People have asked me why I recommended Retail Attractions to City Council. The reason is simple, with all of his experience Rickey 'gets it'. We didn't need a consultant coming in here and telling us what we didn't have or what we needed. We already knew that. What we needed was a consultant with the connections to help us get to work getting those companies and franchises here. We needed results not reports. We expected performance not platitudes. Retail Attractions delivers results. That’s why we hired him.

Rickey Hayes and I have been associates, confidants, advisors and friends to one another for several years. Most economic developers still shun retail development; few have the skills, expertise or contacts necessary to coach a willing city council and staff in the complex strategies and tactics of winning retail deals. Rickey does. There are notable successful economic development consultants but Rickey Hayes stands alone when it comes to retail development.

When I need assistance with new sites for our retail and restaurant tenants, the first call I make is to Rickey Hayes and his team at Retail Attractions. Rickey's attention to detail, his staff's ability to drop anything and provide immediate assistance, and the uncanny ability to find the exact market data, site info, or any other facts of figures you need is why we make that call. There are other firms that provide retail related data, and they are great companies, but they do not so what Retail Attractions does. It's plain and simple.

As a commercial real estate broker for NAI, I have known and worked with Rickey Hayes for five years. I first met Rickey when he was the Economic Development Director for the City of Owasso, Oklahoma. The successful retail developments he helped bring to Owasso is in itself a testimony for Rickey's hard work, knowledge, and experience in the business. Rickey not only understands the economics of the project, he also understands the needs and concerns of the developers and retailers. Rickey has the knowledge and contacts to help make projects successful and I look forward to working with him in the future.

The Retail Attractions Team understands the process of economic development. They are experienced, politically astute and sensitive to community dynamics. They know the art of creating a deal - facilitating and brokering all facets, and addressing every detail. Retail Attractions knows how to create results for all parties - the investor, the developer, the tenant and, most importantly, the community. Rickey and his team add value because they have public and private experience, and a track record of success. They have the resources and expertise to gather the data, provide critical analysis, make spot-on recommendation, and work the plan in collaboration with community leadership. Retail Attractions brings a wealth of relationships with investors, developers and retail real estate decision makers. They will not only get your community in the door, they know how to close the deal.

Rickey’s role as the City of Owasso’s Economic Development Director was of paramount importance to the school district. Rickey’s efforts during a time of exceptional growth brought numerous developers and individuals seeking development opportunities to the City of Owasso. The result of Rickey’s tireless campaign was the construction of multiple new businesses, hotels and shopping facilities. This in turn made Owasso School’s bonding capacity and its ability to pass large bond measures increase dramatically in a relatively short period of time.

As a former state senator in Oklahoma and now as an economic development director in a struggling economy, I know how tough it is to generate much needed sales tax revenue. I have known and worked with Retail Attractions, LLC since the company began in 2007. As an economic developer, I have heard pitches from other companies trying to provide services to help cities promote retail growth. Do all the comparisons you want…at the end of the day cities need more than data, marketing material, and reports. Rickey Hayes understands retail development from both the public and private sector and it is his relationships with the retail world and the developers that sets his company apart. If you desire new retail growth in your community, there is only one company to consider. Hire Retail Attractions.

I worked with Rickey while he served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Owasso. As the owner of a growing business, I am a client of Retail Attractions because I value the expertise, wisdom, and counsel that Rickey brings to the table. From a business standpoint, he understands the importance of staying on point and meeting deadlines. He is goal orientated and works well under pressure. I have watched him work to create an environment that will allow large corporate chains, as well as small businesses to flourish in Owasso, OK. He understands the dynamics of small towns going through a steady retail and economic growth and has provided valuable insight for growth to numerous business owners in Owasso.

I have known and worked with Rickey Hayes for several years when his work was primarily in the realm of city government. His understanding of the needs of the development community and his willingness to work above and beyond the call of duty paid great dividends for the City of Owasso. He has saved my company time and money many times by working behind the scenes in solving complex zoning issues, regulatory problems, and other inevitable issues and conflicts that arise in the development world. I am very excited to recommend the professional services of Retail Attractions to both cities and developers. Rickey´s skill and expertise, his ability to simplify and solve problems, his personal integrity and his willingness to work to close a deal makes hotel development more efficient.

I attended an event today that for quite some time I thought highly unlikely to ever occur—the grand opening of the Sam’s Club on North 10th in McAllen. Thanks to all for your help in getting that project done.

Our company does development work and site selection for national retail clients including CVS Pharmacies. When I’m in a need of information about sites, local development issues, or other commercial real estate or development problems in Oklahoma, Retail Attractions, LLC is the first one I call. I have worked with Rickey Hayes on several retail projects in several communities and have always been satisfied by prompt, professional, and efficient service. Thanks a lot for your help.

The dynamic growth of Owasso can be attributed directly to Rickey's hard work and his knowledge of how city government/private developer relationships work. We find that our national retail and restaurant clients are often wary of small to mid-size communities because of past experiences. Rickey has extensive contacts at the highest levels with national retailers, restaurants, and developers, and because of the manner in which he has dealt with them in the past, he is trusted as being able to cut through local bureaucracy and "get things done". His experience and personal integrity gives him the ability to bridge the communication gap that often exists between those national developers, restaurants, and retailers who want to be in a community and the community itself desiring to attract these tax-producing corporate citizens.