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August 16th, 2016
DCVB Partner Newsletter
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This week I need to try to accomplish two things in the newsletter.
First, I would like to give every business that accepts Door County Gift Certificates, and understands they should be accepted like cash, a hearty handshake and a pat on the back!! Thank You!
Secondly, to those who don't, this is why it's so important you do. Each year we sell and redeem hundreds of thousands of dollars in Door County Gift Certificates and most of the certificates are purchased by people outside of the county for loved ones or friends to use on their next trip to Door County. These certificates can only be spent in Door County so, not only do they insure the money won't be spent elsewhere, their holders tend to spend more than they normally would - because they are actively looking for ways to spend their money - and that mindset pours millions more into businesses like yours. On the contrary, when you refuse to accept a Door County Gift Certificate, they lose that excitement and tighten their spending.
Common Myths associated with Door County Gift Certificates:
MYTH: You need to be a member of the DCVB to accept them.
FACT: Any business can redeem them.
MYTH: There is a fee to redeem them and the DCVB keeps a portion of the money.
FACT: They are redeemed at 100% of the face value and the DCVB pays all costs associated with the program to stimulate more sales in businesses like yours.
MYTH: You do not need to give cash back for purchases less than the face value amount of the gift certificate.
FACT: 1.) Keeping the change from a Door County Gift Certificate may constitute theft; and 2.) giving change back when change is owed may stimulate additional spending and may result in additional gratuities.
MYTH: It takes forever to get my money from the DCVB once I send them in or drop them off.
FACT: We appreciate the key part you play in the success of this promotion and it's our goal to get them turned around in less than a week.
Some people have suggested that we move to a debit card system instead of the printed certificates. Unfortunately, debit gift cards cannot be limited geographically whereas Door County Gift Certificates can only be spent IN Door County.
If you do not accept Door County Gift Certificates, or believe you shouldn't have to give change back for smaller purchases, please call me at 920-818-1131 or email me at jack@doorcounty.com to help me better understand your concerns. If you get my voice mail, please leave a message and I will call you back as soon as I am able.
Best Regards,
Jack Moneypenny, President/CEO
920-818-1131
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MARKETING & SALES
Michelle Rasmusson, Director
August Spotlight: Performing Arts & The Finer Things
This month we place special focus on the performing arts and the people behind the curtain that make it happen. Check out the latest newsletter highlighting all the great performing arts venues through co-op, video, featured articles and insider blogs; and stay tuned to our social media channels for more behind the scenes all month long.
September Spotlight: Next month will make your mouth water as we explore the foodie side of the county and begin our So Delicious So Door County shoulder season campaign. INNKEEPERS: If you haven't gotten your lodging package in to take advantage of our free (Yes,FREE - including creative and deployment) e-postcard campaign, please get in touch with Laura Bradley, ASAP!
(Not an Innkeeper? Contact an Innkeeper to let them know that you would be interested in partnering with them to create a seasonal promotion package!)
CO-OP ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES
General Advertising
-October eNewsletter - 4 spots left (Partner Feature, Ad or Article) $250-$850
-DCVB Lobby TV Spot (:30 spot) $100/month or $50/week
Event Promotion
-eNewsletter Featured Event (sent to over 200K subscribers) $100
-Events Page Featured Event (2nd most visited page on DoorCounty.com) $250
Social Media Advertising
-Social Posts (FB, Twitter, Instagram) $75 - $350
-Two-week social ad campaign (FB, Twitter, Instagram) $250 - $750
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COMMUNICATIONS & PR
Jon Jarosh, Director
Media
Media assistance has been provided to 15 journalists/media outlets thus far in August by providing images, information, on-air/on-camera interviews and/or support for Door County based articles and stories. A few highlights included KMOX/CBS Radio in St. Louis, Local 5 Live (WFRV CBS 5), Group Tour Magazine, OnMilwaukee.com and Wisconsin Public Television.
Upcoming Press Trip
Our media marketing program continues this month with our fifth press trip of the year coming up next week, August 23-26. This trip will focus primarily on outdoor recreation opportunities in Door County. We've conducted this program with Geiger & Associates Public Relations since 2007 and to-date have generated 1,650 travel articles and stories about Door County worth more than $15.6 million in earned media value. Additional trips this year are scheduled for September 12-15 and October 17-21. We're always looking for new partners to host journalists during our trips - contact Jon for more information.
Media Coverage Highlights
Destination Door County was highlighted in a lengthy feature story in the August 2016 issue of Western New Family Magazine. Check out the story in the digital issue online here.
Door County was mentioned in a story that recently posted to MensJournal.com titled "Gimme Shelter: 14 Epic Campsites, No Tent Required." Shipwrecks and yurt camping were included in the Door County section which you can see for yourself online here.
Door County's own Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor was included in a recent Zagat.com story titled "10 Old-Timey Soda Shops, Ice Cream Parlors and Pharmacies to Visit This Summer." Check out the story online here.
Door County was included in a feature travel article that ran in the St. Paul Pioneer Press last month. Check out the online version of travel journalist Todd Walker's article on TwinCities.com here.
Local 5 Live, a TV show that airs weekdays from 9-10 AM on WFRV CBS 5, was broadcast live from the shores of Door County on Friday August 5, 2016. Check out several clips from the show featuring a variety of Door County interviews on WeAreGreenBay.com here.
Door County spokesperson Jon Jarosh talked about Door County during the Charlie Brennan Show's Travel Tuesday segment on KMOX radio in St. Louis on August 2. Listen to the interview online here (scroll down to Tuesday August 2).
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MEMBERSHIP 
Phil Berndt, Director
Keeping Up Appearances
Make sure you are putting your best foot forward with our
to verify that your information is correct, complete, optimized with keywords and taking full advantage of the larger photo format and social media links. As a member of the DCVB we work directly with Google to use your InnLine description for search engine optimization (SEO) - to help potential customers find you, faster on DoorCounty.com, Google Search and more!
Membership Renewal Time
If you have been a member of the DCVB for more than 7 years, chances are good that it's time to renew your membership. You can pay your membership dues in person, by phone, mail or fax! Be sure to include your business name and contact info when mailing or faxing in your payment. If you have misplaced your invoice, let us know.
InnLine Upgrades are $50 ea/yr.: 5-Photo Slideshow and/or Unlimited Text. PHONE 920-743-4456 or 800-527-3529 MAIL DCVB - Yvonne PO Box 406 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235-0406 FAX Fax: (920) 743-7873 QUESTIONS
For Your Convenience
We are now able to accept American Express in addition to Visa, MasterCard and Discover for those of you who prefer to make your payment by credit card.
ATM Thefts prompt Sheriff's Notice and Security Tips
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PUBLICATIONS & INNLINE
Cathy Lynch, Manager
2017 Official Visitor Guide Ad Contracts
Contracts for advertising in the 2017 Official Visitor Guide were mailed out the first week in August. If you did not receive one, you can download a copy HERE or contact Cathy Lynch at 920-818-1135 or cathy@doorcounty.com. Please be sure to read the cover letter enclosed with the contract, which describes what we have planned for this guide. The deadline for returning your contract is September 30th. Ad materials are due on October 12th.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
When you complete your Visitor Guide contract, please be sure to sign and date it, regardless of what payment choice you make. We had to sticker the signature area of the contract because our credit card requirements changed, but a signature is required for all contracts.
(The Signature section is found on the last page (page 8) of the 2017 Official Visitor Guide Contract)
2017 Events Wanted
We are currently in the process of compiling event information for the Calendar of Events featured in the 2017 Official Visitor Guide. To submit your event(s) for consideration, please email them to events@doorcounty.com by October 14th.
Please be sure to include the following details:
Date(s)
Event Name
Town/Village
Venue Name
Event Description
Time
Admission
Phone
Web Address
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DOOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SECURITY NOTICE
Last night, a business was broken into south of Sister Bay and anATM inside was stolen. It was later located in Clark Lake. Last year, an outdoor ATM was taken from Fish Creek and a few years ago, another ATM was taken out of a tavern in Fish Creek.
In light of these occurrences and in cooperation with the Door County Sheriff's office we urge you to take the following steps to protect your business and equipment:
- Install Video Cameras
- Near ATM to dissuade theft.
- Less obvious camera to record security breaches.
- Anchor unit securely into place with anchor bolts.
- Free-standing ATMs that cannot be positioned against a wall should be framed with tamper resistant moulding fitted against unit to prevent the use of a tow strap, chain or rope to extract the ATM.
- Consult security recommendations when locating an ATM on your property. While an ATM needs to be visible and accessible, a location too close to a door or window may invite a forceful extraction of ATM.
- Limit amount of cash left in machine.
These ATMs were targeted because they were accessible and known/presumed to be well stocked and it's easy to get the cash out of them.
Sheriff's Department Contact:
Connie Schuster, Investigative Sergeant
Door County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 920-746-2428
Fax: 920-746-2411
CRIME INFORMATION TIP LINE
To report a crime, or if you have information about a crime, please call the Door County Sheriff's
Crime Information Tip Line phone number at (920) 746-2436. Your call will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a cash reward if the information received leads to an arrest and conviction.
ROBBERY PREVENTION STRATEGIES
As our number of visitors increases, so will the threat of shoplifting and robbery. Fortunately, there is article after article online about tried-and-true steps you can take to minimize your loss and we highly recommend that you educate yourself and your staff on the subject.
While researching additional security tips, I came across an excellent 14-page guide published by the Portland Oregon Police Bureau (03-08) that is full of good advice and practical recommendations for small business owners. Perhaps this would be a good place to start:Guide to Robbery Prevention and Response to Robbery,
WHAT IS WORKING FOR YOU?
If you have any small business security solutions (practices and/or products) that you are having success with, I'd love to have specific details that I could share in upcoming Partner Newsletters - or a guide of our own. Send them to Phil Berndt at: phil@doorcounty.com
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