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Welcome to Alliance for Downtown Meridian Dear Stakeholder,
We want to start this e-newsletter
by informing stakeholders of the email problems we have been experiencing. We apologize for any inconvenience
this may have caused. Our Internet server shut down our IP address resulting in mass of emails being
sent. Our IT Consultant has corrected the problem. Again, we apologize for this and we promise to keep
our future emails limited. If you still want to opt out of our e-newsletter, click opt out at the bottom.
If you want to be removed from our email blast, please email Amy at alliancemdn@comcast.net. |
| Merry Meridian Market and Parade The
site where Merry Meridian Market is held every year was changed by organizers at the last minute from Dumont Plaza to The
Gathering Place on Front Street. It was a great success with vendors selling everything from homemade candy, cozy blankets,
clothing, books, homemade jewelry, and anything you would need for the holidays. The vendors, as well as customers,
voiced they really liked the indoor venue. The Merry Meridian parade started at 5:00 p.m. Saturday December 5th. Over
100 entries participated in what is known as the largest nighttime parade in Mississippi. Thousands of spectators
came to watch. School bands spread holiday cheer as well as a variety of floats. The parade started on 25th
Ave. and 8th Street and ended about 6:30 p.m. on 22nd Ave. at 14th Street. Merry Meridian Parade Winners: Overall Winner was Simmons Wrecker 1st Place Commercial: B103 2nd Place Commercial:
N.E.W 3rd Place Commercial: Suzie McCraw School of Dance 1st Place Non-Commercial: Old South Museum 2nd Place Non-Commercial: Poplar Springs Church 3rd
Place Non-Commercial: MS Today's Girl |
Main Street In
the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, thousands of downtowns fell by the wayside. While communities were securing mass construction
in areas such as housing and highways, Main Street was undergoing mass destruction. Empty stores, boarded up buildings
and deteriorating structures lined the streets that were once the social and commercial centers. By
the late 1970's, community after community began to realize suburban strip malls left them with an empty retail space downtown
lost. Nationwide, efforts to take back Main Street were put in motion, but there was a desperate need for
expertise and support. The need was soon filled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). In 1980,
after three years of pilot studies, the NTHP established the National Main Street Center to provide the support and encourage
the revitalization of Main Street based on historic preservation and sound business practices. To date, 50 states and
more than 1,800 communities participate in the Main Street Program nationwide. Source: www.msmainstreet.com |
Things Business Owners Can Do During a Sluggish Economy:
Visual Presentation: Clean up the outside of your store. Plant
flowers and make it inviting. Sweep the walk daily. Take old flyers off of your window, when you do put them
up make sure they do not block the view into your business. Clean off your counter and keep your merchandise
neat and displays fresh. Move merchandise more often so people will think your merchandise is new. Remember
it is new to them. Have all signs printed. Do not hand write signs. Communication with
your Customers: Be positive when greeting your customer. Don't talk about gloom
and doom. They really don't want to hear it. Collect email addresses of your customers who buy from you and
run special sales for them. Keep your customers informed through e-mail blast. Friday is a good day to send this
out so customers can put it into their schedule to come by. Put save the date cards on your counters for events
in your community and have special events for your customers. Make sure you have a website or update your website.
Customer Service: Always smile when the customer comes in your store and especially if you
are talking on the phone. Your smile translates on the phone believe it or not. Every person who walks
in the door is a potential customer so treat them that way. Wrap packages for a small fee or offer it free. Service
and good experience is why people come back. Participation in Events: Participate
in local events. It should have minimal cost and it is getting out in front of your customer. Some potential customers
will be attending events and it is a good time to capture new sales that you might not have otherwise. Have a drawing
during an event and capture those email addresses for your e-newsletter. Hours of Operation: Keep
regular hours and extend your hours so that people who work can come by to shop at their convenience. Have after
hours events to draw special interest groups to your store. Offer discount nights for groups (garden clubs, women's
groups, etc.) |
Take a Stroll Downtown Do some last minute Christmas shopping. Enjoy the Christmas tree and decorations in Dumont Plaza. Buy
a hot dog from Tracy. Enjoy the Arts from Lucas Road or the Artist Co-op. Grab a hot bowl of soup from the Deli
on 5th. Get Tulane BBQ to cater your holiday or News Years party. Stop by Jean's restaurant and get a
hot breakfast to start your shopping day. Support your local businesses in historic downtown Meridian. |
Upcoming Events: The Riley Center will have these upcoming
events: Junie B Jones, Friday January 22, 2010 at 7:30 Los Lobos, Saturday January 23, 2010 at 7:30 The
American Spiritual Ensemble, Saturday January 30, 2010 at 7:30 |
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| Board Members Tim Allred Billy Beal Johnny Brewer Scott Carmichael Gaines Crawford Barbaree Heaster Minnie
Hunter Jim McGinnis Michele Pearson Guy Purvis James Rowcliff Dennis Sankovich Esperanza
Sullins Kenny Watts Larry Jones Executive Director Amy Reede Main
Street Manager |
Window Decorating Contest Main
Street Meridian hosted a window decorating contest for downtown businesses. The most unique theme "Joy To
The World" window prize went to The Bible Book Store. The 1st Place prize went to First Ladies Designer Hats,
2nd Place went to Wells Fargo and 3rd Place went to The Meridian Star. We want to thank each business
that participated and helped make our downtown glow. |
Soule and Rail Fest The
7th Annual Soule Live Steam Festival and Whistlestop Weekend was held November 6th and 7th and was a great success!
Over the two day event, an estimated 5,000 visitors attended. Visitors came from all around the region including Florida,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. Visitors came from as far away as Colorado and New Hampshire. There
was an abundance of steam engines in operation at the festival. The whistles proved an attention-getting activity attracting
people of all ages. The Meridian Community College Industrial Technology students did an excellent job operating the
historic machine shop on both days. Demonstrations were expanded to both days and loyal volunteers worked hard to show
others how things used to be made. The demonstrators are always looking for other people interested in learning their
trade, so anyone interested in a particular demonstration activity, give Alliance for Downtown Meridian a call. The
Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum wants to thank their sponsors for their continued support. |
Christmas Caroling Downtown Our Main Street manager met with Jennifer Davis, the chorus director of the Meridian's
9th grade campus and about 40 signers after their visit to City Hall. We walked to downtown businesses and gave them
all a wonderful holiday surprise, caroling. We would like to thank the businesses that participated: Bank Plus, Regions
Bank, Citizens National Bank, Trustmark Bank, The Meridian Star, Lauderdale County and City of Meridian. |
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Alliance for Downtown Meridian Address/2120-A 5th Street; Meridian,
MS 39301 |
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