Downtown businesses to promote Kirkland as a shopping destination
Paula Heddle owns a specialty shop in downtown Kirkland called Barkz the dog stop(map). As her website says, “Barkz is your all-in-one dog store.” Paula has lots of energy and wants to help Kirkland thrive as a shopping destination. She has seen downtown shopping take a beating of late with recent snow storms, several business closures and of course, the state of the general economy, so she took the initiative to make things better. Paula penned a letter addressed to other business owners in town suggesting they come together as a group to promote Kirkland as a shopping destination.
Her idea is spreading around town and local businesses are meeting on February 20th at 8:00 a.m. at the Grape Choice(map). Paula’s letter to local businesses is below. It is initiatives like this that will make a real difference in town. Way to go, Paula!
February 3, 2009
To: Kirkland Businesses
Thank you for reading this letter as I know all of you are very busy with your own businesses. My name is Paula Heddle and I own Barkz the dog stop. I would like to invite you to a one hour meeting of the minds on February 20th at [8:00 am at The Grape Choice. - time and location changed from original article]
We all feel the effects of the economic crisis, the snow storm in December and the numerous businesses in downtown closing. What I purpose is that we meet as a group to see how we can work together to keep and to promote Kirkland as a shopping destination. We know that customers will continue to shop in stores that shine with value, quality and service. We do need a range of different shops to increase the variety of offerings available. Some ideas: small lingerie store geared for women who’ve survived Breast Cancer and need special assistance, a northwest men’s clothing store geared for the developer or program manager to go to work in, a small soup and sandwich place that offers a treat for moms and kids to rest while walking etc. I’m sure there are many others.
The first meeting would discuss key areas such as:
- A calendar of events for the year so we can work cohesively to manage the effect of a hiccup such as the lack of lights in the trees in December.
- Sending letters to entrepreneurs to come and open in Kirkland that would broaden our scope of offerings
- Creating a welcome package for the guests at the two hotels in Kirkland to encourage shopping and potential giving back to the community. (Hotel 1000 in Seattle has a similar program with the local businesses)
- Assisting businesses that feel like they have to close with suggestions and potential strategy for success.
- Any other key points that would assist in the above goal.
If you would like to attend please RSVP to paula@barkz.com by Feb. 18th. If you could forward this on to anyone that you think would be interested that would be great as I do not have everyone’s email and we are minimizing costs. If you could forward this on to your neighbors and your colleagues that would be great.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Paula Heddle
Founder
Barkz the dog stop LLC
115 Lake St. S
Kirkland, WA
98033
http://www.barkz.com
425.822.0292
Posted by Admin on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 7:54 am
Filed under Retail / Shopping · Tagged with Downtown
Print This Article
Related Stories:
|
|
|
|
|
Wow, kudos to Paula Heddle for thinking out of the box and trying to organize the downtown Kirkland merchants. Working together is a great idea. Those of us who live in Kirkland, and elsewhere need to support our local businesses as much as possible to keep downtown Kirkland vital.
Thanks, Rob, for bringing this issue to the public’s attention via this blog.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If only we had some sort of a Kirkland downtown merchants organization, we could call it the KDO and they could sponsor events and flowerpots and speak for those same merchants when city hall goes deaf!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ha ha, John. Yes, there is a Kirkland Downtown Association, but let’s not fault Paula for wanting to take some action like this. KDA is in reorganization mode with the retirement of its Executive Director, DIck Beazell, and promotions manager and temp ED Julie Metteer announcing that she, too, would leave later in 2009. KDA Board members have been planning for the future of the organization. Whether Paula and others who join her meeting decide to do something on their own or join forces with KDA, it will be a step in the right direction.
The merchants who open businesses in downtown Kirkland are an independent lot. KDA has worked to focus their energy in a single direction for years with mixed results. I guess if they wanted to conform, they’d work for Boeing or Microsoft.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Great idea. I know the KDA is trying, but since they are in flux the more that can be done the better.
As a condo owner and someone who would love to shop more downtown I have a few suggestions for your meeting. Some of these have been suggested before and may be wishful thinking, but it never hurts to try.
Develop a downtown shopping welcome packet for new condo owners too. If you worked with the boards of the downtown condos or realtors they would probably be willing to help you distribute the packets to their new residents. Help get them settled into the area.
There are a lot of salons – how about focusing on a mother/daughter special
Partner more with KPC on events – do more dining/hotel/show deals
Stay open later.
Provide more delivery service – not enough restaurants in downtown deliver and it can be frustrating.
A really good deli/cheese shop or epicurean market with more spices and such.
Good luck and hopefully you can help to revitalize shopping in downtown. Thanks for your efforts.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This KDA is really a quasi events arm of the city because it gets big bucks in tax payer money which could be better spent on the Neighborhoods. Is anyone willing to justify how much the KDA got from the city budget this year?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I can easily justify the pittance the KDA received from the city.
1) Big Bucks? The city spent more on a single parks department truck.
2) Big Bucks? Eric Sheilds earned (?) 3x as much running (?) the Kirkland Planning Department.
3) Big Bucks? For what the city spent on putting planters down the middle of Central (in place of turn lanes) we could finance the KDA for several decades
4) What do you get for your tax dollars?
The Car Show
The 4th of July Parade & Picnic
The flower planters throughout downtown
Jazz Nights
T.G.I.Th.
Dock Dogs Big Air Challenge
Kirkland Wednesday Market
Kirkland UNCORKED!
Spooktacular
Downtown Tree Lighting
Herding all the cats that work downtown!
And those are just the events I can think of off the top of my noggin!
So my dear, before you start questioning how much the KDA received from the city, please compare it to the millions the city squandered on inefficient programs and incompetant people.
Businesses donate a dollar a day ($365/year) for everything the KDA does and individuals donate 23 cents ($85/year) !
THAT is what keeps the KDA running
THAT is where the financial support comes from.
THAT last sentence ended with a preposition.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
John, you are incorrect about the KDA being responsible for the 4th of July parade, picnic and fireworks. Celebrate Kirkland was founded in 1999 to produce a fabulous 4th of July celebration by Penny Sweet of the Grape Choice to benefit the citizens of Kirkland. Celebrate Kirkland’s grant funding was cut and so the Celebrate Kirkland group is planning fundraisers so we can bring the citizens of Kirkland the 4th of July parade and fireworks that they have come to expect. We look forward to your support.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
DANG! That’s the SECOND mistake I’ve made this millenium.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Unbelievable! It is this kind of uninformed and self centered attitude that has squashed the life out of downtown Kirkland. If you don’t feed or nourish anything, it will die and the downtown will do just that.
Gail’s uninformed fantasy that the KDA gets big bucks from the city and whatever they get would be better spent on the neighborhoods is foolish arrogance.
Gail, you’re a big girl, you need to investigate that on your own and when you find out just how little they get, then you need to join the KDA financially, donate your time and make a difference.
Downtown Kirkland is your living room and if you don’t like it, work on changing it. Feed it, nourish it and it will grow strong and healthy, but to think that it can do it on its own is foolish.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Gunnar thank you for your constant and continued support of Kirkland. It was a sad day when you had to leave yourself,
Megan
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yes, kudos to Paula for stepping up in this challenging time of economic uncertainty. I do hope that other retail merchants and restaurateurs will become involved and support the bigger cause here. There is a mechanism in-place to channel energy, to act as a voice for the local downtown businesses and to act as a catalyst in creating more opportunities to drive business and visitors downtown. That mechanism is the KDA. It is acknowledged that there are many business owners and operators who are frustrated with the KDA and do not participate or support KDA, for a variety of reasons.
KDA is currently in the process of significant reorganization and has recently had a strong resurgence of positive energy. I urge all concerned to let your voice be heard and to GET INVOLVED. In doing so, you can affect the outcome of the bigger picture. KDA does have resources, the support of the city, support from the LTAC and a vested interest in the vitality and vibrancy of downtown.
For the record, our business, The Heathman Hotel will take a supportive step forward by putting programs in place to help better promote the downtown businesses to our guests. We are proud of Kirkland and we will support our neighbors in downtown Kirkland. We also will continue to support KDA in every way possible.
The opportunity to bring the retailers, restaurateurs, galleries and other businesses in downtown together has never been better or more critical. Often, out of very challenging circumstances come truly remarkable accomplishments. We have a wonderful downtown and many yet to be realized opportunities ahead.
Step out, step up and GET INVOLVED.
See you on the 20th……
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Good luck. Kirkland needs a shot in the arm of new ideas.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I attended the merchant gathering today and it was very refreshing to see new faces and merchants that were all there for the same purpose. With a joint effort we can all tag off one another and make greater events happen. I am for shaking off the dust on the KDA and revitalizing the board members. We need some renewed energy. The KDA was that once and we had a thriving downtown. Downtown can come back to life with everyone working together to achive the same goal. That is: Discover Kirkland and stay for the experience! I look forward to stepping out and up and being involved!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0