Nevada selects Buxton to help recruit retail to area

Special to the Herald

Nevada is one of four Missouri community to take advantage of a Fort Worth, Texas, company's CommunityID retail program to help the city nurture and improve the retail sector of Nevada business. Three other cities -- Grandview, St. Charles and Nixa -- have each requested the program as well.

Representatives of Buxton, the company that provides the services in retail study and recommendations, said "communities are beginning to take a proactive position in growing their retail sector because retail creates new jobs, increases tax revenues and satisfies residents' desires to shop at home. It also brings new dollars into the community, while retaining dollars that are currently spent outside the community."

CommunityID is a unique retail identification program that profiles consumers living in a specific trade area by their buying habits and lifestyles. According to company marketing materials, Buxton recommends retail matches that each of the communities should target for attraction, giving each community the time and resources to invest toward recruiting those retailers with which they have the best chance of success and that will have the most positive impact on the city.

"These four clients are very diverse: a first tier suburb; an outer ring suburb; a growing bedroom-type community; and a more rural community that is a regional draw," says Tim Root, territory business manager for Buxton. "Regardless of their situation, CommunityID will help them all identify which retailers are the best fits based on their residents' lifestyles and spending habits."

Buxton is currently providing retail recruitment strategies to over 100 communities in 28 states.

Leaders in these Missouri cities are excited about the tools Buxton will provide to increase retail and revenue in their communities.

"Nevada is experiencing dramatic growth with six new industries and over 1,300 new manufacturing jobs," says Craig Hubler, city manager, Nevada. "We know that developers working on new retail investments need data to guide their recruitment efforts. Buxton's approach helps us ensure that our many current, new and expanding retail businesses will succeed and be able to take full advantage of the community's rapidly changing market."

Other cities giving the CommunityID a try agree.

"This approach to retail recruitment provides a valuable investment in our future," says Patricia York, mayor of St. Charles. "We are excited about the ability to match specific retailers with the lifestyles of our citizens and complement the wonderful retail establishments that already call St. Charles home."

Since 1994, Buxton has been the industry leader in customer analysis for the retail industry. Buxton helps retail and restaurant chains find the right locations for new sites by using its database of more than 100 million households to identify customer's lifestyles, behavior patterns and buying habits.

Among its 1,000 clients are Pier 1 Imports; CompUSA; California Pizza Kitchen; The Container Store; Moore, Okla.; Lancaster, Calif.; McKinney, Texas; and Richland, Wash. Fast Company magazine recently named Tom Buxton, president and CEO of Buxton, to its 2005 Fast 50.

Each year, the magazine recognizes 50 remarkable people for their leadership and innovation.

For more information about the program or company, visit the Buxton Web site at www.buxtonco.com.