Heed ‘mom-and-pop’ input on market data, Marble Falls EDC is advised

MARBLE FALLS — Local merchants shouldn’t fear that a retail-recruitment firm hired by the Economic Development Corp. will bring big-box stores to crush “mom-and-pops” so long as they direct the EDC to find businesses matching the community.

That’s the lesson offered by other Texas economic development directors who have already worked with The Retail Coach, a national firm recently retained for $35,000 by the Marble Falls EDC to collect “demographics on steroids” that could attract new businesses — including large, corporate retail chains — to potential profits in Marble Falls.

The trick, said San Saba Economic Development and Tourism Director Tony Guidroz, is to make sure local EDC board members hear and understand the will of the people — or in this case, the already established merchants who form the economic backbone of the city.

PHOTO: Judy Miller and Bailey Sutherland of Outback Patio Furnishing get an order ready for delivery to a customer. Miller says she expects to use so-called shopper lifestyle ‘psycho-graphic’ information provided by The Retail Coach to attract more consumers. The Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. hired the research firm to give area merchants a detailed snapshot of consumer patterns. Staff photo by Connie Swinney