Focus On Our Business Landscape
by Joe Molineaux
Sometimes you do not notice things happening or changing, if the change is gradual. You also might miss changes if you do not have anything to compare the changes to, like what is occurring in other places.
Changes to businesses, commercial districts, and the mix of entities within those areas, are something that changes from time to time. As our regional towns experience both prosperous and challenging times, the business landscapes change. Decades ago, as suburban neighborhoods developed, many businesses choose to locate closer to that growing population, and malls, as well as strip malls, started to pop up. Currently, in many places these same malls and strip malls struggle to find tenants and attract customers.
However this week’s column is not about the history of business, it is more about a focus on the present reality, and a concern for the future of our business landscape. A number of recent trips up and down the east coast, a trip out west, and a visit to the northeast mountain region has inspired me and gotten me thinking about where we, as a region, may be heading.
There are always great exceptions to every situation. This holds true for the communities that actively pursue new business, as well as help existing businesses be more successful. It is always a question of time, money, and at times circumstances beyond the control of those in positions of leadership with our communities.
Our current situation is that, based on our economic challenges over the past ten years, we have been led to a place where we have become something different than what we were before. Yet our business landscape may look the same as so many other towns and cities
across the nation. Let me explain…
If I blindfolded you and took you to a major retail intersection in one of our towns, you would find national brands of big box, fast food, chain restaurants, and franchises. I could then re-blindfold you and drive you to “any town” U.S.A. and most likely you would see exactly the same mix or offering of stores and chains. Other than a regional convenience or gas station chain, the business landscape looks the same.
This is a concern and somewhat troubling because we are losing our uniqueness and the commercial character of our towns. This also means the room and space to create more unique retail and service offerings is limited, as long as the current trend continues.
The other concern is the business mix that is currently choosing to locate here. I have to stress that as an individual working in economic and business development for over two decades, I completely understand the importance of employment and indirect jobs that most types of new businesses bring to our region. Unfortunately, when national companies review our economic makeup they see something less vibrant and valuable than most of us see in ourselves. This leads to an overabundance of discount stores that, while convenient, does not always provide the mix and quality of products we desire.
It has been said “You get what you think you deserve”. I would hope as a region we think we deserve to have a vibrant, unique mix of retail offerings that benefits each of us and the visitors that come to our region each season.
As many of you read this, you will think that your town has a unique mix of businesses, and works hard to keep a vibrant retail culture and offering alive in your community. And you are most likely correct. But if you read this and feel that your town is not moving in the direction that you feel it should be, there is hope.
Over future columns Business Beats in Shore Local will focus on providing information, tips, and some techniques that can help our region refocus, and potentially revitalize our regional business landscape. This along with television programs like South Jersey Business with Joe Molineaux, and upcoming radio programs focusing on business, we can share ideas, concepts, and strategies, to work towards a better and brighter business mix.
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY SONG OF THE WEEK
By Joe Molineaux
“Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
This week’s Economic Opportunity Song of the Week follows the theme of this week’s Business Beats by putting emphasis on focusing on supporting the businesses in our region. We need to continue to foster both entrepreneurship along with attracting and retaining the larger employers that make up our business mix. In other words, we need to be takin’ care of business. If you do not think you are in a position to do so, think again. Takin’ care of business means doing your best to patronize and visit the locally owned and operated retail establishments, and using services offered by people you know. Make it part of your balance between the choices you make everyday to spend our valuable dollars.
Randy Bachman originally penned what would become “Takin’ Care of Business” as a song called “White Collar Worker” while a member of the the band The Guess Who. The song was released in its current form on BTO’s second album Bachman-Turner Overdrive II in 1974. Abbreviated for many uses as “TCB” after the song charted at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, the phrase has been part of a pop culture ever since.
