Presents a proposal for:

“Spotlight Bellingham”

Action Plan ................................................ 1

Situation Analysis 2 Research 3 Plan of Action 8 Evaluation 13

Timeline ........................................................ 14

Budget ............................................................ 17

PR Material ................................................ 19

Communications Material 20

Personnel .................................................... 25

Appendicies .............................................. 27 Survey 28 Research Paper 29 Contacts 44

1

ACTION PLAN

Downtown Bellingham Partnership is a 501(c)3 nonprofit working to promote vibrancy in downtown Bellingham. Founded in 2000, DBP is a Washington Main Street Community—a program of the Washington Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation that focuses on economic development, organization, design, events and promotion.

Specifically, DBP hopes to attract tourists and new businesses downtown, marking their target demographic as tourists, the local community and business owners.

While a majority of survey respondents were not aware of DBP and what it offers Bellingham’s economy and culture, most respondents had attended at least one public event sponsored by the organization. This includes target demographic age groups, 18-24 and 24-35, whose involvement in downtown events and business (restaurants, retail stores, breweries, etc.) exceeded that of other age groups.

This identified the target audiences for the campaign as college-age students and middle-aged couples/families who indulge in downtown activities. From there, Bird’s Eye PR looked at ways to use this active participation to spread word about DBP and reinforce the message of the vibrant and rich atmosphere downtown offers. Also analyzed were ways to extend this message outside of Bellingham.

Forming strategic relationships and partnerships with downtown businesses is key to engaging the target demographic. By spotlighting these businesses and creating sponsored events with them, DBP can be an effective downtown advocate while boosting its own brand awareness.

Situation Analysis

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Bird’s Eye PR conducted 132 convenience surveys in Bellingham, targeting ages 18 and over. Surveys were in printed paper form and distributed in three different locations; downtown Farmer’s Market, Fred Meyer on Lakeway and Western Washington University’s Red Square.

The survey showed that eating, socializing and drinking were a few of the strongest factors bringing individuals downtown. Open-ended answers were categorized into; food, entertainment and events, shopping, atmosphere and aesthetics, socializing or a need for a change in scenery, drinking and other. Respondents could list more than one positive factor. The following were the top four choices.

Figure 1: What factors draw you to downtown Bellingham?

Research

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As of Dec. 1, 2017, there are seven vacant retail stores or condos in downtown Bellingham. Survey results show the more visited locations downtown, implying that retail stores, arts/entertainment locations and cafes need more popularity. By bringing in more businesses which resemble these, DBP can diversify and urbanize downtown. Respondents could list more than one location they visit regularly.

Figure 2: Which downtown locations do you visit most?

Research

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Figure 3: What factors discourage you from going downtown?

When asked what factors discourage people from visiting downtown, limited or paid parking and transportation were the most popular answers among respondents. These results show that respondents have a negative perception of parking which DBP is striving to alter. Respondents could list multiple discouraging factors. Samples from Bellingham and Whatcom County were analyzed because Whatcom County residents still play a heavy role in downtown activities.

Research

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Of the same demographics (Bellingham residents and Whatcom County residents), a majority of Whatcom County residents have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage but never use it. No Whatcom County residents use it regularly and few Bellingham residents do.

Figure 4: How familiar are you with the Commercial Street Parking Garage? (Demographics)

Research

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Over one-third of people have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage but never use it and another third report that they have never heard of the parking garage.

Figure 5: How familiar are you with the Commercial Street Parking Garage? (Totals)

Research

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THEME

OBJECTIVES

TARGET AUDIENCE 1) Ages 18-24: college-age students who spend their recreational time downtown for food, events, shopping, etc. This includes young adults who may not visit downtown as often as others their age.

2) Ages 25-34: young professionals who drive growth in cities. Included in this age range are families with or without kids.

“Spotlight Bellingham” highlights unique downtown businesses while encouraging more frequent and easier traversion of the downtown area itself. Our slogan implies that the more people keep in touch with the downtown community and its culture, the more likely they are to indulge in its offerings. Our campaign seeks to heighten awareness of this culture, while making it easier to navigate the city.

• Increase DBP awareness by 30 percent and website traffic by 15 percent by 2019.• Increase use of Commercial Street Parking Garage by 20 percent by 2019.• Urbanize and diversify by having three new businesses open downtown by 2019.

Plan of Action

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Bird’s Eye PR aims to exceed expectations through specific strategies and ad-hoc plans based off primary and secondary research. Through advocation, promotion and sponsorship, Bird’s Eye’s proposal would extend awareness of downtown Bellingham’s rich and thriving urban culture, thus stimulating positive perceptions of downtown.

A survey conducted by Bird’s Eye PR indicated that 81 percent of participants did not know about DBP, versus the 19 percent that did. In that same survey, 73 percent of respondents were unsure as to whether or not they supported DBP, compared to the 15 percent who did support and the 10 percent that didn’t.

Bird’s Eye PR has composed three objectives in its campaign for Downtown Bellingham Part-nership: increase usage of the Commercial Street Parkade by 15 percent, increase DBP website traffic by 15 percent and to see three new businesses open in vacant spaces by 2019.

STRATEGIES

• Highlight unique businesses in downtown Bellingham and incentivize patronage.• Community engagement through a visual tour of downtown, encouraging DBP website

traffic. • Increase tourism and local visits to downtown by leveraging an event passing through

Bellingham.• Extend awareness of downtown as an opportunistic business location.• Inspire easier navigation of downtown and alter negative perceptions about parking.

Plan of Action

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TACTICS

“Downtown Spotlight” Feature With “Downtown Spotlight,” DBP would feature a different location on its website each month, including a short video. These locations range from restaurants to specialty stores. A brief write-up about the history and message of the business would be prominently featured and a discount of at least ten percent would be made available at the spotlighted location for the first week of the month when customers mention “DBP” at checkout. Over 80 percent of people surveyed by Bird’s Eye did not know about DBP but this tactic would promote the brand and show off the newly redesigned website. Additionally, many survey respondents limited their downtown visits to the same experience every time (i.e: only dining or only bar-hopping). “Downtown Spotlight” would provide an incentive for locals to expand their downtown exposure. The goal is to tap into the popularity of websites like Bellingham on Tap, which locals visit on a regular basis to find deals. The incorporation of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter postings at the beginning of each month will promote the tactic and increase visibility for the spotlighted business.

Bird’s Eye has put together a video showcasing downtown Bellingham from aerial and street-level perspectives. It represents a refreshing change of pace from the traditional Bellingham video that seems to always feature the same snow-capped mountain, waterfall and river. This video provides a tour of the city and highlights a few businesses along the way. Forty-seven percent of survey respondents reported going sightseeing downtown, demonstrating an appreciation for the area’s scenic value. Promoting the video on the DBP website and across social media platforms would effectively educate tourists and small business owners about what downtown has to offer.

Downtown Video

Plan of Action

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Cascade Bike Ride “Midpoint Pint” Bird’s Eye PR has initiated a community partnership with Cascade Bike Club to increase tourism in downtown Bellingham. DBP has expressed it would like to make downtown a viable weekend vacation spot and increase awareness of the positive experiences the city has to offer. Bellingham has a large bike culture as well as 14 breweries that create a beer-loving community. Bird’s Eye decided to incorporate this to bring people to Bellingham. Cascade Bicycle Club’s annual “Seattle-to-Vancouver” bike trip has a midpoint rest day in Bellingham. To promote local breweries, Bird’s Eye PR has created a free-pint coupon for contributing locations in downtown Bellingham, including The Local Public House, Aslan Brewing Company, Schweinhaus Biergarten and La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza. Bike ride participants will be encouraged to dine and drink downtown before continuing their ride the next morning, making this a memorable stop on their trip. Each coupon is branded with the DBP logo and a promotion of each bar and brewery’s website will be posted on the Cascade Bike Club website.

Business Startup Brochure

Bird’s Eye PR has created a brief real estate brochure that details available rent spaces in downtown Bellingham, as well as why downtown is a great location to start a new business. Research showed ample coffee shops, bars, breweries and restaurants downtown. Brochures would reach beyond Bellingham’s limits to extend awareness about downtown as a vibrant location. The brochure is inviting, professional, informative and will retain DBP’s logo. The brochures will be sent to business startup centers to catch the attention of aspiring or current business owners.

Parking Garage Sign

Bird’s Eye PR has created a sign to inform people of the public parking available in the Commercial Street Parking Garage. According to a survey by Bird’s Eye, 39.4 percent of people said they have never heard of the parking garage and 39.4 percent have heard of it but never used it. DBP wants to increase the use of the ParkAde in order to change the negative perceptions of parking in downtown Bellingham. Survey results show that 19.6 percent of people were discouraged from going downtown because of limited or paid parking. The sign will include information about the garage’s availability and pricing. It will be placed on the corner of W. Holly St. and Commercial St., outside of Quinn & Foster in clear view of pedestrians and drivers.

Plan of Action

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BUDGET The campaign budget is separated into two price tiers: “Kick your feet up” and “Down and dirty,” giving DBP an option of how much money to invest in the “Spotlight Bellingham” campaign.

EVALUATIONSeveral methods will be used to evaluate the success of the campaign. For the “Downtown Spotlight” website feature, businesses will track how many discounts are given to customers. Once its month of fame is complete, the business will be asked what trends it noticed and how it affected them. DBP awareness will be measured by its website traffic throughout the year. Free-beer coupons will be collected by participating locations and numbers will be reported to DBP to measure how many riders visited downtown Bellingham. Once the ride is complete, Cascade Bike Club will send out a small questionnaire to each participant about their experience in Bellingham and likelihood of returning. The number of vacant spaces in downtown Bellingham will be recorded annually to measure business growth. The Commercial Street Parking Garage’s pay stations will be monitored regularly to observe popularity. A general survey will be sent out in Jan. 2019 to Bellingham citizens to gauge use of the garage and perception of parking downtown. This would then be compared to Bird’s Eye’s survey conducted in Oct. 2017.

Plan of Action

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In order to evaluate the effectiveness of “Spotlight Bellingham,” Bird’s Eye Public Relations proposes doing the following:

• Measure use of the parking garage from the holiday season (Dec. 20) until March 2018, create a four-month sample size. Compare this usage rate to last year’s during the same four-month span.

• Survey Bellingham citizens in March 2018 to measure awareness of the parking garage. Compare results to Bird’s Eye’s Oct. 2017 survey to measure increased awareness.

• Compare the number and location of empty retail/office spaces downtown in Dec. 2018 to the number and location from Dec. 2017.

• Free-beer coupons collected by restaurants and breweries: counted and reported to DBP.

• Cascade Bicycle Club issues brief questionnaire about rider experience in Bellingham and likelihood of returning.

• Businesses track “Downtown Spotlight” discounts given to customers: counted and reported to DBP.

• DBP awareness will be measured through trends in website traffic.

Evaluation

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TIMELINE

Timeline

• Order Signicade Deluxe A-Frame sign and parking garage sign print from Chazzzam (Dec. 13)

• Create a schedule for “Downtown Spotlight,” assigning months to committed businesses (Dec. 13)

• Send schedule to businesses for the upcoming year (Dec. 13)• Edit website to include “Downtown Spotlight” tab (Dec. 13) • Pick up completed sign from Chazzzam (Dec. 18)• Post sign with print on the corner of W. Holly Street and Commercial

Street, outside of Quinn & Foster (Dec. 18) • Make any requested changes to monthly assignments of businesses—

Vinostrology, Third Planet and Social Fabric should be featured in the first three months because Bird’s Eye has already shot/edited the videos for these locations (Dec. 20)

• Send final list of monthly assignments to businesses (Dec. 20)• Begin first “Downtown Spotlight” feature:

December, 2017

• Commercial Street Parking Garage sign• “Downtown Spotlight”• Bellingham video tour• Bellingham Business Startup Brochures• “Midpoint Pint”

• Post Bellingham video tour on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as DBP website. (Jan. 20) January, 2018

• Contact business centers to confirm willingness to receive brochures (March 5)

• Update brochures to reflect newly available spaces and statistics (March 18)

• Print requested number of brochures for each location (March 19)

March, 2018

1. Get quote from owner or manager of first month’s spotlighted location. Write Spotlight paragraph. (Dec. 20)

2. Assign an intern to create short videos for each business on the list (Dec. 22)

3. Draft Instagram, Twitter and Facebook posts for “Downtown Spotlight” (Dec. 30)

4. Post video and link to website on social media (Dec. 31)5. Post the Spotlight on the website (Dec. 31) 6. *Repeat steps 1-6 and follow scheduling every month for each new

location*

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May, 2018

April, 2018

July, 2018

August, 2018

• Mail brochures to business centers (April 1)

• Contact interested bars and breweries to confirm dates and discounts (May 7)

• Inform Cascade Bicycle Club of committed bars and breweries—request that they post website links for each location (May 21)

• Contact Cascade for updated number of registered riders (July 16)• Print required number of coupons—one for each participant older than

21 years of age (July 23) • Request Cascade’s “RSVP” signs to be placed in front of participating

bars and breweries (July 23)• Check in with business centers and send more brochures if needed

(July 31)

• Send coupons to Cascade Sponsorship Director Mike Thompson for placement in rider packets (Aug. 1)

• Coordinate with Cascade for “RSVP” sign set-up (Aug. 17)• Coordinate with Cascade to pick up signs from bars and breweries

(Aug. 18)

Timeline

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BUDGET

“Kick your feet up” “Down and dirty”

This option delegates printing costs to partner organizations, thus cutting down on shipping expenses.

Total cost: $289.99

This option incorporates higher quality materials and assumes printing and shipping expenses will be covered by DBP.

Total cost: $890.99

Commercial Street Parking Garage sign Commercial Street Parking Garage sign• Signacade Deluxe: $229.99 - Frame only: $149.99 - Sign print: $80.00

• Windsign Deluxe: $299.99 - Frame only: $199.99 - Sign print: $100.00

Downtown Spotlight• No cost

Downtown Spotlight• No cost

Bellingham Video Tour• No cost

Bellingham Video Tour• No cost

Bellingham Business Startup Brochures • 100 prints (VistaPrint): $60.00 - 8.5” x 11” - Standard matte paper

Bellingham Business Startup Brochures• 250 prints (VistaPrints): $156.00 - 8.5” x 11” - Premium glossy cover• Brochure holder (5): $45.00• Shipping to five different locations (USPS) - Prints: $34.75 - Brochure holders: $33.25

“Midpoint Pint”

• No cost

“Midpoint Pint”• 2, 500 coupons (FedEx printing): $313.50 - 2” x 3.5” - color - double-sided• Shipping (USPS): $8.50

Budget

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PR MATERIAL

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Communications Material

“Downtown Spotlight” Web Feature

Communications Material

“Midpoint Pint” coupon

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(Actual size of coupon: 3.5in x 2in)

Communications Material

Commercial Street Parking Garage Sign

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Communications Material

Business Startup Brochure

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Communications Material

Downtown Tour Video

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PERSONNEL

Personnel

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Elitsa Yaneva

Jack Carballo

Joseph Calabro

Elitsa Yaneva is a senior at Western Washington University. She plans to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism - Public Relations and Communication Studies (double major) in fall 2018. She has been a public relations specialist for Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth and a reporter for The Western Front. She has also worked as a freelance journalist.

Elitsa enjoys participating in or observing local events which strive to make a positive impact on her community. She enjoys going on wilderness getaways. Look for her on the slopes of Mount Baker or camping in the dense Pacific Northwest forests.

Joseph Calabro is a senior at Western Washington University working toward a double-major in Public Relations and Political Science. He is active in the Bellingham journalism community, having worked as a sports stringer for the Bellingham Herald and sports editor for the Western Front. Joseph spent the summer of 2017 interning for Northwest Innovation Resource Center where he created public relations campaigns and materials for various Bellingham startups.

Joseph enjoys playing basketball in the rainy months and golf in the spring and summer. He follows sports and politics closely and enjoys weekend trips to Portland, Oregon and Chelan, Washington.

Jack Carballo is a senior at Western Washington University majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Spanish. He has created public relations materials for Kuntz & Company Theater Group in Bellingham and has reported for The Western Front.

In his spare time, Carballo enjoys bouldering, playing with his band and listening to music. On most weekends, he enjoys spending time with friends and family from his hometown of West Seattle.

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APPENDICES

1) On a scale of never to weekly, how often do you participate in the following Downtown activities: Retail shopping, dining, bar hopping/clubbing, concerts, public events and sightseeing?

2) Which downtown locations do you visit most?

3) What factors draw you to visit downtown?

4) What factors discourage you from going downtown?

5) Which of the following do you do downtown? Check all that apply. (shopping, dining, concerts, public Events/markets and sightseeing)

6) Which times do you tend to visit downtown the most? Check all that apply. (weekday daytime, weekday nighttime, weekends daytime, weekends nighttime) 7) Which of the following events have you attended downtown? Check all that apply. (Downtown Sounds, Commercial Street Night Market, Art Walk, Morning Jam, Wine Walk, Urban Kickball and Trick-or-Treat)

8) How familiar are you with The Commercial Street parking garage? (I’ve never heard of it, I’ve heard of it but never used it, I’ve used it before, I use it regularly)

9) Do you know about Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (yes or no)

10) Do you support Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (Yes, no, or unsure)

Research Questions

Demographic Questions1. What is your gender? 2. What is your age?3. Marital Status:4. Do you have kids under 18? 5. Do you work downtown?6. Where do you reside?

Survey

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Research Paper

Executive Summary Downtown Bellingham Partnership is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the growth and vibrancy of Downtown Bellingham. It’s looking for a public relations campaign to increase awareness about the organization and foster awareness and interest in Bellingham’s changing downtown. This includes positioning downtown as a prime location for new businesses and weekend getaways and overcoming negative reputations surrounding homelessness, parking, safety and lack of activity. In order to determine what factors encourage and discourage people from going to downtown Bellingham, Bird’s Eye Public Relations conducted a convenience survey of 132 people in Bellingham from Saturday, Oct. 14 to Monday, Oct. 16. One key finding was that a majority of respondents were unaware of or had never used the Commercial Street Parking Garage. Another, was the lack of public support for retail shops, cafes and entertainment arts locations. Locations most visited included markets/grocery stores, restaurants and bars.

Methodology

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The survey was conducted to determine what factors encourage and discourage people from going to downtown Bellingham. The survey was conducted in-person at three different locations on three different days. The first survey period was held at Bellingham Farmer’s Market from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. The Farmer’s Market was chosen as a survey location because it brings a large number of people into a relatively small space. Additionally, it generally features a variety of demographics and tends to attract people from all parts of Bellingham and the surrounding area. Fifty-three people were surveyed while 45 people declined to be surveyed for a response rate of 54.08 percent. The second period was at Fred Meyer on Lakeway Drive from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. Fred Meyer was chosen as a survey location because it is busy on Sundays and brings people who may not frequent the downtown area and have specific reasons for not doing so. Forty-two people were surveyed while 64 people declined to be surveyed for a response rate of 39.36 percent. The third and final survey period was conducted at Red Square on Western Washington University's campus from 4:20 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16. Red Square was chosen because it is a frequented by Western students who represent a demographic that is integral to the growth of downtown Bellingham–young people and young professionals. Thirty-seven people were surveyed while 36 people declined to be surveyed for a response rate of 50.68 percent. A total of 132 people were surveyed while 145 declined the survey for an overall response rate of 47.65 percent.

Research Paper

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The survey was divided into 10 research questions: RQ1) On a scale of never to weekly, how often do you participate in the following Downtown activities: Retail shopping, dining, bar hopping/clubbing, concerts, public events and sightseeing?RQ2) Which downtown locations do you visit most?RQ3) What factors draw you to visit downtown?RQ4) What factors discourage you from going downtown?RQ5) Which of the following do you do downtown? Check all that apply. (shopping, dining, concerts, public Events/markets and sightseeing)RQ6) Which times do you tend to visit downtown the most? Check all that apply. (weekday daytime, weekday nighttime, weekends daytime, weekends nighttime)RQ7) Which of the following events have you attended downtown? Check all that apply. (Downtown Sounds, Commercial Street Night Market, Art Walk, Morning Jam, Wine Walk, Urban Kickball and Trick-or-Treat)RQ8) How familiar are you with The Commercial Street parking garage? (I’ve never heard of it, I’ve heard of it but never used it, I’ve used it before, I use it regularly)RQ9) Do you know about Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (yes or no)RQ10) Do you support Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (Yes, no, or unsure) Most respondents to the survey identified as female (56.82%), followed by male (40.15%). Only a few respondents preferred not to state their gender (2.27%) or identified as non-specific (0.76%). Since the sample sizes for those who preferred not to answer or identified as non-specific were too small to be valid, they were not analyzed in the findings. Over half of survey respondents (51.52%) were age 18-24, followed by 25-34 year olds (12.12%), 35-44 year olds (9.85%) 45-54 and 55-64 year olds (9.09%) and 65+ (8.33%). Samples for all ages over 34 were too small to be valid and were therefore not analyzed. Three-quarters (74.62%) of respondents were single or in a committed relationship while a quarter (25.38%) were married. Respondents overwhelmingly responded (86.26%) that they don’t have children under the age of 18 compared to those that do (13.74%).Most respondents (91.67%) reported that they do not work downtown compared to those that do (8.33%). Since the sample size for those that do not work downtown is too small to be statistically valid, this demographic was not analyzed in the findings.

Over three-quarters (78.79%) of respondents said they reside in Bellingham, followed by those who live outside of Bellingham in Whatcom County (12.12%) and those who live outside of Whatcom County in Washington or marked “other” (4.55% each). These last two demographic segments represented too small of a total to be valid and were not analyzed.

Research Paper

Possible sources of error: The most immediately evident source of surveying error was how some of the questions were constructed and organized. The first research question asked how often the respondent participates in a set of activities. The fifth research question asked the respondent to choose which activities they participate in from a similar list of activities. This was unnecessarily repetitive and differing answers to each question from the same respondent only resulted in confusion. In the same vein, some questions were too broad. The second research question asked respondents to list which downtown locations they visit the most. Some people listed street names while others listed specific store names. This made categorization very difficult. Categorization brought its own set of difficulties. The wide range of answers were difficult to lump into only six or seven categories. Additionally, some respondents listed uncontrollable factors (weather, home location, etc.) as reasons they do not visit downtown. These had to be listed in the “other” category. The quality of responses was jeopardized by the fact “downtown Bellingham” was not defined in the survey. As a result, some answers included locations outside the downtown area like Fairhaven and Fred Meyer. Another source of error was that people from outside of the Bellingham area were reluctant to take the survey, even though their answers were critical to evaluating the perception of downtown. Finally, surveying at the Farmer’s Market may have substantially skewed the data relating to downtown’s most popular locations. Many at the Farmer’s Market listed it as one of their most frequented locations. However, that level of popularity may not reflect the whole population.

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FindingsRQ1: On a scale of never to weekly, how often do you participate in the following downtown activities: retail shopping, dining, bar hopping/clubbing, concerts, public events, sightseeing?

When asked how often the individual goes retail shopping in downtown Bellingham, a little under half (44.7%) of people said they go a few times a year, followed by monthly (23.5%), weekly (17.4%), never (14.4%). When asked how often people go dining downtown, 40 percent (40.9%) said they go monthly, followed by weekly (32.6%), a few times a year (22.7%), never (3.8%). Bar hopping was not very popular with nearly half (46.2%) of people saying they never go, followed by few times a year (19.7%), monthly (18.2%), weekly (15.9%). Concerts were attended the most a few times a year (52.3%), followed by never (31.1%), monthly (13.6%), weekly (3.0%). Our audience said that they go at most a few times a year to public events (56.1%), followed by monthly (30.3%), never (8.3%), weekly (5.3%). When asked how often people go sightseeing downtown about one-third (37.9%) said they go a few times a year, followed by monthly (27.3%), weekly (22.0%), never (12.9%).

Research Paper

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Retail Shopping

Men (22.6%) were more likely to go retail shopping weekly than women (13.3%). All other answers for frequency of shopping in downtown Bellingham were similar for both men and women.

People age 18-24 (47.1%) were more likely to go retail shopping a few times a year than ages 25-34 (37.5%). Ages 25-34 (31.3%) were more likely to go retail shopping weekly than ages 18-24 (10.3%). Age did not make a difference in the individual never going retail shopping in downtown Bellingham or going monthly.

Married individuals (27.3%) were more likely to go retail shopping weekly than individuals who are single or in a committed relationship (13.4%). People who are single or in a committed relationship were more likely to go retail shopping monthly (25.8%) or never (16.5%) compared to married individuals (15.2%, 9.1% respectively). Marital status did not have an impact on if the individual went retail shopping a few times a year.

People without children (15.9%) were more likely to never go retail shopping than those with children (5.6%). All other categories were similar for both people with and without children.

Individuals who lived in Whatcom County (50.0%) were more likely to go retail shopping monthly than Bellingham locals (21.2%). People who live in Bellingham were more likely to only go retail shopping a few times a year (45.2%) or never (14.4%) compared to those who reside in Whatcom County (25.0%, 6.3% respectively). Place of residence did not make a difference on the individual going retail shopping weekly.

Dining

Men (39.6%) were more likely to go dining weekly than women (28.0%). All other answers for frequency of dining in downtown Bellingham were similar for both men and women.

Age was not a distinguishable factor in making a difference on how often an individual went dining in downtown Bellingham.

People who are single or in a committed relationship (44.3%) were more likely to go dining monthly than married people (30.3%). Married individuals (33.3%) were more likely to go dining a few times a year than those who are single or in a committed relationship (19.6%). Marital status did not make a difference on the likelihood that individual went dining weekly or never.

Individuals without children (41.6%) were more likely to go dining monthly than those with children (33.3%). All other answers were similar for both people with and without children.

People who live in Whatcom County (37.5%) were more likely to go dining a few times a year than those who live in Bellingham (16.4%). Residence of Bellingham (36.5%) were more likely to go dining weekly than those who live in Whatcom County (18.8%). Place of residence did not play a factor on if the individual dined in downtown Bellingham monthly or never.

Research Paper

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Bar hopping/Clubbing

Women (53.3%) were more likely to never go bar hopping/clubbing than men (35.9%). Men (22.6%) were more likely go to bar hopping/clubbing weekly than women (12.0%). All other answers for frequency of going bar hopping/clubbing in downtown Bellingham were similar for both men and women.

Individuals age 25-34 (50.0%) were more likely to go bar hopping/clubbing a few times a year than ages 18-24 (14.7%). More people ages 18-24 were likely to go bar hopping/clubbing weekly (23.5%) or never (38.2%) compared to ages 25-34 (6.3%, 18.8% respectively). Age did not make a difference in the individual’s likelihood of going bar hopping/clubbing monthly.

Married individuals (63.6%) were more likely to never go bar hopping/clubbing than those who are single or in a committed relationship (40.2%). People who are single or in a committed relationship were more likely to go bar hopping/clubbing monthly (21.7%) or weekly (20.6%) compared to married (9.1%, 3.0% respectively). Marital status did not make a difference on the likelihood that individual went bar hopping/clubbing a few times a year.

People with children (33.3%) were more likely to go bar hopping/clubbing a few times a year than those without children (17.7%). All other responses were similar for both people with and without children.

Individuals who reside in Whatcom County were more likely to go bar hopping/clubbing a few times a year (31.3%) or never (56.3%) compared to Bellingham locals (18.3%, 41.4% respectively). People who live in Bellingham were more likely to go bar hopping/clubbing monthly (21.2%) or weekly (19.2%) compared to people who live in Whatcom (6.3%, 6.3% respectively).

Concerts

Women (36.0%) were more likely to never go to concerts than men (24.5%). All other answers for frequency of going to concerts in downtown Bellingham were similar for both men and women.

People ages 25-34 (68.8%) were more likely to go to concerts a few times a year than ages 18-24 (50.0%). Individuals who are ages 18-24 (29.4%) were more likely to never go to concerts in downtown Bellingham than women (18.8%). Age did not play a factor on if the individual going to monthly or weekly.

Married individuals (17.5%) were more likely to go to concerts monthly than people who are single or in a committed relationship (3.0%). All other responses were not affected by the individual’s marital status.

Whether or not the individual has children was not a distinguishable factor in making a difference on how often they went to concerts in downtown Bellingham.

Research Paper

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Individuals who live in Whatcom County (43.8%) were more likely to never go to concerts than Bellingham locals (25.0%). Bellingham locals (15.4%) were more likely to go to concerts monthly than people who live in Whatcom County (6.3%). Place of residence did not have an impact on the individual going to concerts in downtown Bellingham a few times a year or weekly.

Public Events

Gender was not a distinguishable factor in making a difference on how often an individual went to public events in downtown Bellingham.

Individuals age 25-34 were more likely to go to public events a few times a year (75.0%) or weekly (12.5%) compared to ages 18-24 (51.5%, 5.9% respectively). Individuals age 18-24 were more likely to go to public events monthly (33.8%) or never (8.8%) compared to ages 25-34 (12.5%, 0.0% respectively).

Married individuals (12.1%) were more likely to never go to public events than people who are single or in a committed relationship (6.2%). People who are single or in a committed relationship (7.2%) were more likely to go to public events weekly than married people (0.0%) Marital status did not make a difference on the likelihood that individual went to public events a few times a year or monthly.

People with children (38.9%) were more likely to go to public events monthly than people without children (28.3%). People without children (6.2%) were more likely to go to public events weekly than those with children (0.0%). Having children did not make a difference on the likelihood that individual went to public events a few times a year or never.

Individuals who live in Whatcom County (43.8%) were more likely to never go to public events than Bellingham locals (25.0%). Bellingham locals (6.7%) were more likely to go to public events weekly than people who live in Whatcom County (0.0%). Place of residence did not make a difference in all other responses.

Sightseeing

Women (44.0%) were more likely to go sightseeing a few times a year than men (30.2%). Men (35.9%) were more likely to go sightseeing monthly than women (21.3%). All other answers for frequency of going sightseeing in downtown Bellingham were similar for both men and women.

Individuals age 25-34 (56.3%) were more likely to go sightseeing a few times a year than individuals age 18-24 (22.1%). People age 18-25 were more likely to go sightseeing monthly (35.3%) and weekly (30.9%) compared to 25-34 (12.5%, 18.8% respectively). Age did not make a difference on an individual never going sightseeing in downtown Bellingham.

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Married individuals (57.6%) were more likely go to sightseeing a few times a year than people who are single or in a committed relationship (30.9%). People who are single or in a committed relationship (27.8%) were more likely to go sightseeing weekly than married individuals (6.1%). Marital status did not make a difference on the likelihood that individual went sightseeing monthly or never.

Individuals with children were more likely to go sightseeing a few times a year (50.0%) or monthly (44.4%) compared to those without children (36.3%, 24.8% respectively). People without children were more likely to go sightseeing weekly (23.9%) or never (15.0%) compared to those with children (5.6%, 0.0% respectively).

Bellingham locals (27.9%) were more likely to go sightseeing monthly than people who live in Whatcom County (18.8%). Place of residence did not make a difference in all other responses.

RQ2 (open-ended): Which downtown locations do you visit most? Check all that apply: Farmer’s market or grocery stores, coffee shops and cafes, bars and breweries, restaurants, arts and entertainment locations, retail stores, other. The most popular location (19.8%) was restaurants, followed by other (18.6%), farmers market/grocery stores (17.4%), bars and breweries (15%), retail stores (11.3%), arts and entertainment locations (9.7%) and coffee shops/cafes (8.1%). Females were more likely (47.22%) to go to restaurants than males (28.3%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across gender. Those 25-34 were more likely to go to the Farmer’s Market/grocery stores and other (43.75%, each) than those 18-24 (16.42% and 31.34%, respectively). They were also more likely to go to retail stores (31.25%) than those 18-24 (19.40%). Those 18-24 were more likely (35.82%) to go to restaurants than those 25-34 (12.5%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across ages. Married respondents were more likely to go to the Farmer’s Market/grocery stores (53.13%), coffee shops/cafes (25%) and restaurants (53.13%) than those single or in a committed relationship (25.26%, 11.58% and 32.63%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across marital status. Those with kids under 18 were more likely to go to the Farmer’s Market/grocery stores (44.44%), coffee shops/cafes (27.78%) and restaurants (50%) than those without kids under 18 (30.91%, 13.64% and 36.36%, respectively). Those without kids were more likely to go to arts/entertainment locations (21.82%) and retail stores (22.73%) than those with kids (0% and 11.11%, respectively). Bars and breweries did not show a significant difference across the demographic.

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Those who reside in Whatcom County (outside Bellingham) were more likely to go to the Farmer’s Market/grocery stores (56.25%), restaurants (50%), arts/entertainment locations (31.25%) and retail stores (43.75%) than those who reside in Bellingham (27.45%, 36.27%, 17.65% and 18.63%, respectively). Those who reside in Bellingham were more likely to go to bars/breweries (30.39%) and other (38.24%) than those who reside in Whatcom County but outside Bellingham (12.5% and 25%, respectively). Coffee shops/cafes did not show a significant difference across the residential location.

RQ3: What factors draw you to downtown? Check all that apply: food, entertainment and events, shopping, atmosphere and aesthetics, socializing or a need for a change of scenery, drinking, other. Food was the most popular factor that drew people downtown (38.17%), followed by other (29.77%), socializing/need for a change of scenery (28.24%), atmosphere/aesthetics (19.08%), entertainment/events (18.32%), shopping (17.56%) and drinking (16.03%). Females were more likely (33.78%) to choose other as a factor that drew them downtown than males (18.87%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across gender. Those 18-24 were more likely (45.59%) to choose food than those 25-34 (25%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across age. Married respondents were more likely to choose atmosphere/aesthetics (30.3%) and other (45.45%) than those that were single or in a committed relationship (15.63% and 25%, respectively). Those that were single or in a committed relationship were more likely to choose socializing/need for a change of scenery (31.25%) and drinking (19.79%) than married respondents (18.18% and 6.06%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across marital status. Those without kids under 18 were more likely to choose food (40.18%), shopping (19.64%) and drinking (17.86%) than those with kids under 18 (27.78%, 5.56% and 5.56%, respectively). Those with kids under 18 were more likely to choose atmosphere/aesthetics (33.33%) and other (38.89%) than those without kids under 18 (16.96% and 28.57%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across the demographic.

Those who reside in in Whatcom County (outside Bellingham) were more likely to choose shopping (37.5%) and socializing/need for a change of scenery (43.75%) than those who reside in Bellingham (14.56% and 25.24%, respectively). Those who reside in Bellingham are more likely to choose drinking (20.39%) and other (32.04%) than those who reside in Whatcom County but outside Bellingham (0% and 12.5%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across residential status.

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RQ4 (open-ended): What factors discourage you from going downtown? Check all that apply: Limited parking or paid parking, transportation issues or location, solicitors or general safety concerns, budgeting and responsibilities, other, none. The most popular answer was none (29.01%), followed by other (20.61%), limited parking/paid parking (19.85%), solicitors/general safety concerns (18.32%), transportation issues/location (14.5%) and budgeting/responsibilities (8.4%). Females (28.4%) were more likely to be discouraged by limited parking or paid parking than males (9.43%). Men (35.9%) were more likely to not have any factors that discourage them from going downtown than women (21.6%). All other answers were similar for both men and women.

Ages 25-34 were more likely to be discouraged by the limited or paid parking (18.8%) and budgeting/responsibilities (18.8%) compared to ages 18-24 (10.3%, 8.8% respectively). Ages 18-24 (26.5%) were more likely to be discouraged by other factors than people age 25-34 (12.5%). Age did not make a difference for the individual having issues with transportation or location and solicitors or general safety concerns.

Married individual (33.3%) were more likely to be discouraged by limited parking or paid parking than individuals who are single or in a committed relationship (15.6%). Single/committed relationship individuals were more likely to be discouraged by transportation issues or location (14.6%) and budgeting and responsibilities (9.4%) compared to married individuals (9.1%, 3.0% respectively). Marital status did not make a difference in all other answers.

People who do not have children (16.1%) were more likely to be discouraged by transportation issues or location than those with children (5.6%). Having children does not make a difference in all other factors of discouragement in going downtown.

Individuals who reside in Whatcom County were more likely to be discouraged by limited parking or paid parking (25.0%) and transportation issues or location (25.0%) compared to Bellingham locals (15.5%, 10.7% respectively). Bellingham locals (32.0%) were more likely to state that nothing discourages them from visiting downtown Bellingham than those who live in Whatcom County (18.8%). Discouragement of solicitors or general safety concerns, budgeting/responsibilities and other factors were the similar for both Bellingham and Whatcom residents.

RQ5: Which of the following do you do downtown? Check all that apply: shopping, dining, concerts, public events/markets, sightseeing. The most popular answer was dining (93.08%), followed by public events/markets (75.38%), shopping (67.69%), sightseeing (46.92%) and concerts (42.31%).

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Males were more likely (48.08%) to go to concerts than females (37.84%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across gender. Those 25-34 were more likely to go shopping (75%), dining (100%), to concerts (56.25%) and to public events/markets (75%) than those 18-24 (57.35%, 89.71%, 32.35% and 64.71%, respectively). Sightseeing did not show a significant difference across age. Those that were married were more likely to go shopping (78.13%), to concerts (56.25%) and to public events/markets (87.5%) than those that were single or in a committed relationship (63.54%, 37.5% and 71.88%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across marital status. Those with kids under 18 were more likely to go shopping (88.89%), to concerts (55.56%), to public events/markets (88.89%) and sightseeing (61.11%) than those without kids under 18 (63.96%, 39.64%, 72.97% and 44.14%, respectively). Dining did not show a significant difference across this demographic. Those that reside in Whatcom County (outside of Bellingham) were more likely (87.5%) to go shopping than those that reside in Bellingham (65.69%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across residential location. RQ6: Which times do you tend to visit downtown the most? Check all that apply: weekday daytime, weekday nighttime, weekend daytime, weekend nighttime. The most popular time to visit downtown was weekend daytime (63.36%) followed by weekend nighttime (51.91%), weekday daytime (45.04%) and weekday nighttime (36.64%). Males were more likely (47.17%) to go weekdays at nighttime than females (28.38%). Other responses did not show a significant difference across gender. Those 18-24 were more likely to go weekdays at nighttime (45.59%) and weekends at nighttime (64.71%) than those 25-34 (31.25% and 43.75%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across age.

Married respondents were more likely (56.25%) to go weekdays at daytime than those that were single or in a committed relationship (40.21%). Those that were single or in a committed relationship were more likely to go weekdays at nighttime (40.21%) and weekends at nighttime (58.76%) than married respondents (28.13% and 34.38%, respectively). Other responses did not show a significant difference across marital status. Those that reside in Bellingham were more likely to go weekdays at nighttime (41.75%) and weekends at nighttime (58.25%) than those that live in Whatcom County but outside of Bellingham (18.75% and 25%, respectively).

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RQ7: Which of the following events have you attended downtown? Check all that apply: Downtown Sounds, Commercial Street Night Market, Art Walk, Morning Jam, Wine Walk, Urban Kickball, Trick-or-Treat. The most popular event downtown was the Art Walk (75.31%), followed by the Commercial Street Night Market (53.09%), Downtown Sounds (51.85%), Trick-or-Treat (23.46%), Wine Walk (16.05%), Morning Jam (8.64%) and Urban Kickball (4.94%). Females were more likely to attend the Art Walk (79.2%) and the Wine Walk (18.8%) compared to men (68.8%, 9.4% respectively). Men were more likely to attend Downtown Sounds (59.4%) and Morning Jam (12.5%) compared to women (47.9%, 6.3% respectively). Men (9.4%) were more likely to attend Urban Kickball than to women (2.1%). Attendance to the Commercial Street Night Market and Trick-or-Treat were similar for both men and women.

People ages 25-34 were more likely to attend Art Walk (100.0%) and Downtown Sounds (66.7%) compared to ages 18-24 (60.5%, 52.6% respectively). People ages 25-34 were more likely to attend Morning Jam (22.2%) than ages 18-24 (5.3%). People ages 18-24 (55.3%) were more likely to attend Commercial Street Night Market than people ages 25-34 (44.4%). Age did not make a difference for attendance of all other events in downtown Bellingham.

Married individuals were more likely to attend Art Walk (95.2%) and Commercial Street Night Market (61.9%) than individuals who are single or in a committed relationship (67.8%, 49.2% respectively). People who are single or in a committed relationship were more likely to attend Downtown Sounds (54.2%) and Urban Kickball (18.6%) compared to married individuals (42.9%, 9.5% respectively). People who are single or in a committed relationship were more likely to attend Morning Jam (10.2%) than married individuals (4.8%). Marital status does not have an impact on the likability of an individual attending Trick-or-Treat.

People with children were more likely to attend Art Walk (100.0%) and Commercial Street Market (66.7%) compared to people without children (71.0%, 50.7% respectively). People with children were more likely to attend Downtown Sounds (66.7%) and Trick-or-Treat (58.3%) compared to people without children (49.3%, 17.4% respectively). Individuals with no children were more likely to attend Wine Walk (17.4%) and Morning Jam (10.1%) compared to individuals who have children (8.3%, 0.0% respectively). Individuals with no children were more likely to attend Urban Kickball (5.8%) than individuals who have children (0.0%).

People who reside in Whatcom County were more likely to attend Art Walk (85.7%) and Commercial Street Night Market (71.4%) compared to Bellingham locals (75.4%, 53.6% respectively). Bellingham locals were more likely to attend Morning Jam (10.1%) and Urban Kickball (5.8%) compared to people who live in Whatcom County (0.0%, 0.0% respectively). All other answers were similar for both places of residence.

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RQ8: How familiar are you with the Commercial Street Parking Garage? (Never heard of it; Heard of it but never used; Used it before; Use it regularly)

When asked how familiar people were with the Commercial Street Parking Garage, an equal of people said they had never heard of it (39.4%) as did say they have heard of it but never use it (39.4%), followed by have used it before (15.9%), use it regularly (5.3%).

Men (45.3%) were more likely to have never heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage than women (33.3%). Women (8.0%) were more likely to use the garage regularly than men (1.9%). All other answers were similar for both men and women.

Individuals 25-34 (18.8%) were more likely to have used the Commercial Street Parking Garage than ages 18-24 (10.3%). All other answers were similar for both age groups.

Individuals who were single or in a committed relationship (46.4%) were more likely to have never have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage than individuals who are married (18.2%). Married individuals were more likely to have used the garage before (24.2%) and use it regularly (12.1%) compared to individuals who are single or in a committed relationship (13.4%, 3.1% respectively). Marital status did not make a difference on if the individual had heard of the garage but never use it.

Individuals with children (50.0%) were more likely to have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage but never used it before than those without children (37.1%). People without children (43.4%) were more likely to have never heard of the garage than those without children (16.7%). Having children did not make a difference in the individual’s likability of using the parking garage.

People who live in Whatcom County (56.3%) were more likely to have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage but never used it than Bellingham locals (40.4%). Bellingham locals (37.5%) were more likely to have never have heard of it before than people who live in Whatcom County (25.0%). People who live in Bellingham (5.8%) were more likely to use the parking garage regularly, whereas nobody in Whatcom County (0.0%) uses it regularly. Place of residence does not make a difference in whether or not the individual has used the Commercial Street Parking Garage before. RQ9: Do you know about Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (Yes or no)

Most respondents (81.06%) did not know about DBP compared to those that did (18.94%). Answers did not vary significantly across the gender demographic. Those 25-34 were more likely (25%) to know about DBP than those 18-24 (8.82%). Those 18-24 were more likely (91.18%) to not know about DBP than those 25-34 (75%).

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Married respondents were more likely (30.3%) to know about DBP than those single or in a committed relationship (14.43%). Those single or in a committed relationship were more likely (85.57%) to not know about DBP than married respondents (69.7%). Those with kids under 18 were more likely (33.33%) to know about DBP than those without kids under 18 (16.81%). Those without kids under 18 were more likely (83.19%) to not know about DBP than those with kids under 18 (66.67%). Answers did not vary significantly across residential location. RQ10: Do you support Downtown Bellingham Partnership? (Yes; No; Unsure)

When asked if the individual supports Downtown Bellingham Partnership, majority said they were unsure (73.5%), followed by yes (15.9%), no (10.6%).

Women (20.0%) were more likely to support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than men (11.3%). Men (13.2%) were more likely to not support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than women (9.3%).

Individuals ages 25-34 (18.8%) were more likely to support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than ages 18-24 (5.9%). Individuals ages 18-24 (11.8%) were more likely to not support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than ages 25-34 (6.3%).

Married individuals (30.3%) were more likely to support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than those who are single or in a committed relationship (10.3%). People who are single or in a committed relationship were more likely to not support (12.4%) or be unsure if they support (77.3%) compared to married individuals (6.1%, 63.6% respectively).

People with children (33.3%) were more likely to support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than those without children (13.3%). People without children were more likely to not support (11.5%) or be unsure if they support (75.2%) compared to people with children (5.6%, 61.1% respectively).

Whatcom County residents (25.0%) were more likely to support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than Bellingham locals (13.5%). Bellingham locals (12.5%) were more likely to not support Downtown Bellingham Partnership than people who live in Whatcom County (0.0%).

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Concluding InterpretationsBird’s Eye PR’s survey indicates a clear distinction between those that frequent bars/breweries and those that shop at retail stores. DBP is looking to target young professionals and tourists. These types of people would generally be at least 25-34 years old. Ages 25-34 were more likely to go retail shopping, dining, attend concerts and visit public events/markets. This suggests a level of financial stability that a younger person, especially a student, would not have. Very few respondents in the 25-34 year-old demographic went to bars and breweries on a weekly basis, showing that this should not be a point of emphasis for drawing young professionals. Indeed, bars/breweries were tied (along with coffee shops/cafes) as the least popular location for respondents living in Whatcom County but outside of Bellingham. However, the relative popularity of bars/breweries among Bellingham residents shows that this aspect of downtown might be a factor that keeps people living in the area. Whatcom County (outside of Bellingham) residents were likely to be drawn downtown by food, shopping and socializing/need for a change of scenery. The popularity of shopping among the key demographics (18-24 year-olds and out-of-towners) suggests an emphasis on expanding retail options would be helpful to the campaign. The data suggests a single event may not be the best option for drawing people downtown, especially those that reside outside of Bellingham or are age 25-34. Public events were only attended a few times per year by these demographics and were not a significant factor that drew them downtown. If an event were to be held, it would need to be kid-friendly to maximize attendance (public events were relatively popular among those with kids under 18) and occur on the weekend during the day (weekend daytime was most popular time to visit downtown).

Bird’s Eye PR figured that orchestrating an entire event would be difficult and depletive of DBP’s resources. Instead, we propose using an event already present in Bellingham to promote DBP and encourage downtown participation. Specifically, using the rest day in Cascade Bike Club’s Seattle-to-Vancouver annual bike trip to distribute discount beer coupons at participating locations in downtown Bellingham. This would encourage people to traverse downtown and visit the various businesses, as well as give these businesses exposure to people from outside of Bellingham. Bird’s Eye PR predicted females would be more discouraged from going downtown due to solicitors or safety concerns than males. Interestingly, there was no difference between the two genders in that category. However, other data showed women were far less likely to go downtown on weeknights. Since women don’t frequent the downtown area on weeknights when there is lower foot traffic and less obvious police presence, they may not view safety or soliciting as an important discouraging factor. .

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Another surprising finding was that the Art Walk was the most popularly attended DBP-coordinated event. Three-quarters of all respondents said they had been to the Art Walk. The Art Walk is held on the first Friday of each month, so its timing and integration with galleries, studios, museums, shops and restaurants—as well as the Western design program—may explain its popularity. Finally, those that reside in Whatcom County (outside of Bellingham) were more likely to have heard of the Commercial Street Parking Garage than those in Bellingham and just as likely to have used it before. This could be because some out-of-town visitors may spend full days in the area and benefit from the parking garage’s daily rate, whereas Bellingham residents only go downtown for an hour or two at a time. It’s clear now that the challenge for Bird’s Eye PR will be to show Bellingham residents that the parking garage is a viable option for short visits downtown. Bird’s Eye PR surmised that the most efficient way to spread awareness of the parkade was to appeal to drivers combing the city streets in desperate search of parking. While the parkade does have a sign at its entrance, drivers may be misled that the garage requires a permit or pass. They’re also not given enough time to make this split-second decision from the time they’ve turned onto commercial street to when they see the big headlining sign. To give advanced notice that there is a public parking garage close by, Bird’s Eye PR is proposing a large A-frame sign on the corner of Commercial and Holly Street. The sign would detail hourly rates, location of the parkade and any additional policies. It would be in the line of sight of drivers scanning road-shoulders for parking, and in a way that visually catches attention. To address the lack of diversity of businesses downtown, Bird’s Eye PR will also compose an informational brochure that will be sent to business offices and startup centers outside of Bellingham. They would detail available office spaces for rent and lease, as well as why Bellingham is an opportunistic location to start a business. Additionally, to highlight the unique downtown businesses who might receive less attention than they deserve, Bird’s Eye PR is proposing short monthly spotlight videos on DBP’s website. The videos would be short clips from inside each business and give a small blurb detailing some info on what makes them stand out. Those who follow the monthly posts would be notified of a limited-time discount at the business-of-the-month, encouraging visits.

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Contacts

“Downtown Spotlight” Community Partners

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Third Planet Erika Millige (360) 778-3765 3pbellingham@gmail.com 200 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225 Brotha Dudes Julius Stoker (530) 440-3611 brothadudes@outlook.com 202 E Holly St #117, Bellingham, WA 98225

Unknown Board Shop Zac Garza (360) 671-7425 unknownboardshop@gmail.com 105 Grand Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

Icing on the Cake Vee (360) 392-8150 314 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225 Mallard Ice Cream Ben Scholz (360) 734-3884 mallardicecream@yahoo.com 1323 Railroad Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

Vinostrology Katie Bechkowika (360) 656-6817 vinostrology@gmail.com 120 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Wonderland Teas & Spices Linda Quintana (360) 733-0517 1305 Railroad Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

The Lucky Monkey Will Davis (360) 393-4068 312 W Champion St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Quinn & Foster Chris Hayward (541) 729-6008 128 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Woolies Michael Reynolds (360) 220-6516 1201 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225 Camber David Yake (360) 656-5343 david@cambercoffee.com 221 W Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Contacts

“Midpoint Pint” Community Partners

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The Local Public House Jacquie Goddard (360) 306-3731 jacquiegoddard7@gmail.com 1427 Railroad Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225

Aslan Brewing Company Office: (360) 778-2088 Restaurant: 360.778.2088 info@aslanbrewing.com www.aslanbrewing.com/donations 1330 N Forest St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Printing Companies

Garage sign Chazzzam Chas Malich chas@chazzzam.com (360) 389-5178 1918 Iowa St, Bellingham, WA 98229 chazzzam.com

Coupon/brochure shipping & Coupon printing FedEx Office Print & Ship Center (360) 647-1114 501 E Holly St, Bellingham, WA 98225 US local.fedex.com/wa/bellingham/office

Schweinhaus Biergarten Joe LeDoux (360) 671-0206 1330 N State St, Bellingham, WA 98225

La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza Dan & Ken (360) 647-0060 www.lafiamma.com/donations 200 E Chestnut St, Bellingham, WA 98225

Brochure printingVistaprint (866) 6148002 www.vistaprint.com

Cascade Bike Club Mike Thompson, sponsorship director miket@cascadebicycleclub.org Mobile: (206) 939-4318