The Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce, City of Redmond, R-Trip (Redmond Trip Resource & Incentive Program) and local businesses are launching a “Think Redmond. Go local, be local” campaign to promote economic vitality, community pride and sustainability in every sense of the word.
Those may seem like logical goals at any time, but the “Think Redmond” call to arms is particularly urgent for two compelling reasons.
GROWING PAINS
“The economy is in the tank,” said Chris Hoffman, president and CEO of the Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce. “And we want to make sure businesses are not shut down because of construction.”
Hoffman elaborated, “What we really believe in, at this chamber, is partnerships, especially with this mayor and council, the City of Redmond and R-Trip. Erika Vandenbrande and Jill Smith of the city’s planning department and their boss (city planning director) Rob Odle have worked with the chamber and the entire city to help businesses get through the city’s processes. We’ve been lobbying to turn the one-way couplets, Redmond Way and Cleveland Street, into two-way streets. It’s better for both traffic and commerce.”
Those changes are on the horizon. The Redmond Way/Cleveland Street Two-Way Conversion project is slated to take place between June 2011 and Dec. 2012.
But for now, traffic and parking issues in the downtown area can be maddening. Walking, biking, carpooling or using public transportation are good ways to ease the congestion. R-Trip offers a $50 reward for every 50 commutes in which you’re not driving alone. Even so, construction detours will be “an inconvenient truth” for quite some time.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
Peter Chee owns Thinkspace, a downtown Redmond business that provides “green” office space and meeting rooms. He’s also chair of the chamber’s sustainability committee.
“Shopping locally reduces commutes and also supports local businesses in bad times,” Chee stated. “We’re identifying businesses which are struggling — and spotlighting them, using all channels.”
Chamber officials regularly interact with local business owners and offer tips on how to better market their products and services. But efforts are being ramped up through the “Think Redmond” campaign.
Carla Johnson, who is the chamber’s communications, media and events manager, as well as chamber ambassadors and city staff have embarked on a “high-touch program” to engage business owners and listen to their concerns about the economy and the impact of downtown construction.
“To make this a super-livable city that supports residents, businesses and government, the things I asked for as a ‘wish list’ are all happening,” said Hoffman. “I am thrilled by the efforts of the city. However, there was a grass roots push from some local businesses interested in getting help. We’ve tried to make sure what we have reflects city and business needs.”
“THINK REDMOND, GO LOCAL, BE LOCAL”
The Chamber and its partners are asking Redmond residents and workers to embrace these principles:
• Support Redmond’s Local Economy. “By choosing to buy locally, you are investing in your community and building long-term economic empowerment.”
• Nurture Community Pride. “Our vision of Connecting Community comes in many forms including fostering relationships between the city, chamber, businesses and residential community.”
• Help the Environment. “When you buy local, you decrease the drive, therefore reducing traffic congestion and air pollution, and it is easier on your pocketbook.”
• Re-invest in Redmond. “Money spent in our local economy is likely to be spent in our community. Taxes collected on these purchases benefit the entire community in the form of emergency services, education, infrastructure improvements, etc.”
• Create and Sustain Local Jobs. “A strong economy creates and sustains a healthy job market.”
• Strengthen Local Non-Profits. “Local businesses and residents historically contribute to charitable causes in their own community.”
• Have More Choices. “A strong and diverse selection of local businesses drives competition and innovation.”
A MULTI-MEDIA APPROACH
The “Think Redmond” campaign will incorporate “a lot of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and a blog to interview business owners and personalize it, so you can understand their story, really raise awareness of what they are going through,” said Chee.
Participating business owners will be able to post messages describing what they do and why they are special, along with hyperlinks to their own Web sites, on the “Think Redmond” site.
“We’re encouraging businesses on a networking platform to let customers know what they do is different than the competition,” said Hoffman.
City and chamber staff are mentoring those who don’t have a lot of knowledge about how to brand themselves. Yet the “Think Redmond” campaign isn’t solely aimed at rescuing small businesses.
“We belong to WACE (Western Association of Chamber Executives) and have seen lots of campaigns similar to this but nothing at the level of what we’re doing,” Hoffman noted. “To be a successful business community, we need a mix of national companies and the boutiques.”
Johnson commented, “We’ve done a lot of research,” and Chee agreed, “We looked at what was going on, picked the best ideas of the different cities. Some focus only on mom and pop shops. This one embraces all of the city and we can’t say enough about the response from the city staff.”
Hoffman nodded, “The collaboration has truly been a gift. It’s what makes the program work.”
But to also make the program work, consumers need incentives to “Think Redmond.”
DISCOUNTS AND PERKS
The Redmond Chamber already has a member-to-member discount program and Johnson’s been talking to many business owners about offering special discounts or perks to customers who show a “Think Redmond” card.
The chamber’s Web site and newsletter, as well as communications materials from the city and R-Trip will feature the “Think Redmond” logo and updates on seasonal promotions and discounts. Decals and window clings will be provided, so that consumers can easily identify the participating merchants.
Funding for the “Think Redmond” campaign is coming from business taxes and grants from King County Metro and “everyone has a stake in the outcome,” said Vandenbrande.
Business owners who would like to join the “Think Redmond. Go local, be local” campaign should contact Carla Johnson at the Greater Redmond Chanber of Commerce, carlaj@redmondchamber.org or (425) 885-4014. For more information, visit www.ThinkRedmond.com.
