Livingston Meets with Buxton Over Future Retail Growth

Livingston’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen met with a representative from the Buxton Company – a customer analytics company in Fort Worth, Texas – to discuss potential retail growth.

Robb Miller is the Vice President of Sales at Buxton. He said the company helps communities find businesses that best meet their current needs rather than ideals.

“You have certain types of folks that live here and work here,” Miller said. “If a retailer came in and your residents or your workforce aren’t one of their customers, no matter how many incentives you try to put in front of that retailer, they’re not going to be successful. They’re going to open their doors and then, a couple years down the line, they’re going to end up closing. That’s going to be worse than having attracted that retailer in the first place.”

Miller said the company uses analytics and customer data to not only to attract new businesses, but help maintain those already established in the communities they represent.

“It’s not cannibalizing our existing businesses or our local businesses, it’s not reshuffling sales. It’s getting the right mix of retail and it’s creating net new sales,” Miller said. “So we take an analytical, data-driven approach to help communities lay the foundation for who they are and create a sustainable economic development strategy to move forward and attract the right types of businesses.”

Miller said the potential cost to the city using Buxton’s services would be around $50,000 annually with the option for the city to cancel after each year. The service includes data and analytical research as well as online support for the city to help determine what their needs are within the community at a moment’s notice.

“We had a community run an independent study that found for every dollar they invested in Buxton, they got a $91 return on that investment,” Miller said. “So what you are actually going to get when you partner with us, you’re going to get somebody who is going to empower you to realize your economic vision from a retail recruitment standpoint.”

Mayor Curtis Hayes said the service could be useful as the city looks to expand its retail offerings.

“I believe it’s important for Livingston to always look at companies who can help retain business here in Livingston and in Overton County,” Hayes said. “On the other side of that, I think it’s always important to stay in the recruiting business as well. We’re always looking for ways to expand our retail for our community. We’re always looking for an edge for sales tax dollars in Livingston.”

An official agreement was not made during the work session as the purpose of the presentation was for Miller to present what Buxton offers to the city.

Miller said the company is currently assisting municipalities like Sevierville and Memphis and has helped 25 Tennessee municipalities over the last 15 years.