BEFORE YOU CHANGE ANYTHING.

DURING + AFTER EVERY CHANGE.

We can't stress the importance of this enough.

Documentation strategies can help you:

• Plan for the re-arrangement of the store

• Keep track of your work + changes

• Keep track of storeowner, customer, community resident + community partner feedback to store and its changes

• Develop best practices

• Learn from mistakes

• Evaluate your progress

• Make presentations to city council, funding groups, community organizations, and other storeowners

• Promote the market as a community health resource +  a socially responsible business

• Create a Before + After “keep sake” as a show of appreciation for the storeowner's participation + commitment to help the community

how?

Use multiple formats to tell a full story:

• pictures
• videos
• hand-drawn floorplans
• surveys
• interviews
• narratives
• testimonials

what to include:

1.  COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE MARKET. Do this in conjunction with a Detailed Assessment of Partner Market (Link to page)

a.  Exteriors (get different points of view):

• from across the street

• from down the block

• full view of the entire building from different sides

• from the customers' point of view upon entering the market (is it welcoming?)

• extra wide shot of the market in its context (what other businesses/ buildings make up its immediate surroundings?)

• parking lot, if present

• public transit, if present

b.  Interiors

• Try to document the market from the customer's point of view

• What's the first thing they see when they enter?

• Document the store's inventory + retail configuration (what's located where?)

• Market's different components (bakery? food service? prepared foods take-out?)

• Cash register (a. k. a. Point of Sale)

• What's the last thing they see before they leave?

c.  Floorplan

This will be invaluable when it is time to map out your goals for what the inside of the store will look like. It doesn't have to be fancy. Start with some basic graph paper to help you visualize configuration + scale (and keep your lines straight!). In addition, you can use tracing paper as an overlay so that you can try out different store layouts.

2.  DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. Ask people what they think throughout the market makeover process. It shows that their opinions matter and that they are an important part of the project. It's a good way to keep them interested, invested, and involved.

• storeowner + staff

• customers

• community residents

• youth + community participants (folks doing direct work on the market makeover)

• organizational partners (coalition members)

• local elected representatives + public officials

Ready for the NEXT PHASE OF A MARKET MAKEOVER?

Not quite ready?  Here's more on info on STORES and STOREOWNERS + What happened in South LA.

see: