Downtown Happenings

AUGUST 2021| ISSUE NO. 1

DOWNTOWN HAPPENINGS

Love Where You Shop - Downtown St Thomas 7TH ANNUAL NOSTALGIA NIGHTS CAR SHOW

Saturday September 18th, 2021 4:00 - 9:00 pm

Nostalgia Nights is a unique classic car show held on Talbot Street in Downtown St Thomas. Great for ALL ages! Bring your camera and get a few shots of about 1000 classic cars that have been lovingly cared for by their owners.

What Can You Do? Stay Open and promote your business * Set up a sidewalk sale * Advertise an in-store special * Offer coupons and welcome visitors back to your store * Put out a sign or balloons to show you are open * Setup a booth * Display a Nostalgia Nights Poster in your window * Advertising opportunity - sponsor a train ride and add your name, logo and coupon to 1 of the 6 train ride ticket series - contact the DDB today Schedule of Events - Car Show (Talbot Street from John St to Hincks St 4 to 9pm - FREE Train Rides from the L&PS Station Hourly from 3 - 8pm - DJ and Band at City Hall 4 - 9pm - Small Business Alley on Mondamin Street 4 - 8pm - Vendors, music and tasty treats

For more information visit www.NostalgiaNights.ca

Do you accept Downtown Dollars?

Through 2021, the DDB will be accepting all Downtown Dollars, even if they have expired.

However, we will not be able to accept the DDB Dollars printed on the August 2020 VIBE newsletter which expired December 31st, 2020.

Please welcome and accept these Downtown Dollars as "CASH". To redeem, please contact the St. Thomas Downtown Development Board at 519-633-5248 or email us at ddb@stthomas.ca and we will stop by with a cheque.

What are Downtown Dollars?

The St Thomas Downtown Development Board coordinates the Downtown Dollars Program for use at all retail businesses in Historic Downtown St Thomas.

Downtown Dollars are used by the DDB to bring people to your downtown St Thomas business. More visitors means more business for you and helps create an exciting place for people to shop local.

How Does It Work?

Downtown Dollars come in $5 increments and are distributed by the DDB at events as prizes or they can be purchased by a person or business for use in promotional programs.

Why Should I Participate?

Each year the DDB issues $10,000 $20,000 Downtown Dollars into the community. Recipients of Downtown Dollars are encouraged to redeem them and in fact many shoppers tend to spend more money than the total of Downtown Dollars that they received. It is to your benefit to participate in this program.

How Do I Get Involved?

All retail businesses in Historic Downtown St Thomas are eligible to participate.

Contact the DDB office and we will get you registered.

What do I do when I receive Downtown Dollars?

1. Accept the Downtown Dollars as cash for the purchase of goods or services.

2. Contact the DDB, informing the staff of the dollar amount received.

3. A DDB member will visit and issue you a cheque to reimburse you for the Downtown Dollars. It's really that EASY

How does a customer know I accept Downtown Dollars?

We will provide you with a sticker for your door or window that identifies you as accepting Downtown Dollars.

Your business is listed in our Downtown Directory to show that you are participating in the program. Visit www.downtownstthomasdirectory.ca

Attention Downtown St Thomas Businesses The Digital Transformation #Grant 3.0 is here!

The grant provides brick-and-mortar #businesses with $2500 towards the adoption of digital technologies. The money can be used for several things, such as digital advertising, social media platforms, digital marketing, software, and more! You can learn more at https://buff.ly/32bvp8M To qualify you must be a business that: Has a permanent 'brick-and-mortar' establishment in Ontario Is employing 1-50 employees Has not received a DTG previously Is paying commercial property tax (commercially assessed), either directly or through commercial rent Is a registered business in Ontario and/or is incorporated Is open for business/operating at the time of application (not a start up) Is NOT a business supplying digital services to other businesses (e.g. website design/development, SEO, programming) Is NOT a franchise, including those individually owned and operated Is NOT a not-for-profit/ charitable organization Is NOT renting office space on a temporary basis (month-to-month) Is NOT in a shared workspace such as a hot desk or dedicated desk Is NOT a purely online business

3 Downtown Floral Photo Opportunities Have you seen the amazing flower pots along Talbot Street in Downtown St Thomas? The DDB invested in 27 Flower pots a few years ago to brighten up our Downtown sidewalks. So, get your camera and shoot the petunias today. In early September they will be switched out to fall Mums and finally in mid October the winter greenery will be planted. Thanks to the team at St Thomas Parks for creating and maintaining these beautiful floral displays!

Downtown Clean Team Have you noticed how clean our Downtown is looking? Thanks to our Clean Team of Blake and Travis, they are picking up 2-3 bags of garbage and sweeping up 30+ pounds of debris and cigarette butts every day.

Say Hi and Thanks or honk next time you see them.

Downtown Liaison Meet Joseph - Joseph is visiting all Downtown businesses over the next few weeks to expand our Downtown Dollar program. Need a DOWNTOWN DOLLARS ACCEPTED HERE sticker to let customers know that you accept St Thomas Downtown Dollar? Give us a shout at 519-633-5248 or DDB@stthomas.ca today

SUMMER NIGHT MARKET On the LAST THURSDAY of EVERY MONTH enjoy a mini market under the stars filled with fresh food vendors, craft drinks, hand made goods, live music, and cultural street food take-away!

Shop indoors AND outdoors! from 4pm to 8pm.

WHERE: 624 / 626 Talbot St. (behind A Handmade Tale and Taste Makers Studio) We want to feature your business... in The Downtown VIBE? Contact the DDB today and we'll set you up a date and time for an interview and photo. Also, can you help us in distributing the Downtown VIBE to your customers?. Please contact the DDB today and we'll delivery a package to your door.

Visit http://www.issuu.com/stthomasddb

Contact your DDB 545 Talbot Street St Thomas ON N5P 3V7 www.DowntownStThomas.ca DDB@stthoms.ca facebook.com/downtownstthomas 519-633-5248