What Has the Downtown Retailers Focus Group Done Since Being Formed?

It has been said that "necessity is the mother of invention", and with that in mind the Downtown Retailers Focus Group was formed in September 2008.

This is a group of concerned, motivated, dedicated business owners and workers in the historic area of Martinez who came together with specific goals in mind: 

1. To bring business to downtown Martinez and

2.  To provide economic support for identified non-profit organizations in Martinez.

Meetings are focused, to the point, and extremely productive and are only open to downtown merchants. The group is focused on positive results and it is amazing what these business people, with no officers, no dues, no hidden agendas and no funding from the city or anyone else have been able to accomplish. Meetings have been attended by as many as twenty people with common interests and goals. Events and promotions are discussed and decisions reached by consensus. The common thread is experienced by all: a need for dealing with real issues, a need for outstanding communication, and a need to plan and implement an event in a timely manner.

This group is not associated with Main Street Martinez or the Chamber of Commerce, although many participants belong to one, or both, of these organizations. This group has demonstrated the qualities of true entrepreneurship and is not afraid to take the necessary steps to achieve success.

Why does it work? Because there are no hidden agendas and everyone has the same goals. We have been the driving force in the implementation of several on-going merchant, as well as customer, issues. Issues such s skateboarders in the plaza, running into customers and employees, as well as defacing the cement risers was addressed; complaints had long been voiced regarding the lack of street sweeping in the historic district due to vehicles parked along the street during early morning sweeping hours; addressing the complaints of many regarding the smoking in front of stores, cigarette butts littering the sidewalks, gutters, and plaza were added to the already many complaints regarding smoking resulted in the City Council taking the lead, doing the right thing, and implementing a city wide "no smoking" ordinance, the first city in Contra Costa County to do so.

Each year we have organized and implemented a gift drive of needed items for the children who were at the Juvenile Hall in Martinez during the Christmas holidays. Customers and merchants donated items at various locations in the historic district and also spent time shopping downtown. Van loads were gladly accepted by the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary for the kids. Our "Earlier than the Bird" sales these past several years were outstanding, fun, and successful sales blitzes which we planned and organized just before Thanksgiving. Stores opened at 7 a.m. with people coming in to shop in their pajamas. It was quite a sight to see people having great fun and getting great deals with the many sales that were offered. Some shoppes reported people waiting at the door at 6:55 a.m. We also organized "Crack of Dawn Sales" for the Friday after Thanksgiving for the past several years, where stores were open at 7AM for shoppers. Brisk business was reported between 7 a.m. and normal opening times. Our "Midnight Madness Sales" in December were convenient and fun for those late Christmas shoppers where stores were open from 9 p.m. until midnight. Many people took advantage of these hours to shop.

The following fundraisers were accomplished:  February 2009 - Fundraiser for Martinez Early Childhood Center - Raised $1,160; March 2009 - Fundraiser for Martinez Opera - Raised $920; April 2009 - Fundraiser for Martinez Gazette Editor Sam Li-Ron - Raised $1,525; December 2009 - Fundraiser for Boys and Girls Club - Raised $1,240; February 2010 - Fundraiser for Martinez Early Childhood Center - Raised $1,108; June 2010 - Fundraiser for Martinez Soroptimist Club - Raised $1,334; December 2010 - Fundraiser for Martinez Early Childhood Center - Raised $1,048February 2011- Fundraiser for Martinez Early Childhood Center - Raised $1,425; July 2011 - Fundraiser in process for Martinez Soroptimist Club. 

All of this has been done by mechants who are working each day to make a living, keeping their doors open, donating their time to help local non-profit organizations and trying to make Martinez a better place for all of us.