October 4, 2011
The worldwide web is a mighty big place. No one knows the exact number of websites but the current number of unique URLs is generally estimated to be around 300 million and growing rapidly.
It is easy and quick to throw up a website but generating an audience is a tougher proposition.
With that in mind I’d encourage you to take a look at a pretty well done local website: downtownroseburg.org.
June 2, 2011
Washington, May 3, 2011 – In an effort to better serve multi-touchpoint, always-on, and empowered consumers, a growing number of retailers are experimenting with mobile and social initiatives — some that are paying immediate dividends and some that are still in the speculative phase. According to “The State Of Retailing Online 2011: Marketing, Social, and Mobile” report conducted by Forrester Research Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) for Shop.org, 91 percent of retailers currently have a mobile (more…)
March 8, 2011
Click for complete survey
Washington, March 8, 2011 – With an estimated 122 million Americans planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, there will be no shortage of parties or celebrations. According to NRF’s 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 52.4 percent of Americans will celebrate the Irish holiday, up from 45.2 percent last year and the most in the survey’s eight year history.
The survey found that while more people will celebrate, the average amount they plan on spending will be a lot closer to what it was last year ($33.97 vs. $33.05 in 2010). Total spending is expected to reach $4.14 billion.*
“Eager to shake off the winter blues, consumers will look to St. Patrick’s Day as their first spring related celebration, meaning great things for the economy, retailers and restaurants,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “As a non-gift giving holiday, retailers will need to make sure they have the best assortment of merchandise, aiming to attract celebrants looking for decorations, holiday food and even apparel.”
Fans of the holiday will celebrate in more ways than one; the most popular form being wearing green apparel. Nearly 102 million people (83.3%) will wear green for the holiday. In recent years, restaurants and bars have also upped the holiday spirit as well, hosting parties and serving green beverages. Thirty-eight million Americans (31.2%) will attend a party at a bar or restaurant – also the highest in the survey’s history. Additionally, 41 million (33.9%) will make a special dinner, 31 million people (25.1%) will decorate their home or office and 23 million (19.1%) will attend a private party.
“Inexpensive, fun celebrations surrounding St. Patrick’s Day will make it easy for consumers of all ages to take part in the festivities,” said Phil Rist, Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, BIGresearch. “March is typically one of the slower months of the year in terms of consumer spending, but we expect this year’s celebration to provide a nice boost for companies who are in the business of promoting the holiday.”
Demographics paint an interesting picture of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Eighty-six percent (86.4%) of people in the West will wear green, which is more than the survey found for the average adult. Young adults 18-24 will be the biggest group attending private parties (33.9%) and adults 25-34 years old will spend the most ($41.30).
About the Survey
The NRF 2011 St. Patrick’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, was (more…)
March 4, 2011
Over a hundred hopeful, betrothed couples will soon discover whether they are indeed the fantastically lucky couple to receive a wedding, courtesy of Downtown Roseburg Association’s business member sponsors. The entry period that ran between January 1, and February 28, 2011, is officially ended, the entries are gathered, and the winners are waiting to be notified. Mayor Larry Rich will make the official announcement of the grand prize, second place and third place winners of Roseburg’s Wedding of the Year 2011 Sweepstakes on March 15, 2011, at 10:00 am., in front of the Douglas County Courthouse.
The sweepstakes grand prize consists of a wedding ring, party rentals, photography, catering, flowers, tuxedos, honeymoon attire, invitations, location, and more …
For additional information contact: Renee Clavell at sales@occasionallyyourspartyrentals.com or Gary Leif at gary@leifphoto.com or look for the announcement after March 15, 2011, at www.roseburgsweddingoftheyear.com
December 6, 2010
I was astonished a decade ago when, after our annual Christmas Party, someone came to me afterward and said, “Thank you for calling it a Christmas Party.”
I was puzzled. What else would I call it? It was my first exposure to America’s brief dalliance with replacing the the phrase “Christmas Party” with “Holiday Party”. It turns out there are people, right here in Douglas County who recoil at an inclusive event that mentions the word Christmas.
Oh well.
Anyway, the word Christmas, as used in advertising, is back, according to Advertising Age. It had dropped to use in only about 20% of ads from major retailers, but it is now at 80%. This article provides some interesting perspective on what has happened.
December 2, 2010
You may be familiar with Groupon, a deeply discounted social couponing program. In some metro markets it has become the latest big thing for early adopting marketers.
The environment would appear to be right. As we’ve reported here for the past two years coupon redemption rates have rebounded in the down economy and coupons have been hot.
Locally we have not seen strong retailer interest in coupons. We’ve published coupon books and coupon pages and we found pretty limited response to an online auction deal program a few years ago. The trade materials I’ve been reading are beginning to migrate from lots of hype about Groupon to a more balanced view of the pluses (can generate lots of business) to the minuses (deep, deep discounts that often don’t lead to profitable sales). Here is a one of the better current articles from Harvard Business Review. Here is another article from the same source wondering whether the pluses outweigh the minuses for businesses.
If your business has tried this, or something like it, I’d be interested in hearing of your experience.
November 3, 2010
The Busy Season is Upon Us…It’s an Exciting Time for Downtown
Here is an Overview of what’s coming up.
November 11: Veteran’s Parade: Jackson Street will be closed for the morning.
Parade starts at 11:00 a.m. and runs about an hour. It is the second largest Veteran’s Parade in the state of Oregon. Enjoy the sense of community and patriotism.
November 26th: We would love to have your business decorated by this date. It is tradition for businesses downtown to put white lights in their windows when they decorate for the holidays. If it is possible to have your store decorated and your white lights on during the Tree Lighting Ceremony, it would be wonderful!
November 28th: The Tree Lighting Ceremony: Bring your family and friends to the Douglas County Courthouse lawn at 6:00 p.m. for this wonderful traditional kick-off to the holiday season. Pre-ceremony musical entertainment will begin at 5:30. There will be holiday music, a brief presentation, and the lighting of the tree. Don’t forget the visit from the man in the red suit… (and remember to leave your store decorations on—it’s so pretty!)
December 1st: This starts the “Twelve Days of Christmas” promotion. This promotion has (more…)
September 22, 2010
Roseburg area children of all ages are once again invited to participate in the tradition of the Neewollah Parade to be held Saturday October 30st, 2010.
The parade will stage at the corner of Douglas and Jackson not at the County Court House. We have changed the staging to make it safer for parade participants The staging starts at 3:50 P.M. and the parade will commence at 4:00.P.M. The parade route is traveling south on Jackson Street to Lane Street and then everyone “trick or treats” on their way back up Jackson.
Roseburg Town Center businesses will have treats available for the parade participants. All children must be accompanied by an adult to participate. Pets under the owners control are also welcome. No unleashed pets!! The event is free.
This is a way for the businesses to say “thank you” to the community for working and shopping with them during the year.
Questions? Call Stacey Crowe 541-580-0683 or Janice 541-673-5356
June 15, 2010
As I recall it is about $40 less than mom got on her day, but spending for the holiday is up nearly 4%. Nationally, Father’s Day is expected to see $9.8 billion in spending according to the National Retail Federation. What’s hot? Well, nearly 40% will enjoy a meal out, about 36% will receive clothes, electronics, greeting cards and tools follow.
May 25, 2010
Business Events The News-Review Business
