Retail recruitment number one priority downtown, DWBIA

By Richard Dawes
Nov. 28, 2012
Retail recruitment number one priority downtown, DWBIA

Retailers, artists and crafters are being invited by the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association to spend the holidays amidst the city’s December festivities.

At least 19 businesses will be leasing empty shop space around the city’s core for the holiday season. Other retailers are also being offered spots at an indoor market or in temporary outdoor retail huts, provided by the DWBIA during Winter Fest Dec. 15. The festival will feature activities such as a Christmas parade, ice sculpting, caroling and horse drawn carriage rides.

DWBIA Chair Larry Horwitz said the timing of the invitation is strategic. He and other DWBIA members met Nov. 28 to talk about their plan. The 40 indoor stalls and 10 outdoor huts comprising Winter Fest’s Christmas market are free to vendors. Anyone can request a spot in the market by calling the DWBIA.

“We believe that if we give (retailers) a taste of the business possibilities downtown, they’re going to realize all the money that could be made and the benefits they can have being part of a downtown community,” said Horwitz. “Who wants to be out in a suburb somewhere selling clothing or something like that? That’s so boring. Here you could go to some of those little shops, sip a cappuccino, have lunch and just walk around and enjoy.”

Another component of the festival will be wine tasting according to Debi Croucher, acting director of the DWBIA. She said they are still putting the finishing touches on that event and more details will be available shortly.

“The demographic for Winter Fest is twofold,” said Croucher. “First and foremost, because of the holiday parade, the Santa forest and the good stuff going on, we’re looking at young families with children under the age of 13. The second (demographic) we’re looking at with the wine component and retail component are an older crowd, seniors, boomers and young adults.”

One of the confirmed outdoor retailers is LeeLee Hats. Founded in 2010, LeeLee Hats is a non-profit group that teaches people how to knit and loom. Hats made by volunteers are donated to hospitals for newborn babies from Metro Detroit to Sarnia. Over 11,000 knitted hats have been donated to date. Proceeds of the hats they sell will go directly to supplies for the group. Volunteer Tracy Summerfield said LeeLee Hats is taking advantage of the opportunity to talk to the community.

“We want to get this information out to our youth and any people coming by, looking to purchase a hat for their child or as a gift, or if they’re just getting information about our knitting clubs,” said Summerfield.

In a press release Oct. 25 Croucher said the festival’s parade is expected to attract over 10,000 spectators.