It can get depressing when you read the news about store closings. A legendary 7-year-old scrapbooking store in Salt Lake City will soon be just a memory because the landlord wouldn’t accept a year-to-year lease. An eclectic furniture store in Austin is shutting down after 26 years because “There are almost as many lookers but not as many buyers.” A once-bustling urban core in Halifax looks more abandoned each day as retailers leave in droves, blaming city government for not helping them out. Blogger Cynthia C. observes “There is something creepy and terribly sad about watching a retail store in its last days of a bankruptcy sale.”

Times are tough for not just for consumers, but also for the merchants who try to stay profitable while serving them. At least that’s what the media tends to focus on: the gloom and doom of retail. A Google News search for “retail store design” turns up more negative stories than positive ones these days.

Yet I’m amazed at how much activity I encounter as I connect with new and established retailers around the country. They’re constantly on the lookout for not only the newest, freshest ideas in store design and outfitting, but also for the most effective ways to serve their customers in the Internet age. That means staying touch with your loyal clients, learning what they like and dislike about your store, and asking them to help you serve them better.

I’m encouraged when I read a positive story about a new store opening or concept. The new Adora department store in Manila, Philippines, has a fantastic concept: It only looks high-end. A spokesperson says, “The nice store is only a stage; it’s not the star. We have a mix of things that relates to the customer we cater to.” The merchandise is carefully “edited and curated” and “the floor staff is ‘well versed on all the items’ so that a single person can assist a customer around from RTW to skincare to jewelry.” And to top it off, “Business hours don’t start until 1 p.m. as the mornings are devoted to reorienting the sales team or rearranging the merchandise.”

That’s the kind of store I want to shop in. And do business with. Can your customers say the same about your store? If so, you’re bound to see a sales boom. If not, I’m afraid, the media will just have more gloom and doom to feed on.