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Experiential. That\u2019s the buzzword in business these days. And, for retail, that\u2019s where brick-and-mortar really shines. Individual businesses call it customer service, destinations like shopping districts and malls build on that through events and, yes, their mix of merchants.<\/p>\n
The street-level experience in Downtown Tempe is ever evolving and we are constantly looking for ways to support the entrepreneurs that want to call this place home. It\u2019s these businesses that make our downtown unique, and we are proud that more than 70% are locally owned. Without diverse merchants at the street level, we wouldn\u2019t be the funky, eclectic urban center that we are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All downtowns also rely on their business owners to be partners in the growth of the downtown. These people are our neighbors and they are committed to the place. Local businesses also bring jobs to our downtown that support the larger economy. As we continue the recovery, it\u2019s imperative that these businesses are supported and continue to thrive. They create our character and they are worth celebrating!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRetail on Top\u201d is this month\u2019s cover story. The feature is a shopping trip to look at \u201cWhy Brick-and-Mortar Businesses Are Booming.\u201d In Business Magazine<\/i> editor RaeAnne Marsh explores the experiences of mom-and-pop establishments with a single location, businesses whose clientele support them at multiple locations and those with growth strategies to expand far beyond our local borders. She also takes a look at some of our Valley\u2019s special shopping destinations \u2014 and sets the whole story off with an in-depth look at the evolution of the shopping mall here in Greater Phoenix.<\/p>\n Another feature this month addresses a couple of the \u201cquiet\u201d things going on with employee treatment. Side-by-side articles deal with the issues of companies not promoting otherwise-deserving employees out of fear the company couldn\u2019t find a replacement and companies piling on job responsibilities without acknowledging the \u201cpromotion\u201d officially through salary or title adjustments: \u201cAdvancing Positions: Avoid Promotion-Avoidance Strategies\u201d and \u201cAdvancing Positions: Dangers of \u2018Quiet Promotion.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Important legal changes are (or may be) coming that will affect business. In this month\u2019s Legal feature, attorney Erin Dunlap discusses what businesses need to know about the proposed American Data Privacy and Protection Act and suggests now is a good time for businesses to review and potentially make changes in their privacy policies. And in the \u201cRoundtable\u201d feature, attorney Helen Holden wants to make businesses aware of an issue that\u2019s gaining traction as a political item: a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements.<\/p>\n Other relevant and important information that impacts our business community fill the pages this month on our economy, startups, healthcare, technology and more. I am pleased to be part of this February edition of In Business Magazine<\/i> to share this content with you. I hope you enjoy the read.<\/p>\n Sincerely,<\/p>\n