AGM Agenda
Thursday November 19th, 2020
6pm-8pm
Zoom Meeting
In attendance: Eshe Despres, Jamie McHardy, Alana Travis, Councillor Esther Pauls, Julia Davis, Keith Russell, David Hudson, Lynn Gates, Diane Hines, Jim Foreman, Brenda Eszenyi, Cristina Geissler
Regrets: James Knott, Julie Noble, Jules Gauthier, Brandon Eyre, Rosanne Ciulla, Marlise Liberatore, Bruno Bombarieri, Kaitlynn S, Mike Ward
Welcoming Remarks: Chair, Eshe Despres
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
Guest Speaker: Esther Pauls, Ward 7 Councillor (15 minutes)
Guest Speaker: Keith Russell, Hamilton Business Center (20 minutes)
Guest Speaker: David Hudson, Hamilton Arts Council (20 minutes)
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
Presentation of 2021 Budget: Treasurer, Alana Travis
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
BIA Updates: Executive Director, Cristina Geissler
2020 Successes of our BIA:
Meeting adjourned 8pm
Thursday November 19th, 2020
6pm-8pm
Zoom Meeting
In attendance: Eshe Despres, Jamie McHardy, Alana Travis, Councillor Esther Pauls, Julia Davis, Keith Russell, David Hudson, Lynn Gates, Diane Hines, Jim Foreman, Brenda Eszenyi, Cristina Geissler
Regrets: James Knott, Julie Noble, Jules Gauthier, Brandon Eyre, Rosanne Ciulla, Marlise Liberatore, Bruno Bombarieri, Kaitlynn S, Mike Ward
Welcoming Remarks: Chair, Eshe Despres
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
Guest Speaker: Esther Pauls, Ward 7 Councillor (15 minutes)
- Congratulations on 50th anniversary of BIA’s. Downtown Hamilton BIA established in 1976 and Concession BIA in 1993
- Mountain View Park review will start in the new year in collaboration with Concession BIA (Cristina Geissler representing) and the community – more to come in 2021
- Sam Lawrence Park upgrades to start in 2021. First phase will include repairs to the retaining wall, lighting improvements and horticulture improvements.
- Councillor Pauls has received inquiries about the installation of holiday lights at the Sam Lawrence Park pavilion again this year. Due to COVID it will have to look different – potentially a drive by toy drive. Councillor to work with Cristina Geissler to work out logistics
- Wished all continued strength and success as we continue to navigate through these unprecedented times. She offered her continue support to all small businesses of Concession Street
Guest Speaker: Keith Russell, Hamilton Business Center (20 minutes)
- Effective Social Media tips
Guest Speaker: David Hudson, Hamilton Arts Council (20 minutes)
- Anticipating a 70% online / 30% in person events for 2021
- Prepare for a digital year ahead
- Congratulated us on the quality of the recordings and how Virtually Sidewalk Sounds was presented this summer
- Effective online tips: have a distribution plan, dedicate a resource to respond to comments live-time, pay for artists to continue to support the arts world, remove apologies for online performances – embrace this new medium, explore quantitative engagement, consider equitable access to online art performances, seek out local media support, consider on-demand, shorter performances to make for easier viewing
- Offered his continued support and we navigate into 2021 and whatever will come with the new year
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
Presentation of 2021 Budget: Treasurer, Alana Travis
*SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW*
BIA Updates: Executive Director, Cristina Geissler
2020 Successes of our BIA:
- PPE Care Packages – July and Oct 2020 – surplus available in BIA office on a first-come-first-serve basis
- CHCH Holiday program sponsorship underway – in addition to the CHCH Morning Live interview in June 2020 for Virtually Sidewalk Sounds
- Great success of Virtually Sidewalk Sounds – reached an audience of over 10,000 viewers between June and September. BIA also awarded $400 in Concession Bucks (approximately $250-300 have been redeemed so we found a way to redirect the audience back into our local small businesses)
- BIA has grown our social media audience to over 7000 – between Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. PLUS the creation of Concession BIA TikTok (with the assistance of Hamilton Rising) is growing in popularity and views of our videos
- City of Hamilton BIA’s collaborated this summer with a “Be a Tourist in your own City” video clips created by The Generator and shared on social media. We will be doing a second round of these videos with a focus on holiday shopping and supporting local this Christmas
- Postering Kiosk now by 584 Concession PLUS three postering pole wraps by Pita Pit, The Zoetic and The Cat Clinic – safe and permissible postering spots that will be cleaned off by the City at the end of every month
- Virtual Tour of the 13 Concession murals has been created and posted on our website. https://www.concessionstreet.ca/murals.html We will be leveraging these beautiful murals in the new year to continue to attract visitors to our BIA (contests, giveways, etc)
- Cable 14 interview on The Hamilton Network (Nov 2020)
- New holiday planters, soft white lights added to the existing bright white lights and winter banners now in place (with the reinforced banner arms). CONTEST OPEN for all Concession storefronts. Decorate with holiday decorations, lights, gift wrap your front door – for a chance to win $400 from the BIA. Winner will be drawn and announced on Dec 1st, 2020. All who decorate will be automatically entered!
- Night Audit Oct 22/20 with Jim Foreman found a bright, clean and visually appealing street. A tremendous improvement from when we stated these night audits. More businesses lighting up their storefronts at night, murals with lights, coach lanterns, all add to the safety of our community.
- Welcome to the NEW businesses to Concession this year (particularly notable given the difficult year we have had):
- Sloth Core Fitness
- Flashbacks Hamilton Record Store
- Cyprus Sports Lounge
- Drip Beauty Parlor
- Capelli Hair Salon
- Stage Diner
- Milk Beauty Bar
- Penny Pinchers Costume Rentals
- Mahasti Bellydance Emporium (moved to a larger location)
- The Glass Jar Refillery
- Roca Beauty
- Dark Angel Boxing Studio
- Silver Skull Tattoo Studio
- Made You Look Optical
- Heal Wellness
- Investment Planning Council
- Dirty South Restaurant
- (reopening and new concept) Jonny Blonde Burgers and Bowls
- COMING IN 2021 – Yimmes Grill, The Daily and more to be announced soon
- We bid a farewell (not COVID related) to Bulletproof, Phillage Consulting, Linseed’s, East
Meeting adjourned 8pm
| 2020_agm_chair_address.docx |
| concessions_street_social_media_tips___tricks.pdf |
| agm_presentation_from_urban_renewal_2020.pptx |
| 2021_bia_budget.pdf |