Out with the old, in with the new. The days of real estate professionals using standardized retail trade areas to analyze retail demand are behind us. The majority of today's real estate professionals are using mass mobile data to understand where shoppers are coming from, how long they stay at a store, where they go next, and more. Mass mobile data is a powerful tool that is transforming how retail developers and businesses make decisions about expanding into new markets.
This session will discuss a case study from North Charleston (SC) to illustrate the type of data available from a mass mobile data provider and how it can be used to advocate for expanding retail options in underserved communities. Cell phone data can be used to debunk the myth that lower-income communities don't have the buying power required to support retailers. This session will be used to empower planners to leverage the data available to engage developers, property owners and businesses in discussions about expanding into underserved markets. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the risks that come with cell phone data - including loss of privacy and the potential for continued discrimination.
