Dear Reader:

Welcome to the RETAIL INCUBATION BLOG.  This blog, affiliated with THE RETAIL INCUBATION GROUP http://www.RetailIncubation.com , is designed to provide information on retail incubators to the economic development community, particularly downtown, neighborhood and commercial district revitalization professionals.

For too long now, we have been shackled by the "business recruitment" model of economic development.  That is, downtowns and commercial districts have pursued new businesses in an attempt to "lure"  them to their respective areas.  That approach is dated and frankly, not as succesful as it could or should be.  Now there are choices.  One of those choices can be found at the website of our sister business, THE DOWNTOWN  ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT  http://www.downtownproject.com , an organization designed to create new businesses in downtowns, neighborhoods and commercial districts through creative entrepreneurship.

Retail Incubators are one more tool in the entrepreneurial toolbox, and we at the Retail Incubation Group are immensely proud standing at the cutting edge of this movement.  We were inspired by the boundless creativity, intellect and innovation advanced by such renowned urban thinkers as Dr. Richard Florida of the Creative Class Group, www.creativeclass.com  -- Roberta Brandes Gratz author of CITES BACK FROM THE EDGE, as well as people such as Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self Reliance, a group that has been advocating for independent businesses for years http://www.ilsr.org .  My respect for Dr. Florida, Ms. Gratz and Ms. Mitchell  knows no bounds.  I do not want to leave the reader with the impression that any of these individuals or organizations mentioned have endorsed our business(we would not impose on them), simply that these good and creative people have paved the road for the rest of us--and have provided inspiration through their good works.

Frankly there are some who erect roadblocks and find fault with the retail incubation model.  Unfortunately they are mired in the "old economy" and do not see the wisdom in harnessing the energy of small entrepreneurs--entrepreneurs who can change the culture of a downtown, a neighborhood and commercial district.    Some of these  "roadblock organizations"  are actually "trade groups" that represent downtown revitalization professionals--that is sad--and yes maddening.  Succesful retail incubation efforts are all around us, and we have been involved in some of those--yet the naysayers and skeptics will still abound.  We fear(or applaud) that the graduates of the incubators we help create will be looking in their rear view mirrors at these naysayers in a relatively short period.

Conversely, there are some who might argue that  retail incubation is not cutting-edge enough.   They would argue that new concepts such as "crowd sourcing" and "economic gardening" are the future.  That may be true.  The beauty of our approach is that we embrace those concepts and incorporate them into our model.  We will endeavor at every turn to remain ahead of the proverbial curve, to be relevant, cutting-edge, fresh and to provide our clients and the economic development community the information and research they need to be competitive in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

So in the coming months, days and years, we will be exploring the concept of retail incubation, providing highlights gleaned from our original research on successful retail incubators and presenting the stories of those communities that have the temerity and creativity to try a new approach.   Enjoy and welcome to our corner of innovation.

Chuck D'Aprix
Principal
THE RETAIL INCUBATION GROUP
THE DOWNTOWN ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROJECT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISIONS
http://www.retailincubation.com
http://www.downtownproject.com
http://www.economicvisions.com
http://www.RetailIncubationBlog.com