To enhance offerings during the busy holiday shopping season, many downtown areas are developing annual holiday pop-up programs that enliven their streets, highlight available spaces, and give entrepreneurs a valuable outlet for showcasing products.
(Boonton, NJ, December 1, 2011) — Vibrant storefronts and a density of shopping opportunities attract visitors downtown. To enhance offerings during the busy holiday shopping season, many communities are developing annual holiday pop-up programs that enliven main streets, highlight available spaces, and give entrepreneurs a valuable outlet for showcasing products.
A successful example is the Michigan Street Holiday Pop-up Shop Program, an initiative of Downtown South Bend, the City of South Bend, IN, and private landlords. It was established in 2010 to offer established business operators a no-cost, short-term lease for the holiday season.
Program goals include enhancing the festive holiday atmosphere, further developing downtown as a gift buying destination, highlighting available spaces, and providing visible sales locations for quality local and regional entrepreneurs and established businesses.
Prospective pop-up occupants fill out a one-page interest sheet, which is reviewed by a selection committee. Businesses are selected based on the appeal of their product mix for holiday shoppers, how well their concept works in synergy with current full-time tenants, their ability to add excitement through in-store events and promotions, viability of the business concept, and quality of proposed window displays.
Additional information on the Michigan Street program as well as similar programs in Portland, OR, and Cincinnati, OH, are in the December issue of Downtown Promotion Reporter.
###
About the Downtown Research & Development Center
For over 50 years, the Downtown Research & Development Center has acted as the information clearinghouse on practical strategies and tactics for revitalizing the hearts of our cities and towns.
The Group\'s main activities include publishing the widely influential Downtown Idea Exchange and Downtown Promotion Reporter newsletters; publishing relevant books and reports; and operating the DowntownDevelopment.com website.
Website: http://www.DowntownDevelopment.com