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Marketing Committee Update:
Planning an EVENT in downtown Mount
Dora? Contact Janet as soon as you get the details and we will make every effort
to help market and support your event.
All MDVMBA members can benefit from the
FREE ads in the Orlando Sentinel wrap-
Remember to email Janet your line or 2 of copy to promote your business each
month. You must respond prior to deadline dates to be included in these
ads. This product has a $2000
monthly value and
there is no cost to members.
Next wrap comes out Sept
29 (Halloween edition) DEADLINE for submission is TUESDAY Oct 12
For this next
issue please submit your copy directly to Houston Evans at
Houston@MaisonEnVilleFl.com
Marketing Committee update for Sept/Oct
Marketing efforts for Sept/Oct focus on our 26th annual Fall Craft Fair . Besides working out sponsorship
agreements with the Orlando Sentinel and COX Media group that give us well over
$90,000 worth of advertising in newspapers, radio, television and event programs, MDVMBA
also produced posters and banners to promote the event and submitted the event
to over 20 internet sites.
We are also
supporting other events that help all merchants in downtown Mt Dora. Ad
sponsorship is being given at no cost to the Bicycles Festival, Yada Yada
Pottery's Empty Bowls, Mt Dora Sushi's The Vampyre play benefiting MDVMBA, Paws
for Mt Dora, Yappy Hour, Parks & Recs Movie night with Oscar,
Whispering Winds Friday Night Faces, Pisces
Risings Ryann Watters VIP Charity Dinner, Pulse
mag & Mount Dora Brewings Flights Of Fantasy writing contest, Mount Dora Music
Festivals Looking for Treble
contest
* Our Mount Dora
Getaway Sweepstakes campaign has produced over 10,000 email addresses that
continue to receive the monthly Sweepstakes Newsletter. All
MDVMBA member businesses can receive the winner's DORA DOLLARS !
MDVMBA will reimburse you directly. For info on the program, got to
www.MtDora.org to see the video
explanation.
* Our welcome to Mount Dora video is poised to cross
over 9,000 unique views in the next few days. The video is currently
featured on the front page of WhatToDoInMountDora.com
& MtDora.org.
* Our
Pay-Per-Click campaign continues to generate over 11,000 unique internet
visitors
monthly.
Thank you,
Janet Craig
MDVMBA Marketing
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Update on JUMP (Joint Unity Marketing & PR Committe)
A group has been formed with representatives from various community
groups in Mount Dora including the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc. The group is called JUMP (Joint Unity Marketing
& PR Committee) and its mission is to promote unity and cross
promotion of downtown events.
One item the group is working on collaboratively is the Labor Day
weekend featuring a Chili cook off, Pie contest and merchant "Sip and
Shop" sidewalk sale.
Thanks to MDVMBA members who are involved in making this happen: Janet
Craig, Paula Briskin and Betty Cook .
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A word from a recent Sweepstakes Winner after their visit to Mount Dora...
Dear Janet and Brian:
Just wanted to send a note of GREAT THANKS for a wonderful stay in
Mount Dora this past weekend. We had a grand time! We really relaxed
more in Mount Dora than anywhere else we have been. While we only
stayed one night and 2 days, it was nice to get away from the hustle and
bustle of the city and traffic. I felt like I had gone back into time
and was staying at my Grandmother's home. The Dora Dollars worked
great, we did not encounter any problems. All the owners/employees of
the shops and restaurants were gracious and accommodating.
Last and certainly not least, was our stay at the Mount Dora
Historic Inn. We made new friends with Ana and Jim and enjoyed the
lovely accommodations and the signature breakfast. I cannot say enough
about our visit there. It was simply delightful.
It was great winning the sweepstakes - first time I have ever won
anything! First time in Mount Dora and first time we have ever stayed
at a Bed and Breakfast. We will be back during the Christmas
holidays. Can't wait! We certainly will be talking to our friends and
neighbors about what a wonderful place to settle back and enjoy!
Thank you so much. I amso sorry we did not have the opportunity to meet in person.
Nanette & Lawrence Grable
Odessa, FL |
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Fellow members,
* Please plan to attend the SPECIAL annual meeting on Wednesday, October 27th at 5:30pm at the Lakeside Inn to elect new officers to the Board of Directors and to approve the new annual budget.
Please visit our website at www.MtDora.org for the latest information.
REMINDER: At the bottom of this newsletter you may place valuable coupons to encourage member businesses to visit your location! |
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Message from the President:
Hello to one and all.
I just love this time of year as it holds so
much promise for every one of us. We had an unusually active September
with the new Labor Day Celebrations and we are in the process of making it a permenant fixture on the event schedule.
Now comes October and it is definitely full. This next weekend is JAM
PACKED!
On Friday night the city is holding its Art
Stroll with the unveiling of a famous statue of John Lennon sitting on a park
bench. It is to be placed in Childs Park on what would have been his birthday.
This is absolutely fantastic and a major event because of the artist's
noteriety. Cudo's to all those who were involved.
Also this same weekend is the Chamber's Bike
Fest. This long running event has grown in popularity and brings a number of
people to town. It also adds one more event that promotes this town as well as
any advertising we could do.
Lest I forget, we have
that "little" event called the Fall Craft Fair that happens on the weekend of the
23rd. I hope all of us are prepared for what is sure to be
another record crowd.
This year, your Board's efforts has
accomplished what will be the largest advertising campaign ever for this
event (which is sold out). The nice thing about this is that nearly all (if not
all) will be coming in the form of sponsorships with the most complete local
coverage ever accomplished.
I believe that is one of
the reasons that Mount Dora has done so well in the past at this time of the
year is because of the Craft Fair and the advertising that goes with it. Such an
event as this (and the advertising) makes its effects known well beyond the end
of the Craft Fair through season.
here is always a lot more to
say but like all of you I am busy planning for the month of October and all that
it promises to bring us, so I am going to bring it to a close. I hope that all
of you have great succes in the coming season!
Your Board President,
Terrance (Terry) R. Abbott, R.N.
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From the Board of Directors:
* The 2011 budgeting process is nearly complete. Through sponsorships and other initiatives we have increased our overall revenues significantly for 2011. The budget will be ready for approval by the membership at the SPECIAL meeting in October.
* The CRA Kiosk Directory including a larger version for the intersection of 5th Ave. & Donnelly St. are ready to be updated prior to the Craft Fair. Marketing Chairperson Janet Craig will be making a presentation about the CRA Directory before City Council very soon.
* The Board is addressing the current black-out period for the Getaway Sweepstakes and is considering removing the black-out date entirely. Currently winners of the sweepstakes must redeem between April 1st and November 1st. The program has proven to be very successful and we are desirous of expanding it and making it even better for 2011.
* Plans to kick-off the new Farmer's Market are delayed due to the water drainage work on 4th Ave. and the area near Pisces Rising. Stay tuned for details on this upcoming event.
* An initiative to improve the electrical infrastructure in Evans Park and along Edgerton Court is underway. Janet Craig and Brian Young have been leading the charge along with the City Electric Dept. and Parks & Recreation to bring this to fruition. The park is a very under utilized asset and will greatly expand our ability to host events and to highlight our fabulous waterfront.
* After having our event grants nearly eliminated by the CRA Advisory Committee, City Council did not agree with the recommendation and increased the event grant budget to nearly $65,000. This represents over $20,000 more than last year with an additional $50,000 that may be made available in 2011. These grants are very important to the association in assisting with payment of ever increasing City and Police fees for street closures for our events.
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Featured Merchant of the month.
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Membership Committee Update:
MDVMBA membership information.
Please check your email regularly for valuable membership benefits and opportunities to promote your business or event.
A BIG welcome to our newest members:
Mount Dora Brewing
Ashley's Corner
Grandview Bed & Breakfast
Under the Cherry Blossoms
We have visited with the owners of several new business opening in downtown this month and next and will be adding several of them as new members.
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Stay tuned for your regular association newsletter keeping you up to date on our events and initiatives throughout the year. Visit our association website regularly for the lastest news and events that you need to know. www.MtDora.org Shop local and shop often... |
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Sincerely,
Brian E. Young - MDVMBA Secretary
Mount Dora Village Merchants and Business Association, Inc.
BrianEYoung@MtDora.org
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