IMPORTANCE OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESS WINDOWS / STORE FRONTS (Part 2)

Another aspect of downtown window display involves their use as "3-D billboards".  Many downtown building owners have allowed outside businesses to use their store front windows to advertise goods and services outside of downtown or even in another community.  This allows outside businesses to advertise their goods and services and gives the building owner the ability to highlight their location in the best possible light.  It is a win / win arrangement that seems to be gaining traction within various communities.  Here are  images from Oregon, Illinois where a local business (not located in downtown) advertises their goods in a vacant building at the community's highest traffic intersection:  The display has since expanded to an adjoining storefront (though I haven't had opportunity to add this display as of yet...)

IMPORTANCE OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESS WINDOWS / STORE FRONTS

Sites on the internet that may be helpful to grasp this concept:

Youtube:  “ Insights into a Lively Downtown (Urban Planning, Ann Arbor, Michigan) HQ version”    (storefronts addressed at 9:36)

Best window Displays     http://thebwd.com/ 

FACEBOOK PAGE    “Bridge of Art”   DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE BUSINESSES OUT THERE THAT SPECIALIZE IN DRESSING UP STOREFRONTS?  VISIT THEIR WEBSITE FOR INSPIRATION

“WindoW display ideas” on pinterest

Ask businesses owners or building owners to take pride in the appearance of their store fronts

Take steps to address vacant store fronts to make them inviting and interesting.  Talk with property owners to see if they would be willing to do “something creative” in their windows (recruit local artists to help).  This will only help property owners with their efforts in attracting a tenant.

Make full use of your business store fronts as a showcase for the business.  There is a reason that stores inside shopping malls have large glass windows; you want to catch the shopper’s interest, make then wants to stop, look and hopefully get them inside.

ENCOURAGE PROPERTY OWNERS TO DO MORE THAN PUT A STORE BOUGHT "FOR RENT / FOR SALE" SIGN IN THEIR WINDOW.  It’s boring and gives the appearance of giving up).

   

·         Hype the reasons WHY a business should locate in your community.

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      Give average daily traffic counts for the location  (available on any state’s department of transportation website)

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      Provide the number of people living within so many miles of the property (also available online)

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      Pull together the relevant demographics.  The internet makes this much easier than you may think.

      

       Every vacant building in your downtown should have a sign saying WHY this is a great place to start a business