| Santa Claus is coming to town. Wait, it’s only July. And yet Santa Claus IS coming to town next week - in the middle of summer. The folks at the Franklin Retail and Business Association don’t think the spirit of Christmas should be relegated to just one cold day in late December. They want people to be jolly when it’s warm out as well. |  Editor's note: Eight & 322 has a business relationship with the Franklin Retail and Business Association. |
Christmas in July is one of the many promotional events the Retail Association puts on each year to draw visitors to the city’s historic and quaint business district.
Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 26, Franklin will be a summer wonderland with Santa visiting the Curb Market handing out gifts to be used in the downtown shops.
And he’ll have a limited number of smore boxes for the kids.
Shops will be offering specials all day and there will be a hunt for elves hidden around town. Count them up, figure out their names and decode the secret message for chances to win gift cards.
“We are expanding and trying to do more out of market marketing for our members,” said past retail director Jennifer Taylor just before she left her post in May. “We’re trying to bring in people from out of town to visit our downtown. Shop and eat here. And you can sleep here too.”
The Retail Association is a Franklin networking and cross marketing group with the goal of bringing in shoppers while boosting their member’s profiles and hopefully revenues.
Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on July 26, Franklin will be a summer wonderland with Santa visiting the Curb Market handing out gifts to be used in the downtown shops.
And he’ll have a limited number of smore boxes for the kids.
Shops will be offering specials all day and there will be a hunt for elves hidden around town. Count them up, figure out their names and decode the secret message for chances to win gift cards.
“We are expanding and trying to do more out of market marketing for our members,” said past retail director Jennifer Taylor just before she left her post in May. “We’re trying to bring in people from out of town to visit our downtown. Shop and eat here. And you can sleep here too.”
The Retail Association is a Franklin networking and cross marketing group with the goal of bringing in shoppers while boosting their member’s profiles and hopefully revenues.
Events like Christmas in July are a part of the networking the organization has planned as it transitions to a newer, more dedicated organization serving its members.
In May, they brought in a full-time director to work in conjunction with the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Local business owner Ryan Rudegeair, hired thanks to a grant from the McElhatten Foundation, has been tasked with promoting and advancing opportunities for business served by the two organizations.
“It had become clear over the years that if we were to build, this needed to be a position where someone worked in an office, came to work every day, had access to phones and computers,” Taylor said acknowledging that since 1972 the retail association directors did their best, but had full-time jobs and personal careers. “It’s a huge increase in our capacity,” Taylor said of hiring Rudegeair.
“I’m really excited that the Retail Association will have that opportunity now for the members to reach a bigger audience and bring in more money for the organization,” she said. “I think people underestimate just how much marketing has to be done for any organization or any group of businesses. It has to be done constantly and it has to be professionally done.”
Rudegeair said the new website, which is set to launch soon, will have more user-friendly services like being able to purchase the association’s popular gift cards, which can be used at over 70 businesses.
“They don’t expire and it’s a great customer service that can be given as a gift or just used on your own,” Rudegeair said. “The money comes back to the businesses. If you buy a gift card in Franklin, a Franklin business is going to benefit from it.”
The cards can still be purchased at the Franklin Chamber, where Rudegeair’s office sits. “So many get sold around the holidays” said Rudegeair, emphasizing the cards are great birthday gift and prize giveaways.
It is one way they work to promote its diverse network of members, which offer food and coffee, antiques, oddities, haircuts, cooking supplies and even new guitars, he pointed out.
In May, they brought in a full-time director to work in conjunction with the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. Local business owner Ryan Rudegeair, hired thanks to a grant from the McElhatten Foundation, has been tasked with promoting and advancing opportunities for business served by the two organizations.
“It had become clear over the years that if we were to build, this needed to be a position where someone worked in an office, came to work every day, had access to phones and computers,” Taylor said acknowledging that since 1972 the retail association directors did their best, but had full-time jobs and personal careers. “It’s a huge increase in our capacity,” Taylor said of hiring Rudegeair.
“I’m really excited that the Retail Association will have that opportunity now for the members to reach a bigger audience and bring in more money for the organization,” she said. “I think people underestimate just how much marketing has to be done for any organization or any group of businesses. It has to be done constantly and it has to be professionally done.”
Rudegeair said the new website, which is set to launch soon, will have more user-friendly services like being able to purchase the association’s popular gift cards, which can be used at over 70 businesses.
“They don’t expire and it’s a great customer service that can be given as a gift or just used on your own,” Rudegeair said. “The money comes back to the businesses. If you buy a gift card in Franklin, a Franklin business is going to benefit from it.”
The cards can still be purchased at the Franklin Chamber, where Rudegeair’s office sits. “So many get sold around the holidays” said Rudegeair, emphasizing the cards are great birthday gift and prize giveaways.
It is one way they work to promote its diverse network of members, which offer food and coffee, antiques, oddities, haircuts, cooking supplies and even new guitars, he pointed out.
“We want to promote all of us collectively,” he said. “I don’t think any of the retailers are served by being an isolated business. Everyone is served with people coming into town and shopping around town… we can be a shopping destination.”
Along with Christmas in July, the association also has an initiative in connection with the popular Taste of Talent vocal competition. They are promoting the area establishments for either dining in or ordering take out to enjoy in the park during the performances.
Other Retail Association events include the Witch Walk in October, Retail Windfall in November and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December. They are amid retooling the Taste of Franklin model to better serve its restaurants’ needs in the spring.
The Retail Association also helps with the growing Sip and Shop program that allows visitors aged 21 and older to have adult beverages in approved cups around town as they shop. Another way to give visitors to downtown a fun and unique experience.
Along with Christmas in July, the association also has an initiative in connection with the popular Taste of Talent vocal competition. They are promoting the area establishments for either dining in or ordering take out to enjoy in the park during the performances.
Other Retail Association events include the Witch Walk in October, Retail Windfall in November and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December. They are amid retooling the Taste of Franklin model to better serve its restaurants’ needs in the spring.
The Retail Association also helps with the growing Sip and Shop program that allows visitors aged 21 and older to have adult beverages in approved cups around town as they shop. Another way to give visitors to downtown a fun and unique experience.
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