With the upcoming Blatnik Bridge closure and subsequent traffic rerouting, the Superior Business Improvement District (SBID) is proactively working to help local storefronts adapt to the upcoming shifts in consumer flow.
The SBID is working with Sharan Kanugovi, a Business Analytics student at UW-Superior, who is leading a research initiative to track real-time changes in local foot traffic and customer spending. Our goal is to build predictive models that will help businesses navigate operational volatility over the next 5 years. This research will be funded as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at UW-Superior.
We are currently onboarding a select group of local businesses to participate in this project.
What we are asking:
- Use a simple, custom-built web application at your checkout counter to log three quick data points per transaction: the customer’s total spend, their zip code (geographic origin), and the time of purchase. The application is designed to be extremely low-friction for your cashiers and takes only seconds per transaction.
- Participate in this data collection for a period of at least one month to help us establish a strong baseline of current consumer flow.
What you will get in return (at zero cost):
- Complete Data Access: You will retain full access to all the localized data collected at your storefront during the project.
- Customer Geography Assessment: You will receive a direct report breaking down exactly which ZIP codes drive the majority of your sales, providing a clear picture of where your core customers live.
- Interactive Predictive Dashboard: At the conclusion of the modeling phase, a custom dashboard will overlay your gathered data with municipal traffic models, specifically highlighting the operational risks and potential revenue opportunities for your storefront on the newly modeled traffic routes.
By understanding exactly how the incoming infrastructure disruptions will physically divert consumer flow away from or toward your specific storefront, you will be equipped to make data-driven operational decisions.
If you are interested in participating and gaining these localized insights, please complete the form below by June 5, 2026. We will walk you through a brief setup process prior to the program start on June 8th. Data collection will run through July.