Choices, aura top draws to business
A friendly atmosphere, options and safety measures were some of Arkansans’ top three values in choosing which restaurants and stores to frequent, according to a recent survey conducted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
The survey was conducted in March by CREATE BRIDGES, an initiative of the Division of Agriculture’s Community and Economic Development Department, based in Little Rock. CREATE BRIDGES is an acronym for “Celebrating Retail, Accommodations, Tourism and Entertainment by Building Rural Innovations and Developing Growth Economies,” according to a news release.
The survey received responses from 199 residents living in Howard, Little River and Sevier counties. Survey results show the most popular products were clothes and locally-made or crafted goods, said Julianne Dunn, economic educator for the division.
“Additionally, a majority of respondents want the conveniences added during the pandemic to remain, such as ordering online, picking up at the store and curbside delivery,” Dunn said.
CREATE BRIDGES is designed to bring two three-county regions together to collaborate, gather data, develop and implement strategies to assist small, rural businesses in retaining and expanding their customer base. The CREATE BRIDGES region was selected in the fall of 2018, but its administrators had to reassess their objectives in 2020 while facing the challenges associated with the covid-19 pandemic.
“We agreed that consumers’ needs and desires may have changed as a result of the pandemic and that it would be beneficial to small retail businesses to know what their customers sought,” said Vickie Williamson, economic development director for Little River County.
Williamson and Tiffany Maurer, economic development director for Sevier County, generated a short
list of questions in January for consumers to answer online.
All respondents were entered into a drawing for a gift card as an incentive to participate. There were 199 responses across the three counties, providing helpful data and comments for local businesses.
To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact a local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow the agency on Twitter at @ UAEX_edu.
Details: Visit www.uaex.uada.edu/createbridges or contact Julianne Dunn at (501) 671-2158 or jbdunn@uaex.edu.
There were 199 responses across the three counties, providing helpful data and comments for local businesses.