Promotions – Page 8 – Virginia Main Street

Harrisonburg Gift Blitz promotes merchants and extends Black Friday specials

November 29, 2010

Downtown Harrisonburg merchants have pulled together in a cooperative promotional strategy that offers an alternative to the typical Black Friday rush. This year, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR) and the Merchants of Historic Downtown Harrisonburg (MHDH) structured a weeklong blitz of downtown shopping to highlight the best in gifts that the district has to offer. Nearly 30 … More Harrisonburg Gift Blitz promotes merchants and extends Black Friday specials

Main Street Merchant Profile: Pufferbellies

November 5, 2010

In a new series of blog entries, we’re highlighting Main Street merchants — the entrepreneurs who create jobs and care for historic structures in our traditional commercial districts. To share the successes of one of your merchants, contact Doug Jackson. Pufferbellies, a shop specializing in top-notch service to the next generation of Main Street customers, offers a … More Main Street Merchant Profile: Pufferbellies

Sense of place marketing: Botetourt historic downtowns

October 27, 2010

The special landing page says it nicely: The classic American Experience is alive and well in Botetourt County. The link http://www.downtownsofbotetourt.com delivers visitors to a special introductory page of the county’s tourism webite, listing upcoming events and links to three historic downtowns: Buchanan and Virginia Main Street affiliates Troutville and Fincastle. The site looks great and functions … More Sense of place marketing: Botetourt historic downtowns

Making your work uniquely you

October 18, 2010

Fast Company recently highlighted the award designed for this year’s graduating class at the top Dutch design school. Instead of a simple hood or diploma, The Design Academy Eindhoven has a special graduating trophy each year. This year, the trophy was actually a set of medallions–one for each of the graduates–that created a pig’s head when stacked. It’s not as undignified as … More Making your work uniquely you

Be a Culpeper Local

October 13, 2010

Culpeper, Virginia just received some good press after it unleashed its new shop local campaign, Be a Culpeper Local. The campaign combines educating the nearly 50,000 Culpeper County residents on the value of buying locally with a website, beaculpeperlocal.com that directs visitors to local shopping and dining options, specials, and a way to track how much … More Be a Culpeper Local

Telling your revitalization story

September 29, 2010

As the television show’s narrator said, “There are eight million stories in The Naked City.” So your downtown district must be good for at least 50, right? Consider the history of your buildings, the successes of your emerging entrepreneurs, and the transitions you’ve seen firsthand in the last decade. You have stories that can inspire action … More Telling your revitalization story

Where will you get your festival on?

September 13, 2010

We’re approaching fall in Virginia. That means crisp air and crisper apples, rotund pumpkins and autumnal spices, bluegrass and blues, vintage cars and vantage locations for the display of changing leaves. It means festivals. The 21 designated Main Street communities and some of our more active affiliates are setting out the hay bales and sweeping the streets to … More Where will you get your festival on?

Main Street across the generations

August 30, 2010

Frequently older community members will talk in downtown meetings about what it was like when foot traffic was shoulder to shoulder, and when everyone went to Main Street to go to the movies. Soon one might hear a young voice from the back of the room say, “What do you mean went to the the movies? Why didn’t they just … More Main Street across the generations

Virginia Tourism’s wine tweets win award

August 20, 2010

Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) has a track record of excellence in tourism marketing. The agency recently celebrated 40 years of the longstanding Virginia is for Lovers campaign. While they’ve maintained that well loved umbrella brand, they’ve also successfully continued and grown a host of niche marketing efforts, speaking to the specific tastes and demands of travelers. A recent Twitter campaign … More Virginia Tourism’s wine tweets win award

Before, during, and after-event tips for downtown merchants

August 16, 2010

As a Main Street organization, gaining the confidence and support of your local merchants isn’t easy, especially when it comes to downtown events. Closing the street can impede the access of loyal customers to their favorite shops. Hoards of event guests asking to use the shop’s bathroom can frustrate owners. It can add up to strained relations with the … More Before, during, and after-event tips for downtown merchants