Business Development Commission

Business Development Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Thursday, January 26, 2017 LOCATION: City Hall CALLED TO ORDER: 8:04 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:10 AM NEXT MEETING: Friday, February 24, 2017 Name Present Absent Pat Richards, Chair X William Alverson X Pam Neihaus X Rebecca Now X Chalegne O’Brien X Mike Pincus X Nicole Roach X Jon Spiesman X Robin McNabb X Mayor Gerry Welch, Council Liaison X Mara Perry, Staff Liaison X Joan Jadali, Staff Liaison X Also in attendance: Joe Fichter – Chair, Old Orchard Special Business District Commission Council Member Bud Bellomo – City of Webster Groves Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve the December minutes was made by Mike Pincus, seconded by Pam Neihaus, unanimously approved. HOLIDAY PROMOTIONS FEEDBACK • Social Media – Jennifer Volk with Creative Entourage Agency handled the social media holiday campaign for a charge of $900. The campaign ran from November 1st thru January 1st. o Joan Jadali shared a handout from Ms. Volk containing an overview of the campaign’s overall performance as well as information on Facebook paid ads, Facebook paid ad audience demographics, and Facebook and Instagram contests (see appendix). ▪ Average Page Reach = 1,000 per day ▪ Content Created = 78 posts/26 paid ads ▪ Average Page Shares = 59 per day ▪ Impressions = 162, 846 ▪ People Reached = 40,000+ o Commission members would like more information on whether businesses saw a benefit from the social media holiday campaign, however, many factors during the holidays could have impacted business other than social media so it’s difficult to tell. • Television – Next year, Old Orchard locations will be added to the TV spot. BUSINESS COMMUNITY SURVEY • Joan handed out the revised business survey (see appendix). If commission members are happy with the survey, it will be emailed out to businesses. Pat Richards felt it should be “blitzed” out and include the Old Webster Trade Association. • Since the return rate is expected to be low, several Commission members offered to follow up with face-to-face contacts; Joan and Mara Perry will put together a map. • Face-to-Face Volunteers included Mike Pincus, Jon Spiesman, Rebecca Now, and Robin McNabb. William Alverson suggested while the volunteers were talking face-to-face with businesses, they could also ask them where they get their customers. PROMOTING BUSINESSES • Several of the commission members feel social media is a powerful marketing tool. The consultant used during the holidays could possibly be used to continue social media activity going forward throughout the year; if so, the money would have to come out of the upcoming budget. • Commission members felt business owners could give input on when to focus additional social media efforts. Could “districts” coordinate the social media? • Consistent year-round constant messaging is important using print, radio, TV, and social media. The simple Shop Local message could be used. It was decided to bring the PR Sub-Committee back together to take this on. o PR Sub-Committee Members include: Pat Richards, Joe Fitcher, Robin McNabb, Pam Neihaus, Gerry Welch, and Joan Jadali. Pat will ask Christi Johaningmeyer from the Crossroads District to join the sub-committee. ▪ PR Sub-Committee Action Items:  Consistent messaging plan.  Put together a content calendar.  Communicate to individual businesses the importance of cross promoting/sharing.  Engage “spear heads” from each “district.”  Have each “district” represented on the PR Sub-Committee.  Determine if the “districts” are interested in participating in a One Call Now application. ONE CALL NOW • Joan shared pricing and feature information for a software program called One Call Now that would handle alerts within the business “districts” o One Call Now is a web-based service. o One Call Now has a mobile app o Devices used can be cell phone or landline, any internet-connected device, including tablets o Send a message as a phone call, text message, email, or app push notification o An unlimited number of message senders may be authorized o One annual price with no per-call or long-distance charges. ▪ 100 users = $485 ▪ 200 users = $700 o See appendix for flyer. • It was determined to have the PR Sub-Committee reach out to the “districts” to find out if any would be interested. BUSINESS “DISTRICTS” HIGHLIGHTS • Old Orchard is working thru parking issues in their district and has held additional meetings with business owners to help work on solutions. Planning is currently taking place for the upcoming Gazebo Series. • Yorkshire Plaza is trying something new, “First Wednesdays,” they have 12 businesses on board with another 5-10 on the fence. There are a couple of vacant spaces in the plaza. NEW BUSINESS Joan shared information she received from Score St. Louis for a piece of a “St. Louis Marketplace” ad in the American Airlines in-flight magazine. Commission members felt it was very expensive and the ad would get lost in the magazine. ADJOURNED Meeting adjourned at 9:10 AM. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Friday, February 24, 2017 at 8:00 AM – City Hall.  APPENDIX Creative Entourage Agency Social Media Holiday Promotions Feedback BDC 2016 Holiday Social Media Performance.pdf Business Survey BDC Survey Questions Revised December 2016: 1. The City should explore whether it should designate certain areas in the business districts to retail only zoning to drive foot traffic and shopper convenience. Yes___________________ No____________________ 2. Please identify what you believe the City needs to do to encourage businesses to start up or move to Webster Groves. 3. The City should explore the incorporation of residential properties with commercial properties (mixed use districts) such as commercial on the main floor and residential (condos or apartments) on the second floor. Yes____________________ No_____________________ 4. Would you support a tax increase or one-time fee or levy to allow the City to hire a consultant to market and grow our business sector? Yes____________________ No_____________________ 5. If you answered “Yes” to question 4, please list two areas of responsibility for the consultant. 6. How do we encourage property owners to lease their property? 7. Should the City ease liquor code regulations to be more attractive for breweries/bars. Yes_____________________ No______________________ 8. I believe that the West Pacific Avenue area (located between Kirkham and the railroad tracks) is a possible development area that should be further explored. Yes_____________________ No_______________________ 9. How do you suggest that the City seek public buy-in from the community? 10. The City should explore whether there are developers interested in developing a Successful Boutique Hotel. Yes____________________ No______________________ 11. I would like to be a Business Ambassador to bring in and/or mentor new retail businesses to the City of Webster Groves. Yes____________________ No_______________________ 12. If you answered “Yes” to question 11, please provide your name and contact information: Name:_______________________________________________________________ Phone #______________________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________ One Call Now One Call Now How it Works Flyer.pdf