File under “Who came up with THIS idea?”: A new advertising campaign aims to attract businesses to Bend by telling them what a great place it is to play and drink.
According to a story in The Bulletin’s Business section on Wednesday, a campaign put together by Visit Bend, the city’s tourism promotion agency, hopes to sell business owners on Bend’s great “active outdoor lifestyle.” (Hmm, where have we heard THAT before?)
On the Web, Visit Bend has posted a list of Top 10 reasons business owners should move themselves and their businesses here. They include …
#4: “A good powder day is a perfectly acceptable excuse to miss work.” And …
#5: “Eight breweries within walking distance of town – enough said.”
What message is the reader supposed to take away from this? “Bring your business to Bend, where we play hard and drink hard”?
Are we telling business owners that if they move their operations here their employees will come in hung over on Monday morning – and if there’s fresh snow on the mountain they probably won’t come in at all?
Swell.
The campaign will cost the taxpayers somewhere between $20,000 and $34,500, according to the Bulletin story. To borrow a phrase: “Enough said.”
This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2010.
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Dear Bruce. While I typically enjoy your perspective and appreciate your thorough understanding of the issues you cover, you have apparently based your research solely on what you read in the Bulletin. A few clarifications to your article: First, the top ten list you referenced is targeting anyone considering a moving to Bend, not businesses (see http://www.mymovetobend.com). Second, the top ten list is entirely separate from the advertising campaign. The advertising campaign does not mention beer or powder days in any way. Third, the top ten list did not cost tax payers a dime. We drafted the list inhouse and it took about 30 minutes. And fourth, whether we like it or not, Bend’s lifestyle is the primary draw for people and businesses relocating to Bend (see Headwaters report on the EDCO website). Finally, we’re simply trying to leverage the tourism industry to help solve our economic mess. Let me know if you have any better ideas. I’d love to hear them
Keep up the great writing. And give me a call when you want to blow off work on a powder day and grab a beer.
Sincerely,
Doug La Placa
Visit Bend
The overall Message is We in Bend Know how to live! Bravo Doug.
Thanks for the clarifications, Doug. I really don’t have any great ideas for attracting businesses to Bend. When you come right down to it, our scenery and outdoor recreation are just about the only things we have to offer. Bend is remote, small, isn’t home to a major university or research center, and has few or no natural resources to exploit. I think that although we may attract a few small entrepreneurial businesses, tourists and retirees are going to remain the backbone of our economy for the foreseeable future and we need to concentrate on keeping Bend attractive to them.
Although I no longer ski I would be happy to take you up on your offer of a beer. And since I am retired (well, almost) I can blow off work anytime.
One other thing: It’s very disappointing to see you guys repeating the tired old “300 days of sunshine” lie.
Since when is The Source written by a bunch of prudes and puritans? Beer and powder days are part of our culture. Are you sure you’re writing for the right paper?
http://www.visitbend.com/Move-Here/
SO the way I read this? They want ALL & ANY tourists to move here.
Gosh, open another restuarant? another Ski shop? another??? SOS???
Tax the tourists I say…NOT the locals.
Fyi? Im sure the local COBA & Real Estate has used some extended credit to PUMP up these stats.
Up in the clouds with reality.
Kudos HBM, not afraid to write about the TRUTH!
“Oregon I hate tourists advocate council” OIHTAC.LOL!
To add to the non reality?
How does one AFFORD Skiing & Micro Brews on $10 hour jobs?
Humm lets see? I’ll work at the Mtn. = Ski pass, I’ll work at the local Pub = food & grog, I’ll buy a short sale/foreclosed home or rent, add util. and life’s expenses $$. $0 left to enjoy life.
OK, two jobs = no free time. Enjoy life here? Mabey…but for most? A real huge STRUGGLE! Unless you can transfer you unemployment.
jus sayin.
“Are you sure you’re writing for the right paper?”
As long as the checks keep coming and they don’t bounce, I guess I am.
The opinions presented in this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Source. I thought everybody understood that.
Doing a good job? As far as I can tell, you are simply showing up for work and consider THAT to be your job. You certainly don’t count as a ‘writer’— Once again, poor writing, poor research and poor opinion. What a surprise. Please quit your job and give someone with some skill a chance.
Thank you!! I have long been unhappy with the constant smirking references to drinking in our only “alternative” paper. I thought alternative living meant healthy living?
Doug – Good point on it being difficult to attract large businesses here due to our remote location, limited natural resources, no university, etc. It reminds me of the Juniper Ridge plan a few years ago when they were talking about bringing in a legitimate 4 year OSU branch here. I think Bend would be a perfect place for a 4 year university (activities and breweries). If I remember correctly Juniper Ridge is on hold because of the traffic/offramp issue. But either way, is there any real chance of a 4 year university coming here?
By my count, only four, perhaps five, are actual brewpubs – where they brew their own beer on-site – the others are but outlets (good pizza though) for beers brewed elsewhere.
written by Jennie , October 23, 2010
This is a true quality (alt lvg) that most dont understand.
for some Bendites? drinking is good health…for a small % of the rest of us…you’re inexpensive entertainment…and you B(l)end well with the tourists.
“Please quit your job and give someone with some skill a chance.”
I won’t quit, but if you think you can do the job better, send your resume here:
Aaron Switzer, Publisher
The Source Weekly
704 NW Georgia Ave.
Bend OR 97701
Good luck.