Retail and Dining Industries – Challenges and Solutions 2010

Meeting Notes from 1-26-2010

Attending:

Members: Helmut Michelitsch, Metro Cleaners; Carol Waller, Mohican Flowers; Bill Michaels, Fly Creek Cider Mill; Jim Donley, Cooperstown Gifts; Rick Gibbons, Riverwood; Paty Drumm Grady, Cooperstown Cookie Company; Tara Barnwell, Barnwell Inn/The Freeman’s Journal;
Chamber Representatives: Andy Marietta, Becky Davidson-Nielsen, Mike Otis, Susan O’Handley

Introduction:  Introduced attendees and discussed why meeting was taking place.

Identified goal to begin discussions and starting point for forward progress in 2010. 

Work Session Activities: Identify/list challenges to our businesses; Categorize challenges; List ideas for possible solutions to address challenges in each category;

Work Products:

List of Challenges

·         Lack of Merchant’s Association-Delivery surcharge for FedEx for Cooperstown

         can fight it as a group?

·         Expand business outside area

·         Extend customer base, ie. Email, facebook

·         More businesses open longer hours and more days

·         More local people to shop, need to capture the local $

·         Quality and lack of good work ethic of employees

·         Have locals think of downtown first before going elsewhere to spend

·         Signage for outlying businesses in marketing with downtown

·         Communicating with other retailers, Village

·         Develop knowledge of what merchants carry

·         More local events and merchants helping with events

·         Chamber Staff educated on member’s offerings

·         Seminars/orientation/workshops on how to survive the times

·         Study tourism traffic – day trippers – weddings – events

·         Bridal Show Feb. 28th at Otesaga – SMOH emailed Ken Drumm1/27/10

·         Make businesses better/improve organization

·         Restaurants: underserved by Chamber, lack of  delivery/cleanliness/need    hospitality training

·         How do we highlight local brand?

·         Cooperstown - cultivate next generation of entrepreneurs and downtown business

·         Reach out to business schools

·         More access to visitor of HOF, hospital –350,000 appts

·         Chamber pro growth agenda for village as in country

Identified Challenge Categories and Idea List for Solutions

1.      Increase/Expand Business Opportunities                                                            

           - Product index on website

           - Laptop at kiosk

           - Kiosk at Bassett & HOF

            -Coordinated business hours

            -Coordinate efforts with big players                                        

            -Is Chamber’s website formatted for cell phones or PDA’s?

            -Chamber should be beating the drum for the Guitar HOF

            -Support business development; offer online area for starting business -                                                   

            -Cooperstown Orientation

           - Help businesses with transitions, businesses for sale -

            -Cooperstown opportunities on website – Employment listings for businesses

            -AM Info Station

2.      Improve Customer Service – Prof Development

            - Incorporate Trip Advisor; encourage visitors to post feedback

             -Chamber merge or at a minimum dual memberships

             -Increase the number of awards given by Chamber, Website, Storefront

            - GPS locator

             -Use the Chamber’s success with accommodations and transfer it to retail

                  and restaurants

             -Offer Hospitality contest amongst members for employees

            - Seminars & training for staff & employees of members

            - Business development, entrepreneurialism, financial training, banking,

                 Insurance

3.      Merchant Comm./Collaboration & Buy In

             - Convene/mtg/staff – support – chamber

               -Build a Product database

               -Create a Merchants sub committee of Chamber

               -Cooperstown promotions – sweepstakes

               -Merchant purchasing power

               -Member to member discount

               -Reach out to Merchants Assoc., bring under aegis of Chamber

               -Create joint membership between Cooperstown & Otsego Cnty Chambers          

Wrap up: Most in attendance agreed that they would like and were willing to attend another meeting to continue the work.  It was agreed that each attendee would bring another person to the next meeting – preferably from a dining establishment to increase representation.

Next Steps: Information taken from Work Session would be developed into a short survey to identify a few items to focus on for current work. 

Please reply with input/suggestions to full list:
Proposed Next Meeting Date: Monday, March 1

What are best times for meetings for best attendance?

Suggestions for meeting locations?