Holiday Season on Their Minds Already

The 2011 holiday season is not far from the minds of members of the Barrington Business Association. It occupied most of the 90-minute monthly meeting held Tuesday evening.

A sidewalk sale in September, which could kick off a holiday promotion, took up most of the rest of the meeting at the Avessa Salon and Day Spa on Maple Avenue.

Agreeing on a logo for the group got some attention as well.

Developing some type of promotion or event that entices customers to shop in as many stores as possible during the months preceding the holidays was trotted out early in the meeting by Holly Smith of Hollies on the Avenue. She has been acting as the head of the association, which has held four meetings to date.

Smith suggested a promotion that includes “a passport” that could be handed out to shoppers as early as the Sept. 23 sidewalk sales and then used to visit all of “the town’s worlds” -- the town's spread-out shopping areas -- over the next couple of months.

Linking a prize or a reward of some sort for the person who did the most traveling to Barrington’s stores and shops was suggested.

Lois Copplino of Daisy Dig’ins said she absolutely believes that any event would be enhanced by sleigh rides for children and a trolley to cart people around. Sleigh rides have been used successfully before, she said

“The kids love the sleigh and the trolley can take people around,” she said.

In the past, a bank or two in Barrington helped to sponsor similar promotions, she said. Reaching out to bankers again will be explored.

The two dozen BBA members at the meeting agreed that any special holiday event should be linked in some way to the annual tree-lighting ceremony at Town Hall. Individual merchants could opt to bring in carolers or other musical performers to draw shoppers all around town before and after the illumination of the tree.

The date for the sidewalk sale is Sept. 23. It will be held in conjunction with the annual Rubber Ducky Race.

Several logos were presented for review. Two of the three were combined to come up with a logo that seemed to satisfy the members at the meeting.

Smith also said the association should consider ways to use the rigs that will be attached to some County Road lampposts for banners to promote the national women’s amateur golf tournament being hosted by the Rhode Island Country Club in August.

The rigs will be left behind, she said. Persuading the Town Council to allow the association to use those rigs for promotional events will be considered.

The BBA will meet next on July 13, a Wednesday, at 7 pm at Webster Bank on County Road.