I’ve thought about this for weeks and finally after the letters to the editor in today’s paper, I had really had enough. As you may have read in a previous post, I really love our downtown. I am proud to call myself a downtown business owner. I am trying to offer my help to do anything possible to bring more folks into Sanford…and to get Sanfordians to shop locally.
As you may have also read, I LOVED the Downtown Sanford Bike Criterium. I had an awesome time and our shop made a lot of money that wouldn’t have come in otherwise. I met so many nice people that day and honestly was proud to be born and raised in Sanford. Were the crowds huge…no, but there was enough to call it a “crowd.”
We set up outside our shops and sold hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, fruit, etc., and we all had a great day. Inside the shop, there was a steady stream of customers from start to finish. I personally know of 5 local people who told us they didn’t even know we were there until that day. And the number of out-of-towners that promised to be back was great!!
I think sometimes people fail to see the “big picture.” Some things are worth more than a newspaper ad (sorry Sanford Herald folks!) or TV commercial. When something actually brings you to a town and you get to meet people and have a good time, that is something with so much more impact. Or even when you visit a part of your own town that you never think of during your daily grind — that is great!
The entire McConville family visited our shop the day of the race and were so greatful for any hand we played in the day’s success. They honestly had a passion for this race and the people involved (including the downtown merchants). They constantly asked if the day had been profitable and what our ideas were to make it better.
One of the letters to the editor stated that the Sanford Pottery Festival didn’t close down the streets and how successful it is. If they will remember (or maybe they didn’t live here then) the first (and most successful) year of the pottery festival, the streets downtown were closed. There were potters, jewelry makers, and lots of food and crafts. I remember going with my then-in-laws and looking around and then having lunch at Local Joes. We left from there and I bought some gladiolas that Floral Designs by Eddie had on the sidewalk. It was a great day.
Another letter stated that they frequent Sanford businesses – one of them being Dry Dock??? One of the griped listed in another letter has been that Panera Bread was used instead of a local business. I can actually get to a Panera Bread quicker than I get to Dry Dock — I ate the one in Southern Pines yesterday actually!
I guess my point is that as we grow – and I pray that we do – there will be growing pains. Everyone from business owners to residents will experience them (some worse than others) whether it be a slow day, congested roads, over-crowded schools, etc.
I sent a very positive letter to Billy Liggett earlier and hope it will make its way into the Letters to the Editor. In the meantime, maybe we can all take a little time to support a downtown business this weekend!
Kim Pritt said,
May 21, 2008 @ 10:40 pm
I was so glad to read your last paragraph — throughout your whole post I was thinking “this needs to be sent to Billy for the paper!!!” Very well put!!! Anything that brings folks in to down town is a good thing — even if it restricts some shopping on that small period of time! The folks who come may look in windows of closed businesses and think “gee, that looks quaint, I think I’ll come back when they are open and see what they have!” And any business that finds a way to accomodate and make the participants of these events feel welcome will surely reap the rewards at some point – either they’ll buy something then or come back if they can’t buy then or mention the business to their friends — something! Just people walking away saying how friendly and inviting Sanford is goes a LONG way!!! When out of towners read the negative comments about how events like this aren’t welcome (and folks from other towns DO read our Herald), they get the impression that we don’t want visitors and don’t want to offer interesting/fun things!!! I agree that logistics may need to be thought through a little more to ensure the least impact while maximizing the benefits, but from what I’ve seen of events, they tend to do a fairly good job of that — you can’t please and accomodate EVERYONE – you do the best you can to please and accomodate the majority. I hope we have lots more events that bring people in throughout the year – we’ve got to make Sanford a place that people think of when they think of a nice, friendly place to go have an enjoyable time!!!
Thanks for your post — now that we’ve both vented about as much as we can, I’ll catch ya later!
burnsblog said,
May 21, 2008 @ 11:23 pm
Thank you Kim! I completely agree with you! I often read the online paper of a town we are about to visit. I look for what is coming up in that area and what we might find when we get there. I don’t know that some of the letters in our paper have been very inviting here lately.
I have tried so many different forms of advertising and spent a lot of money, but by far the biggest thing that has worked for me is word of mouth (from great folks like you!!). I often like to think that for every person who walks in the shop and buys something they love, maybe they will tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on (ha!).
Melissa W said,
May 22, 2008 @ 12:17 am
I had to go read the paper and now I’m all fired up. The bike race was such a great event and so well done, especially when you consider the time they had to do it! I think it’s launched a newfound love of downtown for our family. We’re going down there practically every Saturday now, to buy fresh veggies, walk around, explore, and yes…spend our money in shops there that we didn’t know existed before the race. I think the people complaining are very short sighted. If nobody knows what downtown Sanford has to offer, nobody will spend time there. But festivals/bike races/street fairs etc. pull people into an area and often *get them to come back* because they’ve discovered a whole new dimension to the town. I find it hard to believe anyone lost that much business on one Sunday. If so, maybe the smart thing to do is to work *with* event organizers, not against them.
Maybe I should send a letter to the editor myself…
burnsblog said,
May 22, 2008 @ 12:28 am
Oh, Melissa, please, please, please do. If you will go back and look through the letters to the editor over the last few weeks, you will see that the letters in today’s Herald were tame compared to the others!
To those who enjoyed the event and want to see more happen, please send your letters in and let both sides be heard!!!
Melissa W said,
May 22, 2008 @ 2:55 am
I did it! It’s probably rambling and incoherent…I get that way when I’m mad.
I went back and looked at the past letters and I just could not let it go. I’d love to go to the 2nd Century meeting tomorrow night but don’t want to bring the kids and don’t really want to go alone. Plus I’m not sure that my opinion really means that much in the grand scheme of things…
burnsblog said,
May 22, 2008 @ 11:53 am
Thank you so much Melissa!!!!! I will watch for your letter! I actually also want to go to the meeting tonight, but I don’t think Jonathan can go. Email me if you want to go together!
Again…..GOOD JOB!!!
Kim Pritt said,
May 22, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Every opinion counts — I wanted to go, but won’t be available! ;( Hope you both get to go and share your great ideas!!!
Kim said,
May 25, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
Great letter to the editor – and I like that it appeared in Sunday’s paper, just seems appropriate somehow!
burnsblog said,
May 26, 2008 @ 1:06 am
Thank you Kim. I was glad to see another letter there also supporting the bike race!
Al Roethlisberger said,
May 28, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Great write-up and I agree completely.
I really wish the potter festival were still downtown. That would make it much more personal and promote all the downtown arts and businesses… not to mention Sanford itself.
As nice as the Civic Center is, it really doesn’t reflect the essence of Sanford, and feels like what it is… an institutional building, which is rather cold and impersonal.
Al
burnsblog said,
May 28, 2008 @ 9:41 pm
Thanks Al. I agree about the Civic Center. The first year of the pottery festival, the main “festival” was still in the civic center, but there was a great “sub-festival” downtown. It just added a little something extra!