Holiday Marketing Opportunities Through Downtown Visions

Downtown Visions is committed to the success of each and every business in Downtown Wilmington DE, especially during the holiday season! As an organization, our mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the Business Improvement District, and we do so in a number of ways, including business marketing and promotion. Please consider taking advantage of the following marketing opportunities for a thriving holiday season in Downtown Wilmington!

Market Made: 12 Days of Christmas

Downtown Visions and New Market Wilm are partnering to offer the FREE opportunity to promote unique holiday specials from December 12-23, 2019, similar to last summer’s Made on Market campaign. The deadline to submit an offer is November 4th, so please email Lani Schweiger LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org or Jennifer Lawson Jennifer@bigideaswilmington.com to participate!

Wilmington Jaycee’s Christmas Parade

The Wilmington Jaycee’s are hosting the 56th annual Wilmington Christmas Parade this year on Saturday, November 30th at 11am!  This parade is volunteer based and is a Downtown tradition that cannot continue without help from our local businesses. Please consider sponsoring the small business float for $100 and supporting the parade this year. Sponsors are also welcome to ride on the float during the parade! For more detailed sponsorship information, click here.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday also takes place on Saturday, November 30, coinciding with the Christmas Parade! Take advantage of the nearly 10,000 parade-goers in town and stay open on Small Business Saturday. Offer a special #ShopSmall promotion that day to capture the foot traffic in Downtown Wilmington. Be sure to share these promotions and coupons with us as we will help promote them! You can even create custom marketing materials for your business through the American Express Shop Small Studio.

For more information on any of these holiday marketing opportunities, please email Lani Schweiger at LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org.

Downtown Wilmington is the Perfect Place to Start a Small Business!

Is one of your goals for 2018 to start a small business? If you are an entrepreneur already, or have a great new business plan, Downtown Wilmington, DE is the perfect place to make a home for your business.

With a current thriving small business community, new corporations and organizations constantly incorporating in the city due to the State's tax structure and hundreds of new residences currently being built there is so much opportunity within the city!

Here are some resources to help get you started:

Downtown Visions- From façade improvement to financial assistance guidance, Downtown Visions has several programs specifically designed for those desiring to start a new business in the city, check them all out here. 

Downtown Visions also has workshops and events for small businesses. To stay updated on upcoming events, be sure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook.

Small and Minority Businesses and Tax Assistance- resources for small and minority-owned business as well as networking information can be found here.

Programs through the City and State- A tax abatement program, relocation/workforce development assistance, Grow Wilmington Fund and loans, architectural and engineering feasibility work matching, technical assistance and more information on the Downtown Development District can be found here. 

Complimentary Business Advice with a Certified Mentor- and more, including complimentary workshops for small businesses, can be found here through the Score program.

Starting your business and looking to live close by? Here are lots of great apartment communities right downtown! 

We Want to Help YOU Prepare for Small Business Saturday!

Hard to believe, but the holidays are right around the corner! What is your business doing to properly prepare? 

Did you know Downtown Visions is here to help grow your business? In addition to all of our business resources, we are huge fans of Small Business Saturday on November 25th. We want to help you have an extra successful Small Business Saturday and encourage locals to #shopsmall.

In order to help you, please send us whatever promotions you will be offering on that day and we will help get the word out!

Simply email LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org the name of your business, the promotion you are offering, how to redeem that particular promotion and what hours you will be open that day. 

Not sure where to start? Here are two additional resources to help you prepare:

American Express FREE Small Business Toolkit

Big Ideas for Small Business Saturday

Post by Julia Mason of Enthusiasm Lab

Wilmington Jaycees' Parade this Saturday

This  Saturday will be a great time to bring the whole family out for the 53rd Annual Wilmington Jaycees' Holiday Parade!

Here's the details:

The Wilmington Jaycees’ 53rd Annual Christmas Parade will be held in conjunction with Small Business Saturday on November 26th. Start the shopping season by supporting local businesses that create jobs, boost our economy, and preserve neighborhoods around our country.

11am Jaycee Christmas Parade wilmingtonjaycees.com
The Parade route beings at 5th and King Streets, and ends at Rodney Square. Children at the parade are encouraged to write a letter to Santa and drop it off when Santa passes along the parade route. (Children should provide their complete mailing address, including zip code, if they would like a reply.) The Wilmington Jaycees will work with Santa and his elves to make every effort to answer each letter.

12:30pm-1:30pm Photos with Santa at The Baby Grand, 818 N. Market Street *Bring your camera & take FREE photos with Santa!
Enjoy non-alcoholic drinks inside the Baby Grand *Cash Bar*

2pm & 8pm The Playhouse on Rodney Square Theatre: 
Broadway Christmas Wonderland
www.duponttheatre.com or 302.652.5577

12pm-2pm LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy live music at various Downtown locations TBD!

#ShopSmall this holiday season in Downtown, Wilmington

Enjoy great deals at the following businesses:

• ACT Generation, 715 N. Orange Street 2nd Floor – Shopping, food, music art from 8a-8p with vendors

• Al’s Sporting Good, 200 N. Market Street www.alssportinggoods.net – $10 off of $60 spent, $20 off of $110 spent. Not to be combined with other offers or sales. *print coupon below

• Cherné Altovise Jewelry, 316 N. Market Street www.chernealtovise.com - 20% off total purchase. Not to be combined with other offers or sales.

• Collars n Cuffs, 716 N. Market Street collarsncuffsonline.com – 20% off entire purchase, not to be combined with other offers.

• Delaware History Museum/African American History Museum - 50% off admission to Read House, the Delaware History Museum and the Jane & Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, not to be combined with other offers. 

• LaFate Gallery, 227 N. Market Street www.lafategallery.com - offering 40% Discount on Original Paintings and 25% on Limited Edition Prints.

• LOMA Coffee, 239 N. Market Street www.lomacoffee.com - Receive 10% off your purchase when you mention that you #shopsmall

City Announces Holiday Season Metered Parking Policy:

During the upcoming holiday season, metered parking will be free in Wilmington’s downtown business district and at the Riverfront during specific times of the day, beginning Friday, November 25, 2016, and running through January 1, 2017.

• Citizens and visitors to the City of Wilmington are reminded that paying for metered parking will only be required between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

• From 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the following morning, metered parking will be free.

• This free parking policy only applies to the downtown area from 2nd Street to 12th Street, and from French Street and Washington Street. The policy also applies to the entire Riverfront community.
http://bit.ly/2gaaGIJ

Preparing for Small Business Saturday

On Monday, I had the privilege of joining our U.S. Congresswoman-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester, Mayor-elect Mike Purzycki, leaders from the Small Business Administration, History leaders, Downtown Business owners, the press, and more as we toured businesses in preparation for Small Business Saturday.

You can see video from our walking tour from WDEL by clicking here.

This Saturday, come on out for the Wilmington Jaycees' Christmas Parade and spend some time shopping at our Downtown Businesses!

Here's a look at what to expect:

11:00 AM Parade along Market Street

12:30pm-1:30pm Photos with Santa at The Baby Grand, 818 N. Market Street *Bring your camera & take FREE photos with Santa!
Enjoy non-alcoholic drinks inside the Baby Grand *Cash Bar*

2pm & 8pm The Playhouse on Rodney Square Theatre: 
Broadway Christmas Wonderland
www.duponttheatre.com or 302.652.5577

12pm-2pm LIVE MUSIC
Enjoy live music at various Downtown locations TBD!

#ShopSmall this holiday season in Downtown, Wilmington

Enjoy great deals at the following businesses:

• ACT Generation, 715 N. Orange Street 2nd Floor – Shopping, food, music art from 8a-8p with vendors

• Al’s Sporting Good, 200 N. Market Street www.alssportinggoods.net – $10 off of $60 spent, $20 off of $110 spent. Not to be combined with other offers or sales. *print coupon below

• Cherné Altovise Jewelry, 316 N. Market Street www.chernealtovise.com - 20% off total purchase. Not to be combined with other offers or sales.

• Collars n Cuffs, 716 N. Market Street collarsncuffsonline.com – 20% off entire purchase, not to be combined with other offers.

• Delaware History Museum/African American History Museum - 50% off admission to Read House, the Delaware History Museum and the Jane & Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage, not to be combined with other offers. 

• LaFate Gallery, 227 N. Market Street www.lafategallery.com - offering 40% Discount on Original Paintings and 25% on Limited Edition Prints.

• LOMA Coffee, 239 N. Market Street www.lomacoffee.com - Receive 10% off your purchase when you mention that you #shopsmall

City Announces Holiday Season Metered Parking Policy:

During the upcoming holiday season, metered parking will be free in Wilmington’s downtown business district and at the Riverfront during specific times of the day, beginning Friday, November 25, 2016, and running through January 1, 2017.

• Citizens and visitors to the City of Wilmington are reminded that paying for metered parking will only be required between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

• From 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. the following morning, metered parking will be free.

• This free parking policy only applies to the downtown area from 2nd Street to 12th Street, and from French Street and Washington Street. The policy also applies to the entire Riverfront community.
http://bit.ly/2gaaGIJ

I look forward to seeing you Saturday!

Marty