HOULTON, Maine — Retailers are saying Houlton is the best kept secret that needs to be let out.
Tourists passing through town can find everything they need all they have to do is stop. That was the point that was being discussed at a recent forum held June 16 for area businesses.
The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce hosted the session as a way for business owners to brainstorm and come up with ideas on how they can work together to encourage more people to shop locally.
“One of the retailers said that Houlton is one of the best kept secrets going around and if you just drive by a store, you don’t even know what’s in there,” explained Lori Weston, executive director of the Chamber. “It’s about making people stop and recognize what we have to offer here; which is anything you possibly need.”
A number of key points raised involved advertising. Weston said the group of 20-plus retailers agreed that a collective method of advertising would benefit the area and help promote the town.
“The whole purpose is to promote Houlton as a destination point for shopping,” said Weston. “I think a lot of it has to do with advertising dollars and realizing that it goes back to getting people to make that decision to shop locally. Especially now with travel dollars being so costly for folks, promoting what we have here, there just isn’t a better time to do that.”
Another idea was to come up with a slogan for the town.
“There is a need for a slogan … for example ‘we are your hometown marketplace, try Houlton first,’” explained Weston. “There is a need for there to be branding that we can tag onto our advertising. Everyone said there really isn’t anything you can’t get if you step into any of the retailers in Houlton and if they don’t have it, they can get it for you.
“So, we’re really capitalizing on that and using that to promote ourselves as well,” she added.
In an effort to expand those goals, a committee was formed to discuss and possibly organize a gameplan and choose a slogan. One idea already being considered is the distribution of a shopper’s survey. Weston said it would be a good idea to find out what people are looking for and what they need the most. She said if they have the answers to those questions, than the local businesses will be able to better accommodate those demands. The end result would be people shopping locally.
The committee held their first meeting in council chambers on Tuesday, June 24.
For more information contact the Chamber at 532-4216.
Tourists passing through town can find everything they need all they have to do is stop. That was the point that was being discussed at a recent forum held June 16 for area businesses.
The Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce hosted the session as a way for business owners to brainstorm and come up with ideas on how they can work together to encourage more people to shop locally.
“One of the retailers said that Houlton is one of the best kept secrets going around and if you just drive by a store, you don’t even know what’s in there,” explained Lori Weston, executive director of the Chamber. “It’s about making people stop and recognize what we have to offer here; which is anything you possibly need.”
A number of key points raised involved advertising. Weston said the group of 20-plus retailers agreed that a collective method of advertising would benefit the area and help promote the town.
“The whole purpose is to promote Houlton as a destination point for shopping,” said Weston. “I think a lot of it has to do with advertising dollars and realizing that it goes back to getting people to make that decision to shop locally. Especially now with travel dollars being so costly for folks, promoting what we have here, there just isn’t a better time to do that.”
Another idea was to come up with a slogan for the town.
“There is a need for a slogan … for example ‘we are your hometown marketplace, try Houlton first,’” explained Weston. “There is a need for there to be branding that we can tag onto our advertising. Everyone said there really isn’t anything you can’t get if you step into any of the retailers in Houlton and if they don’t have it, they can get it for you.
“So, we’re really capitalizing on that and using that to promote ourselves as well,” she added.
In an effort to expand those goals, a committee was formed to discuss and possibly organize a gameplan and choose a slogan. One idea already being considered is the distribution of a shopper’s survey. Weston said it would be a good idea to find out what people are looking for and what they need the most. She said if they have the answers to those questions, than the local businesses will be able to better accommodate those demands. The end result would be people shopping locally.
The committee held their first meeting in council chambers on Tuesday, June 24.
For more information contact the Chamber at 532-4216.
