Recovery and Revitalization Depend on Understanding Human Psyche
Downtowns and urban commercial districts across the U.S. won’t recover from the economic impacts of the global pandemic simply by way of government proclamations to reopen or a marketing campaign to bring customers back downtown. Recent national polls indicate that the majority of Americans are uncomfortable going to retail stores and restaurants, and other public places, regardless of current restrictions.
In this week’s Main Street America Spotlight, NMSC Vice President of Revitalization Programs Matthew Wagner, Ph.D., explores why a return to bricks and mortar shopping and other downtown activities will greatly depend on the ability to understand, influence, and comfort the human psyche. He also provides tools you can use to better understand how local consumers and small business owners in your community are feeling so that you are positioned to take a thoughtful and strategic response to the lifting of business restrictions.