1. Cross-promote businesses. Get to know businesses in your area. When you get to know other business owners, you are able to expand through each other’s customer base. “During the First Saturday in Old Kapa‘a Town, I take an hour
1. Cross-promote businesses. Get to know businesses in your area. When you get to know other business owners, you are able to expand through each other’s customer base. “During the First Saturday in Old Kapa‘a Town, I take an hour and walk through the town and see what’s going on and see what other businesses are carrying,” said Maile Bloxsom of Vicky’s Fabrics. “I find myself much more able to talk about what the other stores are carrying and send people to them.”
2. Host events and invite local musicians to play or artists to exhibit their work. Fely Sams, owner of Orchid Alley, found she got more foot traffic during The First Saturday in Kapa‘a Old Town when she invited a band with a following to play in her venue.
3. Get to know your local business association. As local business owners in Downtown Kapa‘a started re-branding their area as a dining and shopping destination, they started talking with Chris Dorland of the Kapa‘a Business Association to discuss planning annual events that would promote the town and its businesses.
