Convention in Las Vegas could have bearing on what happens in Idaho Falls

The scene at RECon in 2012

I get asked all the time what's coming to town (Costco, Hobby Lobby, Dunkin' Donuts?) and I wish I had a crystal ball that would tell me that myself. Alas, I do not, but if you're looking to speculate on big retail names I would point you to the International Association of Shopping Centers, which had its annual RECon in Las Vegas this week.This is the global convention for the shopping center industry, attracting 32,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors. I know there were people from our area there, and I'm certain that whatever you may see happening at developments like Sand Creek Commons (Sunnyside and Hitt, where Cabela's has already committed), is likely to have its origins in conversations that took place at RECon.

Looking at the ISCS's news releases on RECon, this is the link I found most interesting: Retailers at RECon Are Hungry For Space to Grow. One name in this release jumped out, Sprouts Farmers Markets, based in Phoenix-based, with 172 stores and a long-term plan to expand that number to 1,200. Here is a report from Monday night with a lot of interesting information about demographics that could have a bearing on what happens here: Retail Trends 2014.

A few key points from this story:

• Total employment in the U.S. today stands just short of where it was in 2007 before the recession. Excluding government jobs, private sector jobs now exceed where they were at the beginning of this recession.
• Consumption is 70 percent of our economy. Today, retail sales in the Unites States are 14 percent higher than they were at the peak in 2007.
• The 20-to-34-year-old demographic group will account for $2.5 trillion of sales by 2015, an incredibly important driver of where we are and where we are headed.

The 20-to-34-year-old demographic group, which by 2015 will account for $2.5 trillion of sales, is an incredibly important driver of where we are and where we are headed. - See more at: http://www.rebusinessonline.com/main.cfm?id=35754#sthash.9zSP6uE5.dpuf

The 20-to-34-year-old demographic group, which by 2015 will account for $2.5 trillion of sales, is an incredibly important driver of where we are and where we are headed. - See more at: http://www.rebusinessonline.com/main.cfm?id=35754#sthash.9zSP6uE5.dpuf

The 20-to-34-year-old demographic group, which by 2015 will account for $2.5 trillion of sales, is an incredibly important driver of where we are and where we are headed. - See more at: http://www.rebusinessonline.com/main.cfm?id=35754#sthash.9zSP6uE5.dpuf

Total employment in the U.S. today stands just short of where it was at the prior peak in 2007 before the recession,” emphasizes Nadji. “If you were excluding government jobs, private sector jobs now exceed where we were at the beginning of this recession.” - See more at: http://www.rebusinessonline.com/main.cfm?id=35754#sthash.9zSP6uE5.dpuf

Total employment in the U.S. today stands just short of where it was at the prior peak in 2007 before the recession,” emphasizes Nadji. “If you were excluding government jobs, private sector jobs now exceed where we were at the beginning of this recession.” - See more at: http://www.rebusinessonline.com/main.cfm?id=35754#sthash.9zSP6uE5.dpuf