Download - Napanee BIA

Office Manager Report: July 2014
Website Traffic:
For the Month of June 2014, the BIA’s website saw a total of 1,380 visitors. This number is increased
from 1,057 unique visitors that visited the site in May 2014. These numbers are up dramatically from the
862 unique visitors that visited the site in June 2013, and 611 that visited in June 2012.
Social Media Trends:
June 2014 saw the BIA’s Twitter feed rise from 346 followers up to 370 followers, and Facebook has
seen a rise from 727 friends to 747 friends. Speaking of Facebook, as per a meeting that was talked about
earlier on this year, I have established three separate facebook ads for the BIA. Two advertising the
summer movie nights, and one for the BIA facebook page. So far I am seeing very positive results.
Currently for the Casablanca Movie Night, and the Frozen Movie Night there have been a reach of 21,682
people that have viewed the facebook ads for both movie nights. In addition over 5000 people new
people have viewed the Napanee BIA facebook site. So far the total cost of this advertising for both
movie nights and for the BIA facebook directly has been $90.98. Facebook advertising is extremely cost
effective, it helps gets the message out to a wide array of people at a fraction of the cost of using
alternative methods. I will be recommending the BIA use Facebook Advertising for both the Scarecrow
Festival and for the Big Bright Light Show.
OBIAA One Day Conference: June 19: Wrap Up
As previously reported in a prior Office Manager Report, the OBIAA hosted a one-day networking
seminar in Napanee. There were over thirty people taking part in this day. Municipalities from as far
away as Milton made the drive and took part in the networking session. All comments that I received
were extremely positive. The visit concluded with a walking tour of Downtown Napanee.
Request for Funds Policy:
Last month I presented a draft Request for Funds Policy. This evening I would like to request from this
Board any other feedback that Directors might have on this new policy, and in the event of no additional
feedback, that the Board agrees to move for adoption of this policy.
Riverfront Festival Wrap Up: 2014
I wanted to provide a rather brief wrap up regarding the Riverfront Festival. There was some controversy
regarding the possible closure of Centre Street for the Riverfront. The reason for Centre Street remaining
open was in the days leading up to the Riverfront Festival it was learned that the St. Lawrence II could
not dock on the north side of the river by beside Waterfront Pub and Terrace as per the original plan. The
water depth was only sufficient on the South Side of the River. Personally I felt that this was the best
course of action. By having the North Side of the River available, it greatly assist the kayak and canoe
racers.
During the festival, I step a considerable amount of time in the Downtown core and saw that there was a
dramatic increase in overall foot traffic and as a whole Downtown Napanee had a buzz in the air over the
event. Tim Horton’s had its busiest day that day that they ever had in its Downtown location in Napanee.
In terms of the movie night, overall I was disappointed in its execution. Two major comments that I
received regarding it was that it simply was just too full of a day for people to be out for it, and secondly
the weather really wasn’t cooperating. The temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius and with the gusts
of wind made the night seem that much colder. The festival committee agrees with this sediment and
next year would look to do a movie night on the opening evening of the festival instead of the Saturday. I
also helped the Town hand out Riverfront festival stickers and as a part of this, people attending the
festival were encouraged to browse the Downtown Core. If you were seen with one of the stickers, then
you were stopped by the Town and were entered into a draw for a prize from the Town. Together with
the town we gave out over 450 stickers over the course of the day.
Movie Night Marketing Efforts:
At this time I would like to go over the marketing efforts I am making to effectively promote and market
the Summer Movie Nights that the BIA is hosting.
Firstly, the Movie Nights are listed on the Summer Event Cards. Those cards have been plastered
throughout the Community, and shipped off to a number of tourism information centres from as far away
as Coburg. In addition, Movie Night Poster and Flyers have been placed throughout the Town in high
traffic, high volume areas, and storefronts. In addition, posters have been placed in apartment buildings
throughout Napanee and I have been in contact with SOS regarding the Casablanca movie night. The
movie nights have also been placed on the regional tourism information websites like the Bay of Quinte
and Land O Lakes as well as a number of Radio Stations like MyFm, 104.3 CKWS, and 98.3 in Kingston.
Facebook Ads have been created as stated above and am receiving increased awareness and exposure
digitally through those means. The event page is also being shared on a constant basis via the BIA
facebook page. Movie night flyers were given to a Daycare in Napanee, and I was in contact with the
Limestone District School Board and spent a good part of Canada Day interacting with people at the SPC
Centre and handing out rack cards and informing them of the different things going on in and around the
Town. Special thanks to Shaune for assisting me with movie night promotion. The County has expressed
some concern with closing Dundas Street.
Downtown Shopping Party
At this time I would like to inform the Board that Kat Monster has turned down the request to speak with
the Board and has notified me that she will not seek financial assistance for the 2014 Downtown
Shopping Party. She will keep me in the loop as she begins to play the event.