Friday, July 24, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Buxton Report
The Buxton Report was commissioned by the City of Big Bear Lake to evaluate our local retail marketplace. The original report was to be released as early as Sept. 2008.
A special meeting was posted on July 10 by the city to hold a workshop around the report on July 13, 2009 at 9:00 AM in the morning.
The current version of the report is available @ http://www.citybigbearlake.com/documents/IA071309sp.pdf
I fear this report and the data provided (Buxton Report dated July 13, 2009) may be interpreted by some as “Wow! We must be doing ok!” when in fact we are not. Or that the report says we need a Wal-Mart, when in fact it does not.
What the report fails to do is factor in the complex and unique retail marketplace that has evolved over our long and rich history, built, for the most part, by the seat of our pants. Our marketplace has developed and adapted from many directions and from the weight of many forces, but the common fuel for continued success has always been (as articulated in the Buxton Report) revenues from tourism.
What is not articulated in the report, but needs to a part of the conversation, is the actual demand for goods and services represented in the number of visitors to the Valley each year. Nor does the report estimate projected leakage of sales as we are able to increase tourism on weekdays and in shoulder seasons.
In my opinion, the best source of council for determining the need for infrastructure investments to our retail marketplace has always been from the many merchants, lodge and restaurant owners who have put in so many years of hard work to maintain the happy face of Big Bear Lake for the millions of visitors we greet each year. These valued members of the community know what no consultant can, and I am sure would be more than willing to advise the Council and it’s staff given the opportunity.
I believe all potential for our existing small businesses to prosper and for the growth of our retail sector to become a provider, instead of a backdrop, will be in our willingness to compete in the region at a much higher level, with focused goals, around a significant investment in retail infrastructure, and amenities provided our visitors, taking advantage of our natural landscape and quaint, small town atmosphere.
The report does clearly identify the excellent job our local retailers do in meeting the needs of their customers as outline in the leakage/surplus analysis and clearly identifies our target demographic (page 12 of the report) as one that is older, wealthier and a little more sophisticated, than to date, many of us have understood.
A special meeting was posted on July 10 by the city to hold a workshop around the report on July 13, 2009 at 9:00 AM in the morning.
The current version of the report is available @ http://www.citybigbearlake.com/documents/IA071309sp.pdf
I fear this report and the data provided (Buxton Report dated July 13, 2009) may be interpreted by some as “Wow! We must be doing ok!” when in fact we are not. Or that the report says we need a Wal-Mart, when in fact it does not.
What the report fails to do is factor in the complex and unique retail marketplace that has evolved over our long and rich history, built, for the most part, by the seat of our pants. Our marketplace has developed and adapted from many directions and from the weight of many forces, but the common fuel for continued success has always been (as articulated in the Buxton Report) revenues from tourism.
What is not articulated in the report, but needs to a part of the conversation, is the actual demand for goods and services represented in the number of visitors to the Valley each year. Nor does the report estimate projected leakage of sales as we are able to increase tourism on weekdays and in shoulder seasons.
In my opinion, the best source of council for determining the need for infrastructure investments to our retail marketplace has always been from the many merchants, lodge and restaurant owners who have put in so many years of hard work to maintain the happy face of Big Bear Lake for the millions of visitors we greet each year. These valued members of the community know what no consultant can, and I am sure would be more than willing to advise the Council and it’s staff given the opportunity.
I believe all potential for our existing small businesses to prosper and for the growth of our retail sector to become a provider, instead of a backdrop, will be in our willingness to compete in the region at a much higher level, with focused goals, around a significant investment in retail infrastructure, and amenities provided our visitors, taking advantage of our natural landscape and quaint, small town atmosphere.
The report does clearly identify the excellent job our local retailers do in meeting the needs of their customers as outline in the leakage/surplus analysis and clearly identifies our target demographic (page 12 of the report) as one that is older, wealthier and a little more sophisticated, than to date, many of us have understood.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Mitigate Parking and Circulation during Special Events?
Nearly everybody agrees the Special Events can attract more visitors to our mountain community. I can’t believe that any less would not agree that every negative impact any event brings with it should be mitigated to offset that impact so that the net outcome of the event is one that all can enjoy and be proud of.
A favorite expression of some, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is fair enough in context, however, if we are all just used to operating a broken or inefficiently outdated tool and just don’t consider it ‘broke’, it is nonetheless, broke. If ‘it’ is intended to make life better, or easier, it would be quite appropriate to go ahead and make repairs or even replacement to insure the desired outcome. Even if reworking existing event plans require some investment of resources to achieve a mutually successful experience.
In the case of major events in the Village, (the upcoming Car Show as an example) to go through the planning process without including into the event plan, worthwhile and effective mitigation measures that would offset negative impact on commercial and residential tenants, businesses, parking, pedestrian and vehicular access and loss of revenues for any number of brick and mortar merchants who have but a fixed number of weekends in the year to make the rent, is simply unjust.
To elaborate the point; The Car Show takes up nearly all the parking on Village Dr. Pine Knot Ave and the entire Bartlett Parking Lot. To replace lost parking (mitigate the negative impact on infrastructure function) the Event Planner will:
1. Provide the same number of parking places where?
2. Provide free shuttles from parking to where?
3. etc.
I have heard the myth that some merchants just choose to complain about everything. I rebuke that myth as an excuse for us not to take time to do the best job possible. The concept that any merchant is just out to keep any special event from being successful is no truer than the concept of any special event intending harm or disrespect to any merchant or economic sector. This argument should not be allowed the oxygen it takes to say the words.
I believe that the focus of the Planning Commission and Event Planners should be to proactively identify all potentially negative impacts of any special event on all those affected, and successfully mitigate those impacts to the benefit of the event and the community, by avoiding disruption to affected businesses and residential neighborhoods.
In my opinion, we do not do enough in the way of mitigating even the long standing, well identified negative impacts of major events in the Village, like the issue of parking capacity and pedestrian circulation. These are not complex issues and can be readily addressed if made a priority during the planning process.
Many of our Village Merchants are truly struggling to stay afloat at this writing. Weekends in the summer need to be considered no less than sacred ground when considering the deletion of parking spaces and hindering vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
A new level of understanding in needed on the part of Event Planners and City Planning Staff, to raise the level of support for, and doing what it can to enhance the economic survival of our small business community now and in the future.
A favorite expression of some, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is fair enough in context, however, if we are all just used to operating a broken or inefficiently outdated tool and just don’t consider it ‘broke’, it is nonetheless, broke. If ‘it’ is intended to make life better, or easier, it would be quite appropriate to go ahead and make repairs or even replacement to insure the desired outcome. Even if reworking existing event plans require some investment of resources to achieve a mutually successful experience.
In the case of major events in the Village, (the upcoming Car Show as an example) to go through the planning process without including into the event plan, worthwhile and effective mitigation measures that would offset negative impact on commercial and residential tenants, businesses, parking, pedestrian and vehicular access and loss of revenues for any number of brick and mortar merchants who have but a fixed number of weekends in the year to make the rent, is simply unjust.
To elaborate the point; The Car Show takes up nearly all the parking on Village Dr. Pine Knot Ave and the entire Bartlett Parking Lot. To replace lost parking (mitigate the negative impact on infrastructure function) the Event Planner will:
1. Provide the same number of parking places where?
2. Provide free shuttles from parking to where?
3. etc.
I have heard the myth that some merchants just choose to complain about everything. I rebuke that myth as an excuse for us not to take time to do the best job possible. The concept that any merchant is just out to keep any special event from being successful is no truer than the concept of any special event intending harm or disrespect to any merchant or economic sector. This argument should not be allowed the oxygen it takes to say the words.
I believe that the focus of the Planning Commission and Event Planners should be to proactively identify all potentially negative impacts of any special event on all those affected, and successfully mitigate those impacts to the benefit of the event and the community, by avoiding disruption to affected businesses and residential neighborhoods.
In my opinion, we do not do enough in the way of mitigating even the long standing, well identified negative impacts of major events in the Village, like the issue of parking capacity and pedestrian circulation. These are not complex issues and can be readily addressed if made a priority during the planning process.
Many of our Village Merchants are truly struggling to stay afloat at this writing. Weekends in the summer need to be considered no less than sacred ground when considering the deletion of parking spaces and hindering vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
A new level of understanding in needed on the part of Event Planners and City Planning Staff, to raise the level of support for, and doing what it can to enhance the economic survival of our small business community now and in the future.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
So Cal's Summer Vacation Plans
If there is any bright spot in the current economic downturn, it's the fact that many Southern California families are still going to take vacation this summer. AAA says that in fact vacation plans by Auto Club Members are off significantly compared to 2007 & 2008. http://news.aaa-calif.com/pr/aaa/summer-travel-survey-0609.aspx?ncid=6058
And sure there is belt tightening, but of the surveyed, only about 5% more than those surveyed in 2008 said they were going to spend less than last year while on vacation. But when you take into consideration that 40% of those surveyed are going to stay right here in California, there may be a bright spot in the numbers for Big Bear Lake.
Also in the survey, are some interesting hot buttons for vacation planners, something we have been trying to improve on when marketing our own marketplace here in Big Bear Lake.
"When rating highly important reasons for taking their first trip of this summer:
88 percent said the vacation destination was a highly important factor
73 percent cited cost
65 percent said entertainment/recreation
63 percent rated the ease of reaching the destination as highly important
57 percent cited proximity to family/friends
40 percent rated a friend’s/relative’s recommendation as highly important
40 percent cited a special event"
Big Bear Lake rates naturally high in several of these key areas or part of these areas. It would serve Retail Merchants, Lodges and Restaurants well to improve in weaker areas and then heavily promote our marketplace as the ideal vacation and leisure travel destination for Southern California on a permanent basis, all round.
Merchants, Restaurants and Lodges should be putting all their marketing efforts into letting leisure travel demographic know about just how Big Bear Lake fits into what they are looking for in a vacation or get-a-way.
And sure there is belt tightening, but of the surveyed, only about 5% more than those surveyed in 2008 said they were going to spend less than last year while on vacation. But when you take into consideration that 40% of those surveyed are going to stay right here in California, there may be a bright spot in the numbers for Big Bear Lake.
Also in the survey, are some interesting hot buttons for vacation planners, something we have been trying to improve on when marketing our own marketplace here in Big Bear Lake.
"When rating highly important reasons for taking their first trip of this summer:
88 percent said the vacation destination was a highly important factor
73 percent cited cost
65 percent said entertainment/recreation
63 percent rated the ease of reaching the destination as highly important
57 percent cited proximity to family/friends
40 percent rated a friend’s/relative’s recommendation as highly important
40 percent cited a special event"
Big Bear Lake rates naturally high in several of these key areas or part of these areas. It would serve Retail Merchants, Lodges and Restaurants well to improve in weaker areas and then heavily promote our marketplace as the ideal vacation and leisure travel destination for Southern California on a permanent basis, all round.
Merchants, Restaurants and Lodges should be putting all their marketing efforts into letting leisure travel demographic know about just how Big Bear Lake fits into what they are looking for in a vacation or get-a-way.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Big Bear Lake Economic Summit
The need for a new marketing and advertising strategy has never been greater for Big Bear Lake Retail Merchants, Restaurants and Lodges. While recovery for the general economy is sure to happen eventually, Big Bear Lake Businesses are suffering. Doors continue to close.
While the general tone for the 2009 Economic Summit, held on June 4, 2009, was a lot of business as usual and offered little to address what is needed or wanted by business, there was some news from the Big Bear Lake Redevelopment Director, Lyle Haynes, with (as far as I know) the first public mention of the possibility of forming Business Improvement Districts for ongoing funding of infrastructure improvements, events and marketing, all in the name of economic development for the City.
Another desperately needed action, to address the Big Bear Lake Development Code, was mentioned briefly.
It was mentioned that for property owners and business to develop properties to meet the best and greatest use and for individual businesses to compete in today's marketplace, serious changes are needed in both the Development Code and the Village Specific Plan. The changes would include density, use, parking and zoning. While this has been an important issue and needs attention, the changes would affect future development of commercial property and does not address anything in the near future.
The Big Bear Lake Resort Association presented current marketing strategy and an overview of scaled back plans for the coming year with their revenues taking a hit as fewer visitors are spending less money with their members this year.
Affordable housing projects were mentioned in the Redevelopment presentation. Both projects currently seeking approval in the Village were mentioned. I for one will aggressively oppose both of these projects based on the location and the irreversible long terms effects they would have on future commercial development and expansion of the Village. There must be some sort of policy set that these types of development should replace existing small and older residential units and be constructed in existing dense residential areas. One good idea that came up was to just let the affordable housing money revert back to the County and let them (the County) construct affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of the Valley.
While the general tone for the 2009 Economic Summit, held on June 4, 2009, was a lot of business as usual and offered little to address what is needed or wanted by business, there was some news from the Big Bear Lake Redevelopment Director, Lyle Haynes, with (as far as I know) the first public mention of the possibility of forming Business Improvement Districts for ongoing funding of infrastructure improvements, events and marketing, all in the name of economic development for the City.
Another desperately needed action, to address the Big Bear Lake Development Code, was mentioned briefly.
It was mentioned that for property owners and business to develop properties to meet the best and greatest use and for individual businesses to compete in today's marketplace, serious changes are needed in both the Development Code and the Village Specific Plan. The changes would include density, use, parking and zoning. While this has been an important issue and needs attention, the changes would affect future development of commercial property and does not address anything in the near future.
The Big Bear Lake Resort Association presented current marketing strategy and an overview of scaled back plans for the coming year with their revenues taking a hit as fewer visitors are spending less money with their members this year.
Affordable housing projects were mentioned in the Redevelopment presentation. Both projects currently seeking approval in the Village were mentioned. I for one will aggressively oppose both of these projects based on the location and the irreversible long terms effects they would have on future commercial development and expansion of the Village. There must be some sort of policy set that these types of development should replace existing small and older residential units and be constructed in existing dense residential areas. One good idea that came up was to just let the affordable housing money revert back to the County and let them (the County) construct affordable housing in the unincorporated areas of the Valley.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Village Merchants Planning First Wine Walk Event
Village Merchants are gathering steam to host the first Wine Walk Event in the Village. A number of Merchants have agreed to pitch in to host the event. The first event would benefit the local Meals on Wheels efforts.
Village Merchants have made a formal proposal to the VBA for their support to aid in making the first event happen this summer.
The event will be a self guided tour form Northwoods Resort to Pine Knot Marina and is one of many events the retail community is actively trying to put into place in order to better compete in the regional marketplace by attracting more get-a-way and leisure travel customers from throughout SoCal.
Village Merchants have made a formal proposal to the VBA for their support to aid in making the first event happen this summer.
The event will be a self guided tour form Northwoods Resort to Pine Knot Marina and is one of many events the retail community is actively trying to put into place in order to better compete in the regional marketplace by attracting more get-a-way and leisure travel customers from throughout SoCal.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Rassmussen takes temperature of Small Business
The confidence of 20 million small business owners takes a dip for the worse. Cash flow problems on the rise. More from Jan Norman on Small Business outlook: http://jan.freedomblogging.com/2009/05/26/business-owners-turn-more-pessimistic/14481/
A tip for our City Council as they wrap up the 09-10 budget.. Park City, UT has found themselves a bit short of projected revenues as major lodging interests file for bankruptcy before paying local bed taxes (The Block right here in Big Bear Lake). Might there be more on the horizon? TOT is a major percentage of our General Fund.
A tip for our City Council as they wrap up the 09-10 budget.. Park City, UT has found themselves a bit short of projected revenues as major lodging interests file for bankruptcy before paying local bed taxes (The Block right here in Big Bear Lake). Might there be more on the horizon? TOT is a major percentage of our General Fund.
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