Meeting commenced at : 4:00 PM
Board Attendance
Ted Vegvari, Debbie Lang, Bruce Wood, Marsha H. Ershaghi-McCormick, Lynetta Coleman
Attendance: Marc Alan (Marc Alan Menswear 541-8597), Scott Stewart (Super Crown Pen Center 544-2881), Susie Seamans, Joe Aro So. Calif. Economic Partnership + guest, Tim Marshall
Issues raised:
Marc questions difference b/w pen ctr merchants assoc. vs AWMA.
Ted: AWMA will have revenues to pull from, co-op advertising, training seminars, implementing change and policy through permitting process of RHE.
Ted proposes to pay ½ membership fees if Marc brings 10 new members.
Funding to do 10 videos, marketing committee will provide funding, requirement: have to be members. Must cover categories of different types of businesses. Promotional 5 minutes video running continuously on public access, 30-second spot can be pulled and aired on TV (for buy time).
Lynetta suggests we advertise the promotional video spots. Video trailer running back to back, every merchant has a continuous video running about all merchants on the hill. When consumers are out doing business on the hill, they are reminded of other merchants by viewing the video.
Debbie: costs of machines would be expensive
Ted raises signage issue to Susie. Permitting process. Susie: it is part of the design sub-committee (under economic development commission) one of the first items to look at, can be done separately from the plan for the downtown area. Signage needs to be looked at as a whole as the commercial district, the job of the merchants association is to lobby the city for what you want. Merchants assoc. is here to affect the political jurisdictions to benefit you, to band together to improve your business aspects.
Marc questions appeal to city to change his sign, Susie says Pen Center has a master sign plan. City has a policy about generic advertising, they want a name of the business outside, not what is sold. Why can’t you have signs that say what is inside your store.
Joe: In-depth study of conditions of merchants. Has merchants assoc. started developing committees like the other organizations.
Ted: we’ve asked marketing committee to select 10 video clips on 10 businesses, w/ a cross section from each type of business. Mktg cmte has approved the financing, AWMA is to select the businesses. Directly as a result of RHE City Hall. Developing an outline for our funding request for advertising retainer for the marketing firm for approval to city council.
Joe : how many members? Ted: close to 20
Susie: status of bank account
Debbie: waiting for Mr. Seamans to get EIN # are we non-profit or for-profit
Ted: encourages non-profit status
Ted mentions RHE City Top Fifty Sales Tax Producers Event
3-25-98 at main community room at PV Library at 3:30 PM reception catered by Red Onion
AWMA is co sponsoring the event
Lynetta contacted Michael O’Toole can video everything except slot of 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Ted requests delivery of equipment only, or mentions Frank Brown Island Studios.
Meeting Time Frame discussed:
Joe: what is the best time of day for merchants. Ted says 4:00 PM is best time slot. Debbie mentions that this time slot has had the best turnout.
Joe: public/private collaborative effort of so. Bay, addressing needs of entire south bay, solely supported by members, five cities as members one of which is RHE, Torr, El Segundo, Hawthorne, Carson
Joe: Small business development center? Can work w/ companies up to 500 employees. They provide low cost, no cost consulting marketing, financial, business plan. Joe suggests we host a workshop and have SBCD provide a presentation. Setup a regular satellite location so that merchants who want an independent 3rd party to look at certain aspects of businesses. Training programs that are federally funded, on the job training, JTPA provides for ex: can have JTPA pay half their salary. Partners at El Camino, Cal State Dominguez, get interns, specialized training, management & executive training. Biggest issue: avg resident doesn’t know what is going on in the community, advertising dollars will change that, take a fresh approach to marketing, learn from merchants, what works or doesn’t work. Perception does become reality.
When you’re sailing, 90% of the time you’re off course, but you always get there because you know where you are going.
Get the existing businesses healthy, is this location where your business can succeed?
Concerns:
Need activities/ retail for kids, anchor stores.
June Grossberg: what we are doing to keep shops around? Discussion evolved into needs for youth generation. Activities for the whole family.
Susie Seamans: nothing gets done w/o a financial commitment, Joe is hired by RHE City.
City opened escrow w/ Norris Theatre w/ property by Fire House, $300,000, earmark money for improvements in Pen Center. Propose to set aside $300K for redevelopment of Pen Center area.
Meeting adjourns: 5:30 PM