The
Sedona Main Street Program is proud to nominate its’ Gift Certifichecks
Program for AZ
Main Street’s
Best Promotional Materials award. This volunteer effort supports the
mission of our Program and was launched by our Business Enhancement
Committee.
The Sedona Main
Street Business Enhancement Committee was set up to assist and support
the economic vitality of the Sedona Main Street District stakeholders
and businesses. The specific ways in which this committee serves the
businesses in our district are continuously developing as work proceeds
and the needs and priorities of the business district change.
In late 2004, the
committee researched a variety of programs used in other communities.
After a good deal of research, the committee made the decision to create
a Main Street District gift certificate program. Their goal was
two-fold: capture spending and stimulate revenue distribution throughout
the business district over the long haul; in light of the City’s planned
major streetscape project, implement this program and get it established
well in advance of construction so that it encourages spending in the
District by local residents as well as visitors and helps mitigate the
impact of construction on revenues.
The committee chose
CertifiChecks.com as the vendor for this program. The basis for the
Committee decision was the solid reputation of the vendor company, the
vendor’s experience with other Main Street programs, the low
implementation cost, their administrative support, and the national
economies and efficiencies they bring to our effort.
By May 2005 (within
six months), this exciting program was implemented. Since then the
program has exceeded expectations, generating an outstanding 1100%
return on our investment.
Additional
attractive program features include:
-
Low
cost fees (first year set up fee of $300 dollars and following years’
program fee of $200/year):
-
Insures spending in the district and re-circulates funds within the
district;
-
Easy
use by gift givers, recipients and redeeming merchants with no
administration or handling charges
The committee’s
target markets for the program include local Timeshare companies, major
employers, and end user direct sales supported with sales presentations,
holiday ads, press releases, Sedona Chamber of Commerce E- flash, Sedona
Main Street newsletters and advertising in the annual Lifestyles of
Sedona. The committee created numerous letters and flyers either mailed
or hand-delivered to encourage and support merchant participation to
accept, redeem and purchase Certifichecks.
The benefits of
this impressive program are numerous:
-
Increased awareness of the businesses in Main-Street District
-
New
partnerships in support of District businesses
-
Cross-promotions with In-District businesses
-
City
employee recognition benefiting Main Street businesses
-
Gift
programs and employee incentives for participants
-
Captures additional spending in the Main Street District
-
Support for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce’s "Shop Local” campaign
Sedona Main Street District Gift Certifichecks
has far exceeded
the committee’s expectations.
Attachment #1
