Millions lost as locals shop outside Marble Falls

MARBLE FALLS — Spotting a possible outfit for her 8-year-old granddaughter, Julie Jarves felt a twinge of excitement.

“She really likes zebra prints,” the 61-year-old woman said as she recently browsed through Smartie Pantz, a retail children’s and ladies apparel store downtown. “This is my granddaughter’s style in here.”

PHOTO: Horseshoe Bay customer Julie Jarves (left), shopping for her 8-year-old granddaughter, gets some help from Smartie Pantz co-owner Stacey Nash at the Marble Falls store, 204 Main St. The boutique, which specializes in boutique children’s and women’s clothing, is one of the sales niches where economic development leaders say there could be a retail gap as local shoppers go elsewhere. Staff photo by Connie Swinney

And while Jarves may look like just another shopper to a casual observer, she and thousands like her are case studies to the Economic Development Corp., which is researching local buying habits to learn why millions in consumer dollars are leaving Marble Falls.

The EDC recently hired The Retail Coach for $35,000 to assess what officials call “demographics on steroids” and how to keep sales revenue in Marble Falls. The company has offices in Dallas and Houston.