Retail Advocate
Retail Advocate
Reports To: Executive Director
Hours: 38 hours/per week
Rate: $21.50/hour
Benefits: Health insurance stipend of $150/month; Paid holidays, time off, and sick leave; Flexible schedule.
The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) is a nonprofit organization that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Bellingham as a prime business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. The Partnership’s diverse activities include improving the environment for existing businesses; assisting with the creation of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community; supporting and promoting Downtown Bellingham’s cultural and historical assets; producing engaging community events and programs; and encouraging a unified sense of place and an engaged civic community.
The Retail Advocate position is jointly funded by the City of Bellingham and the DBP in partnership and is
an integral part of a retail strategy that is being developed by Downtown Works, a Seattle based retail consulting firm. The Retail Advocate will be trained by the staff of Downtown Works on prospecting, leasing vocabulary, economic terminology, and developer and property manager relations.
The DBP Retail Advocate will be responsible for implementing the retail strategy by seeking out and recruiting retail stores, food and beverage establishments and personal services operators that fit with a specific merchandise mix plan developed for a focused area within Downtown Bellingham. The Advocate will build relationships with prospective retailers and property managers (and/or their representatives) and match new retailers with appropriate spaces.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Prospect for and build relationships with successful independent operators from throughout the region; share the vision for Downtown Bellingham retail; provide details on the characteristics of specific spaces.
- Build rapport with property owners and their real estate representatives; serve as point-of-contact between them and prospective tenants.
- May contribute to seeking out developers with a track record of creating quality, successful mixed-use projects in an urban setting, and/or with carrying out top-quality renovations of existing buildings.
- Maintain database of tenant prospects and of properties.
- Contribute to the development of marketing material.
- Work with prospective retailers from initial contact through to store opening.
- Explore ways to support existing operators on areas such as merchandising, window display, and marketing.
Qualifications:
Skills / Experience
- Exemplary verbal and written communications skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build solid relationships with and support among stakeholders.
- Coalition-building skills, including the ability to motivate, negotiate, and persuade stakeholders into a course of action.
- Significant work/life experiences.
- Experience in one or more of retail, restaurant, sales, marketing, public relations, design, or related disciplines is helpful, though not required.
- Computer proficiency Microsoft Word and Excel required; proficiency with database building/maintenance would be of great benefit.
Qualities - Outgoing, friendly personality.
- Strong interest in style/fashion/shopping/design/food.
- Strong work ethic, independent, self-motivated, detail-oriented.
- Tenacious and positive, with a “can do” attitude.
- Ability to take action quickly.
- Creative, with innovative implementation skills and solid problem-solving capability.
- Live in the general vicinity of Bellingham and/or have an intimate knowledge of and affinity for the city.
- Committed to Downtown Bellingham; well networked a plus.
To apply, send a cover letter, references and CV to DBP Executive Director, Alice Clark, at alice@downtownbellingham.com.
The deadline for applying for the position is Monday, January 29, 2018.