DCG Merchants' Messenger

It seems the holiday shopping season opens

earlier and earlier each year. This year mer-

chants downtown are faced with a host of

issues from a down economy to construction of

the Camden Town Green.

In light of the fact that Halloween seems to be

the beginning of the holiday shopping season,

merchants may want to take advantage of

such events, like the KershawHealth Broad

Street Trick-or-Treat to issue bounceback cou-

pons to potential customers.

Bounceback coupons are a technique used in

many communities whereby a merchant will

use a festival as a chance to distribute dis-

count opportunities that will potentially bring

shoppers back over the course of the entire

holiday shopping season.

Overall, the Trick-or-Treat brought nearly

5,000 adults and children to downtown Cam-

den.

Similar events are planned in the future for

downtown, including the Downtown Divas Go

Red American Heart Association Benefit.

Now is the time to start thinking of ways you

can increase your exposure and customer

base. To that end the DCG is requesting that

local merchants interested in being a part of

the Downtown Diva event contact Jennifer

S h a w , C o m m i t t e e C h a i r , a t

[email protected].

It is always good to use these opportunities to

capitalize on the crowds that are there in

hopes that it will drive repeat visits for upcom-

ing shopping seasons, like Valentine’s Day and

Mother’s Day.

Edward Hinson

DCG President

Holiday Shopping Season Kickoff

camden.com. Nominations for

these positions will be ac-

cepted throughout the month

of December with an election

to follow at the annual mem-

bership meeting on January

18, 2010 at 5:30 pm in the

Community Room of First

Community Bank.

The DCG is looking for a few

good merchants to join the

nominating committee as we

elect leadership positions for

the 2011—2012 calendar

year. There are two seats

available on the executive

board. Participation at this

level is a way to shape the

future of downtown. Get

involved and let your opinion

be heard! The DCG works

hard to better position you

and your business for success

in a down economy. For more

information please contact

Betsy Greenway, DCG Vice

President at bgreenway@ci-

Merchants’ Messenger

Call for Nominations

Special points of inter-

est:

Bounceback your customers

Town Green moving along

as scheduled

Trick-or-Treat: We want

your feedback

Inside this issue:

Holiday Countdown

Begins

1

Your Vote, Your Voice 1

Spooktacular Sights 2

Green is Good 2

Put your road on a

Diet

3

Light the Holidays 3

A Silk Tradition 4

The countdown to Christmas started right after the

Broad Street Trick-or-Treat for most merchants.

Volume 1, Issue 1 December 2, 2010

Images from the KershawHealth Broad Street Trick-or-Treat

Upcoming Christmas Festivities

Join us to celebrate the kickoff of the holiday season on Thuirsday

followed by a performance of the Nutcracker at Wood Audito-

rium on the FAC Campus.

Donations will be accepted on behalf of Food

for the Soul of Kershaw County.

The ladies at Camden

Jewelers took more of

a princess approach to

this spooktacular event!

The DCG would like to

thank all merchants

who participated in the

KershawHealth Broad

Street Trick-or-Treat.

The event was fun

for children and

adults—remember

to use bounceback

coupons as a way

to capitalize on

these marketing

opportunities. It is

not often that

4,000 people are

on Broad Street.

Merchants’ Messenger Fall 2011

2

Merchants’ Messenger Fall 2011

3

Camden Town Green : Brand New Venue, Classic Camden Feel

All of you should be receiving the weekly

Camden Town Green Update Newsletters. If

you would like to receive the updtes email

[email protected].

The project is currently on schedule and under

budget. Contractors began moving above

ground shortly before the Thanksgiving holi-

days. From this point forward, the real

changes will be seen.

This project was made possible in large part

due to the City of Camden’s Hospitality Tax

Funding.

It will be a centerpiece for downtown and a

great way for all to capitalize on not only the

beautification of having a park in the center

of town, but also increased parking and a

festival venue that will increase the number of

events that can occur downtown and prevent

the inconvenience of having to shut down

Broad Street for special events.

Currently the Camden Town Green is sched-

uled to be completed in late March 2011.

Merchants have been inconvenienced, but the

end results will be well worth it!

Photos at the top of the page show the granite curbing being put into place.

This curbing combined with the other materials in the green, including tumbled

brick and Philadelphia blue stone, will give the green a 100-year old feel.

Photos of the Old Armory Steakhouse show the before and after pictures of

stormwater system improvements along Rutledge Street. These improve-

ments will reduce the impact of stormwater runoff along Rutledge Street. In

the coming weeks pay close attention to activity near the western side of the

Old Armory, as patrons will be in for a big surprise when the green is com-

pleted!

City is Awarded Grant for Broad Street Road Diet

The DPZ Vision Plan has been the focus of many of the

changes taking place downtown. The plan was done for the

public by the public. One element of that plan is a step

closer to taking shape.

The City of Camden was awarded a $456,000 grant from

the Federal Highway Administration for funding the planning

and design of improvements to Broad Street.

This plan is called the Broad Street Road Diet and proposed

to reduce the number of lanes on the roadway from four to

two, while adding additional angled parking for merchants.

The plan is dependent upon several factors, including the

removal of truck traffic from US 521, using an official bypass

route. If constructed, the end result could have Broad Street

resembling something similar to Main Street in Greenville.

Jockey Silks Return to Camden

The DCG is kicking off its 2011

Jockey Silk Art Project in Decem-

ber.

Based on your comments from last

year, the silks will stay on display

for the months of March and April.

If you are interested in being a

sponsor, or if you know of an artist

who is interested in participating

please contact Wade Luther,

Downtown Manager, at (803) 432

-2421 or [email protected].

Last year’s project raised over

$5,000 for the SCTRF.

The SCTRF at the Wateree River

Correctional Institution offers a

place of hope and renewal...a true

second chance..for retired Thor-

oughbred horses and prison in-

mates at the Wateree River Cor-

rectional Institution offers a place

of hope and renewal...a true sec-

ond chance..for retired Thor-

oughbred horses and prison in-

mates.

Through your sponsorship you will

not only be giving a gift to the

SCTRF, but also helping beautify

the City of Camden.

Sponsorship packages will be

available in early December at

TruVista’s Camden office located

at 2629 Broad Street in Dusty

Bend and t he Chron i c le -

Independent office located at 909

West DeKalb Street.

1000 Lyttleton St.

P. O. Box 7002

Camden, SC 29021-7002

Phone: 803-432-2421

Email: [email protected]

CREATING COMMERCE FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE

Downtown Camd en Gui ld

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Downtown Camden Guild

Membership has its benefits, stayed tuned for more updates on downtown events and business development strategies!

The jockey silk pic-

tured was sponsored

by First Citizens Bank

and fetched the

highest bid at auc-

tion for $275. Silks

were auctioned at

the Wood Audito-

rium of the Kershaw

County Fine Arts

Center to benefit the

SCTRF.

For a Membership Packet please contact Wade Lu-

ther, Downtown Manager at [email protected] or

(803) 432-2421.

Membership dues are $10 per year and include ac-

cess to our newsletter, meetings, voting rights, market-

ing opportunities and the opportunity to have your

voice heard in shaping a vibrant downtown Camden!

Upcoming Meeting Schedule

December 2010

Off; Officer Nominations Accepted

January 4th, 2011@ 9:00 am

Executive Board Meeting — First Community Bank Board Room ;

Officer Nominees Selected

January 18th, 2011 @ 5:30pm

At-Large Membership Meeting — First Community Bank Commu-

nity Room ; Election of New Officers

February

Installation of New Officers; Officers’ Retreat