About Houston
The beautiful city of Houston is home to an impressive visual and performing arts scene. The many shows, concerts and galleries make it a popular tourist destination and a great Houston retail location as well. It is the fourth biggest city in the United States and still growing in both size and culture. This place is destined for great things and is already one of the nation’s most diverse and most populated towns with 2.3 million citizens.
One of the city’s most popular events is the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, which averages 2.5 million attendees every year and is a great place to catch a glimpse of the amazing food and entertainment that the town has to offer. You can also take advantage of the 375 stores found in the world’s 9th largest shopping mall, or explore the area’s links to history by taking a trip to sites like the Holocaust Museum Houston.
Retail Location Options in Houston
Retail locations are used to promote products, host VIP shopping events or similar occasions. There are certain things that you will need for this kind of event, and in order for it to succeed you have to be prepared.
- Advertising
You will want to attract as many people as possible to your Houston retail location, and a great way to spread the word is by advertising and marketing. You can work with an advertisement company to create posters or online publicity that can help bring visitors to your location.
- Security
Depending on what you are selling at your retail store, you might want to provide security in case anyone tries to steal. This is even more important if you have a specific guest list and don’t want uninvited visitors to join. Security can be necessary at these types of events for protecting your visitors and merchandise.
- Decorations
Another great way to attract people to your venue is to have it well decorated. You can make any venue look great by adding subtle details that go well with the space and complement your merchandise. If you have a special occasion for your event, try following a theme.
Retail Location Companies in Houston
Your Houston retail location will need certain things that can be hard to find or set up on your own, which is why you might need help. Consider working with the following companies that can be found right inside the city.
- Pierpont Communications
Pierpont Communications was founded in 1987 and is a top public relations and marketing agency. They can help teach you how to advertise for your retail location in Houston through detailed media training, and can also make creative digital marketing and advertisements for you.
- Nationwide Investigations & Security
This business offers security for people, events and retail locations as well as fire watch and investigations. They have 20 years of experience and can provide the protection you might need at your retail venue. They have armed and unarmed guards available with 24-hour service, making them accessible whenever you need them.
- Decorative Center of Houston
The Decorative Center of Houston is a great place to find furnishings, flooring, wall coverings, accessories, lighting and more that you can use to spruce up your retail location. They have showrooms that you can use as inspiration and can give you professional decorating advice with their 30 years of experience.
Pros and Cons of Retail Locations in Houston
Before you open your Houston retail location to the public, make sure that you know as much information as possible about the city. There are some advantages and disadvantages that might make you change your mind about where to host your event.
Advantages
- Great job market
Houston is a big city that is continuously growing, constantly opening new job opportunities in many fields. It is a great place to find a job or start a new business, making it the perfect place for a retail location too.
- Beautiful parks
Recently, Houston has been working on improving its parks and is now the greenest city in the south. It has over 50,000 acres of nature parks and is also taking action in wildlife conservation. If you want to spend time outdoors you can find many areas in the city with some great trails.
- Warm winters
Houston’s climate is warm and summers can get very humid and uncomfortable. However, this also means that you won’t have to deal with the harsh winters that you might experience in other places. Enjoy warm weather and tee shirts all year round.
Disadvantages
- Flooding
Because Houston is situated on the coast, it often experiences storms during hurricane season. This can sometimes lead to flooding which can damage properties, so if your retail location is in a flood zone, be sure to have adequate insurance.
- High sales tax
It is important to note that the sales tax in Houston is higher than you might be used to. You will be charged an additional percentage when you make most purchases here, so keep this in mind when you are planning your budget for your venue.
- Crime
Houston has a highly elevated crime rate. You have a much higher chance of experiencing crime during your stay in this city than in many other American cities, so be careful with yourself and your merchandise.
Famous Locations in Houston
- Space Center Houston
This is one of NASA’s main space centers and home to the famous phrase “Houston, we’ve had a problem”. The Space Center Houston was first opened in 1963 to be used as a human spaceflight hub and is still functioning today as a research and training facility. If you want to learn more about the establishments, meet some astronauts or get a tour, check in at the visitor center located nearby.
- George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
This building has exhibits focusing on former president George Bush and features some permanent and temporary collections relating to his life. You can learn about his time as president, his involvement in the CIA and what he and Barbara Bush, his wife, were up to after their time in office. The museum also has a replica of the Oval Office as well as artifacts dating back from World War II and other historic events.
- Memorial Park
Memorial Park is one of the bigger nature parks in Houston and is where you can go to see some amazing native flora. The area has 30 miles of walking trails as well as a swimming pool, fitness center and picnic area. You can play some sports here like croquet, golf, volleyball and soccer to name a few. It is a great place to bike and walk or just spend time enjoying nature.
