From Foot Traffic to Community Impact: Growing Together as Local Merchants

When local merchants succeed, the whole community wins. This session highlights how downtown merchant associations and community groups can help businesses not only increase visibility and sales but also strengthen the broader local economy. Through collaboration, creative engagement, and shared resources, downtowns can become vibrant destinations that draw customers, foster loyalty, and create lasting community impact.

Attendees will walk away with:

• Practical Strategies to Drive Foot Traffic: Ideas for events, promotions, and experiences that bring people downtown regularly.

• Collaboration Models That Work: Ways merchants can partner (instead of compete) to expand reach and share resources.

• Marketing Approaches to Boost Visibility: How to leverage storytelling, social media, and “shop local” campaigns effectively.

• Customer Loyalty Beyond Discounts: Programs that create community pride and long-term customer relationships.

• Measuring Local Impact: Tools to demonstrate the value of keeping dollars in the local economy.

A thriving downtown economy doesn’t just benefit store owners—it creates jobs, attracts investment, and enhances quality of life for the entire community. By working together, merchants and associations can make their downtown not just a place to shop, but a destination to experience.