[OMS_MANAGERS] Good morning

[Sierra Lauder]

This was EXACTLY what I was facing in Tillamook when I started. Be patient, it will get better.

I wouldn’t venture to suggest that there is a one-size-fits-all strategy, but I started with an event that offered activities at each of those businesses, which I let them be in charge of organizing. I made it my role to connect the activities and provide coordinated marketing. I think the first one was Small Business Saturday, and we coordinated a passport where people could get a stamp at each business they attended and then bring it to a neutral location (we worked with a local non-profit art organization to host a pop up show in a vacant space to make the neutral location more exciting). I had  a list of activities that I guided businesses to choose from- Santa at the furniture store, cookie decorating at the bakery, Bloody Mary Toppings Bar at the local dive bar (which was a boon, because they were definitely one of the grumpier downtown businesses), a gift card promotional special at the movie theater (who was not showing a movie at the time of the event, so offered their space to pop-up vendors which definitely increased the number of people spreading the word about the event), a gingerbread house decorating contest at our frozen yogurt shop, live music, a special brunch, individual store sponsored raffles, etc.

That first event led to other ideas and events, some of which were total flops, but I just kept trying new things and focusing on positive things, and we now have both a monthly Sip + Shop event where businesses offer tastes of their favorite beverages and shopping specials, and a monthly ArtWalk where businesses host artists that are coordinated by that same art non-profit. We definitely still have a couple grumpy competitive business owners, but they have very little momentum and honestly are unlikely to be around a year from now based on their business models. Which will make room for new storefronts with new owners who will provide fresh ideas and energy to our downtown.

The other non-event strategies I pushed hard are a monthly morning gathering that is drop in style and lasts an hour, where people can just share what they have going on. Very few of my downtown storefront businesses participate, but I talk about them and their activities, and the people who attend the meeting are the network-y types who carry that downtown energy forward and out, and we definitely have seen an increase in community-wide support of our downtown culture and a more positive attitude and changing narrative. Downtown is no longer synonymous with a story of “failing and left behind.”

I also make a concentrated effort to tell that new narrative of experienced-based-economics, and selling stories and culture. I speak anywhere they will have me: Rotary, Kiwanis, the Senior Center, City Council meetings, County Commissioner meetings, the Democratic Committee monthly meetings, Master Gardeners Club meetings: ANYWHERE. And I talk a lot about studies and theories about thinking about downtowns as the shopping malls of the 90’s, where people go to hang out, and that we’re all part of making a retail neighborhood welcoming and inviting. I don’t know what is working exactly, but something absolutely is, and despite pretty devastating road construction, (or I might even argue because of it) we have really overcome that huge attitude barrier that existed when I came on board.

Hopefully that is all somewhat helpful… stick with it. I also like to believe that if the worst criticism I get is that I’m too upbeat, that’s a good sign. They can all unite against what a Pollyanna I am 😉


Sierra Lauder

Director of Events and Downtown Development
Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce
Office: (503) 842-7525
Cell: (503) 354-4400



From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> On Behalf Of Kelly Haverkate
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 8:17 AM
To: Managers OMS <oms_managers at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] Good morning

I'm looking for ideas to get our business owners working together.  Activities I can employ to start a "bonding" process.  :)
Want to build camaraderie!
We have a bit of an "us vs. them" mentality among a few.

Remembering that we have only about 6-8 business in our downtown, we lack the ability to have the normal "after hours cocktail parties to loosen folks up.  (with so few people).

Thoughts for possible training opportunities?
Shared events that are not "contests"?  (I've been told by a few they don't like contests, ie:  holiday window displays etc).

I think it boils down to a bit of education that shows them that the more prosperous their neighbor is, the more prosperous THEY will be.

Thanks much!

Kelly


Kelly Haverkate
Program Manager
Dayton Downtown
971-241-2076
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