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Old Ellicott City Merchants Get 21st Century Retail Advice
Jason Barnes was an employee at All Time Toys in Ellicott City , Maryland before he decided to buy the business in June of 2016 . Two months later , a 1,000 year flash flood totally destroyed his business and closed the town for months .
At the same moment that Jason lost everything , he was also hailed as a hero when he became a part of a human chain that rescued a young women from her car just before it was swept away . The video went viral and he was suddenly in the national spotlight . But Barnes didn ’ t always feel like a hero when he worried about supporting his family and wasn ’ t sure how to climb back . As he started on this new chapter of his professional life , he knew he needed business improvement assessments as well as a sustainable business strategy .
Barnes immediately took advantage of the Disaster Resource Center set up by Howard County government that brought dozens of relief agencies together and provided information on loans and counseling . It was at this center that Barnes officially met Garrett Glover , a restaurant / retail specialist and high impact consultant from the Small Business Development Center ( SBDC ). Glover offered to assist Barnes with everything from operations to merchandising . “ For the first time since the flood , I realized I could restructure my business operations at a higher professional level . I had hope ,” states Barnes .
Barnes and Glover met regularly and formulated a customized action plan . Barnes became knowledgeable about best practices for merchandising and “ compel-to-sell ” floor plan layouts . After months of intense work , All Time Toys , which sells pop culture toys and collectibles , reopened in January 2017 and Barnes reports that his sales have doubled . “ I now have a business plan based on 21st century business models and I have a growth strategy .” “ Retail trends are shifting dramatically and we are fortunate to have Garrett guide us through this difficult time .” states Karen Besson , President of Ellicott City Partnership , a non-profit that represents the business district . “ Factors such as internet sales , the closing of large retailers and the consumer ’ s desire to shop local affect our merchants . Garrett has been instrumental in explaining the repercussions of these changes and helping business owners to adapt .”
Others have taken notice of Glover ’ s success . His team has assisted 75 Ellicott City businesses to date and is meeting with 30 long-term clients on a regular basis . Glover provides one-on-one consultations yielding both
Jason Barnes ( left ) & Garrett Glover ( right ) Photo by Pam Long Photography
action plans and strategies for growth . He also facilitates monthly “ Peer-To-Peer Dialogues ” where merchants share opinions and information on retail trends , sustainable strategies and creating positive customer experiences .
Glover , who has 45 years of retail and restaurant experience , fell in love with Ellicott City when he first visited in the 1980s . He was the first Corporate Operations Manager with the Clyde ’ s Restaurant Group and passed through town frequently . In 2015 , the Ellicott City Partnership and the Howard County Economic Development Authority brought Glover in to assess the town and give recommendations . After the July 30 , 2016 flash flood , Glover was assigned to Ellicott City to work with merchants on disaster relief and recovery as well as economic revitalization .
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GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2017