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Friday, September 07, 2007

OpEd; Christmas, Searchlights, and the Power of Renewal

Years ago, just about Thanksgiving, I had the pleasure of managing the opening of a business----and decided that the most effective way to celebrate the opening was with searchlights. One searchlight actually.

About 5Pm right before dusk, it arrived. It looked like it was fresh out of a WWII film---in fact the model had not changed since then.

As soon as the light was lit and began searching the skies, folks came in the store and began asking......."What's going on....?"

Neighboring stores decided to stay open later to cash in on the foot traffic. People were stopping their cars and gawking, causing traffic jams. Good traffic jams. All in all it was a very successful promotion and one that I will never forget.

O.K. I know. Some of you savy political types will tell me that SEARCHLIGHTS are illegal under the sign ordinance for Evansville. Yes. You are correct.

However---the planning for Christmas is beginning right now for all the retailers. YES. The Back to School promotions are winding down, and everybody who is an early shopper has begun to get the lists ready, and look for the bargains before the prices rise.

When the NEW DOWNTOWN EVANSVILLE opens in November-----I can see the SEARCHLIGHT blazing in the sky. And the folks from all around driving here and asking-----"What the heck is happening?"

And we can tell them------"Welcome to the New Downtown Evansville---a great place to do business. If you have a business.....let's talk."

And what about the sign ordinance? We can relax that for one day. After all. We'll be ready to party....and restoring a downtown only happens every 100 years or so.

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