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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.4 Local Holiday Campaign STAFF REPORT CITY CLERK File #470-50 CITY COUNCIL DATE:October 16, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJECT: Update on Shop Local Holiday Campaign Prepared by Hazel L. Wetherford, Economic Development Analyst EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In 2011, per the City Council’s strategic initiatives for Economic Development, the City partnered with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and launched a Shop Local Holiday Campaign to encourage and increase shopping throughout the City of Dublin during the holidays. This report provides an update on the second year of the Shop Local Holiday Campaign. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Costs relating to the promotion of the campaign are expected to be approximately $2,500. These funds have been included in the FY 2012/13 budget. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council accept the report. Submitted By Reviewed By Economic Development Director Assistant City Manager DESCRIPTION: In 2011, per the City Council’s strategic initiatives for Economic Development to explore a Shop Local Holiday Campaign, the City partnered with the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and launched “Discovery Dublin for the Holidays” using social media. The goal of the campaign is to encourage and increase shopping throughout the City of Dublin during the holidays. This campaign is a Dublin Chamber of Commerce-led initiative that the City helps support. The campaign is now in its second year and the Chamber is utilizing the Shop Local Holiday Campaign’s Facebook page to promote businesses to Dublin residents. The Facebook page, www.facebook.com/discoverdublin with more than 400 “likes,” promotes businesses that are participating in the campaign by posting their business profile, photos as well as store ITEM NO. 3.4 Page 1 of 2 promotions and events. Subscribers to the campaign’s Facebook page are then notified of the recent updates. In preparation of this year’s Facebook campaign, the City has mailed over 1,000 postcards to Dublin businesses notifying them of the launch and to encourage their participation. In addition, in partnership with the Chamber and the Alameda Small Business Development Center, the City hosted a social media boot camp earlier this month to give local businesses the necessary tools to effectively market online. And while this is largely an online campaign, City Staff are visiting local business owners to market the benefits of the campaign and encourage their participation. Staff is distributing posters to place in their storefronts and providing information cards for their patrons so they can “like” the campaign’s Facebook page and stay informed. Additionally, City staff, the Dublin Chamber and a local business owner participated in a Shop Local segment for TV30 which will air in December to help further educate Dublin residents on the important investment they make when they choose to shop locally. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: A copy of this report was provided to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. ATTACHMENTS: None Page 2 of 2