Merchant Meeting | Changes to Downtown Festivals

​The Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA) and Business for Bend Film hosted a Downtown Business Merchant Meeting at the Tin Pan Theatre this morning, Thursday Feb 6th, 2020.  Today’s guest was Melissa King and Aaron Switzer with Lay it Out Events (LIOE).  About 35 business owners attended the meeting to learn about changes to Fallfest, Summerfest and the Bite of Bend. 
 
The informal presentation by Aaron Switzer and Q & A session that followed was positive, constructive, and was met with extreme gratitude from local merchants.
 
The meeting ended with a resounding applause. 
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“Lay it Out Event’s staff is here and they accept hugs,” joked Mindy Aisling, Executive Directory of the DBBA, in response to the overwhelming acknowledgement of the positive changes that LIOE had presented.

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These changes include:

1. LIOE to provide a downtown liaison position to address access issues, support joint marketing efforts and work with LIOE staff to provide for and accommodate a business’s ‘day-of’ needs.
2. LIOE to rotate the stage at Bite of Bend and move the main stage for Fall and Summerfest
3. LIOE to, as code allows, redo layouts to move vendors to the center of the street
4. LIOE to require all event and vendor staff to park off-site and outside of the EID
5. LIOE to provide deeper cleaning post-festival
6. LIOE to provide pre and post-festival meetings with the City and the DBBA
7. LIOE to launch a new app featuring downtown retailer discounts, free to DBBA members for the first year
8. LIOE to design scavenger hunts on this app to drive traffic
9. LIOE to offer stage time, free of charge, to the DBBA and community groups
10. LIOE to conduct surveys at select events and share data with retailers
11. LIOE to facilitate ‘Art of the Song’ workshops (scheduling festival performers to play at local businesses within the EID pre and post-festival.
12. LIOE to work with downtown businesses on sidewalk sale promotions
13. LIOE to provide an after-festival party promotion
14. LIOE to provide dedicated media for Downtown – full-page guide ads, separate social media, posters, and logistical support.

Questions from the engaged audience included, but were not limited to:

Q:  Will you be able change the placement of vendors so that a competing vendor isn't right in front of my store?
A: Yes

Q: Is there a way that we can still get our deliveries during these events?
A: Yes

Q: Can I have my own booth in front of my business?
A: Yes, and we'll give you a discounted rate

Q: Is there a cost for all of the new integration tools your suggesting (scavenger hunts, art of song, full downtown page in the event guide)?
​A: No

After asking half a dozen questions, one business manager exclaimed, "I can't believe it, you've solved all of the problems we've been having during these festivals. This is amazing."  
 
The final comment of the meeting was from a long-time business owner in Downtown Bend, “I’ve been here for 20 years, and these festivals have always been a burden for my business.  I’ve never experienced collaboration like this, and I’m incredibly pleased with this development.”

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The Downtown Bend Business Association is a small nonprofit committed to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend.  For a full scope of work, click here.