Zip Code Survey

Here is a press release we just sent out. I spent yesterday sending out over 150 letters to businesses, asking them to participate (yeah, yesterday was a lot of fun). This is the first in a series of efforts designed to take the BBRP in a more economic direction.

Enjoy!

NEWS RELEASE
Borough Business Revitalization Program to begin zip code study
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Schlossberg
October 6, 2008 484-809-1796


Lehigh Valley, PA (October 6) – Michael Schlossberg and Sharon Davis, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinators for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, have announced that the Borough Business Revitalization Program (BBRP) will be conducting a zip code study designed to assist small businesses get more customers and better understand their market.

“In this economic climate, small businesses need all the help they can get,” said Schlossberg, coordinator for Alburtis, Coopersburg, Hellertown and Macungie. “We are conducting this study, at no charge to the business, in an effort to help them succeed as much as possible.”

“All we are asking is that merchants ask their customers what zip code they are from,” said Davis, coordinator for Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua and Wilson. “We will not track how much they spent or what merchandise they bought, and we will not ask for personal information.”

The zip codes will be analyzed by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. From there, a profile will be built of the customers that shop in these Boroughs. The information delivered to the participating businesses will include:
The demographic information and location of their customer base, thus allowing them to better promote and advertise their business.
The psycho-demographics of their communities’ customer base, thus allowing you to have a better idea of who you are marketing to and what those customers are looking for.
The specific needs and demands of the customers who frequent their Borough, thus allowing then to better serve your customers.

“Main Street is in constant competition with big-box stores and malls. All chains will ask for zip code information or phone numbers so that they can constantly be conducting surveys like these,” said Schlossberg. “This study will help our communities better understand their customers and compete with the Walmarts of the Lehigh Valley.”


Sharon Davis noted that, “We want to do everything we can to help our small businesses. They are the backbone of the American economy, and without them, the face of our country and our community will change forever. We want to do everything we can to help these businesses thrive, and this project is such a great example. For barely doing any work, our businesses can learn a great deal about their customers.

This service is provided jointly by the Borough Business Revitalization Program and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. Lehigh and Northampton counties have purchased memberships for the eight participating Boroughs with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, this qualifying them for these surveys.

Letters asking businesses to participate will be sent out at the beginning of October. The survey itself will take place from November 2 – November 15.

For general questions or questions related to Alburtis, Coopersburg, Hellertown and Macungie, please contact Mike Schlossberg at 484-809-1796. For questions related to Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua or Wilson, please contact Sharon Davis at 610-841-5840.

The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the eight Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.

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