Get Street Smart
Planning and conservation › Urban development and revitalization › Downtowns and main streets › Get Street Smart
Get Street Smart creates thriving districts by design. Metro offers businesses and communities the tools and resources they need to revitalize and reinvest in downtowns, main streets and commercial districts.
Do you own or manage a retail shop, restaurant or ground floor business?
This series is for you! In six fast-paced sessions, experts share valuable tricks and tools to polish your business profile and boost sales.
Get inspired with fresh ideas and insights. Hear stories about the successes and challenges of growing a small, local business.
Copyrighted materials. Do not reproduce.
Low-cost, high-impact storefronts
Whether you’re pondering paint colors or more dramatic renovations, you want investments in your business to be worth it. Our experts highlight the ins and outs of storefront improvements and help you consider how a fresh exterior can enhance your profile. If you’re ready to invest or just looking for attractive, low-cost solutions, learn the steps you can take to make a positive transformation happen.
Storefront presentation
Storefront checklist
Storefront handout
Boost visibility with sidewalk appeal
Tired of customers passing you by? Discover the elements of sidewalk appeal that draw folks through your front door. From seating, to planters, to sidewalk displays, staging your business from the outside in will increase visibility and encourage customers to linger.
Sidewalk appeal presentation
Sidewalk appeal handout
Sidewalk appeal video with Brian Emerick
Sidewalk appeal video with Seanette Corkill
Trade secrets of distinctive signs and lighting
More than just a finishing touch, signage and lighting are essential details that will get your business noticed. From DIY strategies to more sophisticated elements requiring permits or engineering, our expert helps you consider options and approaches that set your business apart and help it shine.
Signs and lighting presentation
Signs and lighting handout
Signs and lighting video
Design your way to improved sales
Every business can make a great impression. Careful attention to color, layout, merchandising and branding draws customers in and invites them to linger. Artfully maximize every square foot of your floor space to delight your customers and shape their experience. Learn where and how to highlight inventory, and tie it back neatly to your brand.
Improved sales presentation
Improved sales video
Window reflections (Is your best side showing?)
Your front window is your calling card 24/7. Whether your business is open or closed, your window can and should be your most effective advertising. Discover how to stage a compelling window display, tips for keeping your look fresh, and special strategies for making streetside restaurants and service businesses more enticing.
Can-do customer promotions
It doesn’t take an advertising wiz or a large stash of cash to promote your business. Reach out to new customers and keep them coming back. Our pros will share time-tested examples and new concepts for district-wide and single-store events that can expand your customer base. Discover how to make event-planning manageable with step-by-step processes that will help you carry it all off without a hitch.
Promotions presentation
Promotions handout
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