Comments on: Small town retail trend: shared spaces https://smallbizsurvival.com/2017/04/small-town-retail-trend-shared-spaces.html The small town and rural business resource Sat, 29 Apr 2017 21:24:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2017/04/small-town-retail-trend-shared-spaces.html#comment-242262 Sat, 29 Apr 2017 21:24:13 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=10607#comment-242262 Bruce Mines, Ontario, population 500, has a great example called Mariner’s Cove. The building is broken up into many separate spaces called “coves,” each with a different business. There are retail shops with antiques and collectibles, massage, color and aroma therapy, manicures, and much more. The businesses use a private Facebook group to keep in touch with each other. Owners Larry and Pat Peterson were even kind enough to give a bit of credit to me for confirming their idea would work when I mentioned shared retail in one of our SaveYour.Town webinars! Read more about their shared space in the Sault Star.

]]> By: Becky McCray https://smallbizsurvival.com/2017/04/small-town-retail-trend-shared-spaces.html#comment-242247 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 21:10:36 +0000 http://smallbizsurvival.com/?p=10607#comment-242247 Karen shared this example by email:
Donalsonville, GA, located in Southwest GA near the AL/FL lines, has embarked on a revitalization plan that started with a “Shared Space” model. The Downtown Development Authority applied for and was awarded a $100,000 USDA Rural Business Development Grant to open and operate a “Mini-Mall”. The Front Porch Market now has approximately 15 vendors that sells everything from boutique clothing, antiques, jewelry, handmade goat soap and lotion, garden accessories, to name a few. The DDA was able to operate for 1 year with the grant ($75,000), hold some classes for vendors and the public; and provide a small revolving loan fund of $25,000.

Thanks for your information. Love reading what other towns are doing.

Karen

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