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Retail Strategies pitches recruitment service; council asks staff to consult local development corp.
Summary
Retail Strategies presented a market analysis that estimated a 33,000-person trade area and $97 million in annual retail leakage. Councilmembers agreed the data and active recruitment services could be useful but asked staff to consult the Mitchell Area Development Corp. before committing funds.
Retail Strategies, a private retail-recruitment firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, presented to Mitchell City Council a preliminary market overview and a proposed partnership that would include data analysis, in-market real-estate assessment and active outreach to expanding retailers.
Presenters Banks Perry and Ryan Folt described a custom trade-area analysis that estimates 33,000 people in the trade area and an annual retail leakage of about $97 million—dollars residents spend outside the Mitchell trading area. Retail Strategies proposed an engagement model that includes a three-year outreach contract priced at $50,000 per year (with the option to opt out after year one or two), an in‑market real-estate inventory and ongoing recruiter outreach to a target list of retailers.
Council discussion: members praised the outreach pitch and the firm’s promises of active recruitment and accountability (including a client portal and quarterly reporting). Several councilmembers asked how the firm differs from a previous Buxton study and whether the city’s existing Mitchell Area Development Corp. (MADC) should be part of any plan. Retail Strategies said their work goes beyond a one-time study by doing targeted, active recruitment and by maintaining retailer relationships.
Direction: Council asked staff to consult with the Mitchell Area Development Corp., review potential overlap, and return with recommendations before adding a Retail Strategies contract to the 2026 budget. Council expressed interest in a stakeholder meeting and in obtaining a clearer inventory of in-market and off-market real estate before making a funding decision.
