Downtown glass is half full!

A recent Daily Telegram article quoted me as saying that we have to revitalize our downtown if we want developers, businesses and families to call Adrian home. The downtown is the heart of any community and I am firm in my belief that downtowns must be vibrant, attractive and bustling with people shopping, eating and obtaining professional services.

I am one of those people who grew up here and remember when there were 100+ stores, shops and eateries downtown. Lunch hours and breaks were spent walking the aisles at Kresges, having lunch at the counter at Cunningham’s Drug Store and looking for the perfect outfit for Saturday night’s date at any one of the many clothing stores that were here. While it would be awesome to see that kind of vitality again, I realize it will look different from the 1960’s. But I also realize that it can be done and the Chamber is committed to being a part of the eventual solution.

But, in the meantime, we need to realize what is in our downtown, support those businesses and pass the word to others that downtown Adrian has a variety of viable and attractive businesses. Last Saturday at Graze to Raise, a woman came over to talk to me and commented on what a shame it was that there was so little in our downtown. She was surprised when I told her how many retail shops are here. Do you know how many there are? read this Sunday's Telegram to find out!

Ann Hughes
President and CEO
517.265.2320
517.270.1818
www.adrianareachamber.com

A Great Monday!

The day started out well as I joined a good-sized and enthusiastic crowd in the County Commission chambers in the historic Lenawee County Courthouse as Doug Spade began his quest to make a bit of history of his own! Spade will be running for the 16th District Michigan Senate seat. Doug commented that he wanted to serve in this capacity with all of his heart and the crowd applauded its approval. Check out the photo on the Chamber's Home Page at www.adrianareachamber.com .

The day progressed as I joined a group of Adrian Maples supporters to judge the Adrian Homecoming banners and windows in downtown Adrian. Great work by lots of students who are looking forward to beating Ferndale on Friday night. The theme this year is Dr. Seuss and it was fun to see how the students built the theme in to the artwork! i.e. "We can beat them in a house. We can beat them with a mouse. We can beat them here. We can beat them there. We can beat them anywhere!" Go Maples!

Thank God for Mondays!

What a weekend it was in Adrian and Lenawee County!! Art-a-Licious, the Chamber Golf Tournament, Oh, These Irish Hills Festival, Antique Tractor and Steam Engine Event, Always.....Patsy Cline, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy at the TC A and the ASO's Light's, Camera, Music! Concert. Lenawee County and the City of Adrian - what a great place to live, huh?

Kudos to everyone who worked on and came downtown to take part in Art-A-Licious! It was great. Thanks for making it happen again this year- it just keeps getting bigger and better!

Log on to www.adrianareachamber.com and click on Community events to see what's happening in Adrian and click on www.visitlenawee.com for all the cool things to do in Lenawee County!

Ann Hughes
President and CEO
517.265.2320
517.270.1818
www.adrianareachamber.com

Every day is a chance to learn

We're never too old to learn and we don't have to wait until the beginning of another school year to tackle learning new skills or absorbing new facts and information. There are varied thoughts on ways to acquire needed knowledge and information that is pertinent to the work we do and I wouldn't begin to issue an opinion on what might be the most effective.

But I did have an opportunity to sit in on a what proved to be enlightening in terms of the exchange of ideas and information, participant excitement, and generation of solutions and ideas. These were aimed at assisting individuals at the gathering identify effective solutions to their marketing challenges and questions.

I believe that a group of individuals sitting around a table and brainstorming can be among the most valuable tool any of us can access. Last Friday's Marketing Conversation was the perfect example of people working together to generate ideas not only for themselves but for others in the group as well. They all realized that when one is successful, we are all more successful. Great work and thanks to our marketers: Linda Gentry, Carla Ayers and Gaynor Mielke.

Back - to - School touches all of us

Whether or not you are a parent preparing children for a return to the classroom next month, a teacher developing new lesson plans or are long past the classroom period of your life, back-to-school activity still impacts most of us in this community.

Stores are hoping to be tapped for the purchase of shoes, clothing and supplies. Transportation folks are getting vehicles ready for the first trek to school on September 8th. Dorms, apartment complexes and rental housing is being readied for the returning and new college students coming to our local higher educational institutions. Businesses are stocking their shelves and looking at their marketing and advertising plans in order to attract these young men and women as customers.

Drivers will need to be extra alert as children begin walking or riding the bicycles to school. Crossing guards are dusting off the STOP signs. Moms and dads are disbelieving that their sons and daughters are old enough to be in 1st grade or high school or off to college.

Let's make this a good year for our students and our community. Get involved with your local schools. Volunteer. Participate. Attend sporting and fine arts events. Share your talents and expertise with students.

Ann Hughes
President and CEO
517.265.2320
517.270.1818
www.adrianareachamber.com

Just Do It!

The Chamber staff took the idea and initial conversation of a coupon book to welcome the college students and introduce them to businesses in the City on July 21st to final approval of the 73-page professional book in only 18 business days. Speaking with our sales rep at the company printing the books, we were told that they were doubtful at the beginning that we could pull it off in the allotted time frame and that we did, was a first and caused much amazement among their staff!

It just shows what can be done with determination, commitment, a positive attutude, awesome team members, the right product and willing customers. I can't say enough about the Chamber staff who worked this project: Phil, who sold non-stop for 9 days; Will and Carole for the work they did in researching clip-art and fine tuning logos, putting them into a digital file for the printers; and to our participating businesses for accepting the short time frame and getting their information to us. One of the remarkable aspects was that there were no short tempers or obvious frustrations as we worked toward meeting the deadline - great people and an awesome project. Thanks to everyone who played any part as well as the members of the Chamber's Town & Gown Council who provided the impetus for the project.

Marketing Roundtable starts this week

Following a number of conversations with Chamber members, we have decided to re-format the First Friday Forum into what appears to be a much desired Marketing Roundtable. Meetings will continue to be held on the first Friday of each month from Noon until 1 pm, but will move to the Board Room at the Chamber office. The first meeting, this Friday will be primarily to determine what those present want in terms of marketing topics, speakers, discussions etc. This program is a Members Only benefit and there is no charge. Feel free to bring your lunch and, if you can, call and let us know you are coming - 265-2320. No, more than ever, marketing is critical to business success - come and talk about it. Share ideas on what has worked and what hasn't. Ask questions. We are all seeking the same successful outcome and this is an opportunity to work together to achieve common success. Thanks to Lori Sallows, WLEN for agreeing to facilitate the monthly Marketing Roundtables!

Ann Hughes
President and CEO
517.265.2320
517.270.1818
www.adrianareachamber.com