• Retail property owners
• Planners and government decision makers
• Realtors and commercial property developers

Kick off your day with some great business information, good conversations, and a light breakfast.

About "Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development"

The retail environment has evolved rapidly in the past few decades, with the retailing industry and its placement and design of "brick-and-mortar" locations changing with evolving demographics, shopping behavior, transportation options and a desire in recent years for more unique shopping environments.

Written by a leading urban retail expert, Robert Gibbs, this is a guide to planning for retail development for urban planners, urban designers and architects. It includes an overview of history of retail design, a look at retail and merchandising trends, and principles for current retail developments.

Principles of Urban Retail Planning and Development:

• Provides insight and techniques necessary for historic downtowns and new urban communities to compete with modern suburban shopping centers.
• Promotes sustainable community building and development by making it more profitable for the shopping center industry to invest in historic cities or to develop walkable urban communities.
• Includes case studies of recent good examples of retail development

Register today

The Santa Cruz Chamber is dedicated to helping local companies grow their businesses. Our mission since 1889 has been to promote economic vitality in the Santa Cruz area. Chamber member breakfast meetings are an opportunity to come together prior to the start of the business day for conversation about community, economics, and key local issues. This event is open to both members and non-members. Tickets for this event are discounted for members.

Cost: $15 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members

Light breakfast will be served

Annual Business Briefing Sponsor: