|
|
 |
Upcoming Events
|
For a complete calendar of events, click HERE. |
|
|
Community Links
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| i |
|
We will be building an archive of the last 8 issues of Main Street Matters. Just click on the date to view.
|
What is the New Dunkin Donuts brand called?
|
|
 Find out what Matters in Rochester...
Welcome to Rochester Main Street's weekly e-mail update. This newsletter contains information with downtown happenings and upcoming events.
If you are a business or non-profit in our community that would like to contribute to this weekly update, please contact Mike Provost at director@rochestermainstreet.org
|
|
|
September 23, 2010
Dear Neighbor,
Downtown Rochester! Just the place to get that home-town feeling while you do your shopping, or dining, or if you have to take care of other business!
We are a full-service downtown - banks and credit unions - retail shops - studios - restaurants - live theater - Real Estate - professional services...everything you might need is all within our downtown.
An active Nationally Certified Main Street Program promotes and serves all downtown businesses. Rochester Main Street is working for you.
|
|
|
Question of the Week Contest!
This week's question:
What is the new Dunkin Donuts brand called?
Find the answer to the weekly question in this newsletter! Simply email the correct answer to director@rochestermainstreet.org. A weekly winner will be drawn from all correct answers and will be qualified for our quarterly drawing. The quarterly drawing winner will receive new Rochester Main Street Gift Certificates, valued at $50. These certificates can be redeemed at participating Rochester businesses! Entries must be received no later than the Monday following the date of the Main Street Matters newsletter. Weekly winners will be announced in each subsequent Main Street Matters and the first quarterly winner will be drawn on Wednesday, June 30th. |
Congratulations Angie Gray!
Angie Gray, an employee from the City of Rochester was the winner of last week's subject line question in the Main Street Matters email. She correctly answered that the Zombie Walk on October 29th will take place at 7:00pm. Her name will now be entered into a quarterly drawing for $50 in Rochester Gift Certificates! Don't miss out your chance to enter...just answer the question (answer found in the Main Street Matters articles) and email us for a chance to win! |
|
|
|
HELP! (or our Scarecrows will be Nekkid!)
Black clothing needed!!!
The new volunteer project of the PR/Events committee is called "Scarecrows of the Cocheco". Their goal is to create and display 30 Tim Burton-esque scarecrows around downtown for the month of October, until November 8 after the NH Open Doors Event. In order to do this, we need donations of long sleeved black shirts, blouses, pants and dresses. Adult small and medium are preferred, but any size will do, otherwise...the scarecrows will be very sticklike...and, as one of our volunteers so nicely stated "there is nothing more pathetic than a nekkid scarecrow!". Just drop off donations at Jetpack Comics on North Main Street or the Portable Pantry on Hanson Street. Wire coat hangers are also needed. Thanks for all you do to help!
|
Horribles Parade/Trick or Treat on the Town/Zombie Walk all set for Friday, October 29th
Volunteer planners are working on a special event for Friday, October 29: Children's Horribles Parade/Trick Or Treat on the Town, 4:15 to 6:15 pm, meet at Union Street Parking Lot for treat bags and maps, Children 10 and under with parent please. Zombie Walk (adult costume parade), meet at 7:00pm (groups please pre-register) in Union Street Parking Lot to proceed to Common for a small bonfire, cider & donuts, and of course...brains! Volunteers are needed - please contact Rochester Main Street at 603-330-3208 or email director@rochestermainstreet.org for more information or to volunteer.
|
|
OctoberFest Needs Volunteers and Booths! It's coming up fast on October 9th
Main Street volunteers are seeking help for Saturday, October 9th for the second annual OctoberFest. Volunteers are needed to help set up, for traffic control, staffing booths, facepainting, popcorn sales, running games and breaking down the event. If you have a couple of hours to spare, please contact the office at 603-330-3208 or email director@rochestermainstreet.org.
A new addition this year is an Apple and Pumpkin Pie Contest. Who in Rochester has the best apple and pumpkin pie? There is no charge to enter. Participants should bring their entries to the pie booth on Hanson Street no later than 11:00 am on Saturday, October 9th. Judging will take place at high noon! Medals will be awarded for the Best Pies!
|
South Main Street Dunkin Donuts to Remodel! Closed Sept. 25 - October 1st
Regina Wentworth-Mondoux, Director of Franchise/Operations at the South Main Street Dunkin Donuts advises that the store will be closed for renovations to update to the new Dunkin Brand called "2015", much like the new store in Gonic. Scheduled for closing on Saturday, September 25, the remodeling should be completed for Friday, October 1. When all is complete, there will be a new fresh look inside and an updated look on South Main Street. Congratulations and we look forward to seeing the new look! |
|
|
|
Retail Opportunity! "NH Opens Doors" Shopping Event Readied for Rochester
November 6 - 7, What Will You Do?
More than 150 New Hampshire businesses, artists and retail stores will open their doors the first weekend of November as part of NH Open Doors, a statewide shopping and touring event designed to showcase all the state's unique offerings. The event, to be held Nov. 6-7, will feature the work of artists, craftspeople and cultural organizations, as well as retail shops, art galleries, restaurants, wineries, lodging establishments and local businesses. The self-guided tour can be mapped out on the NH Open Doors Web site, nhopendoors.com, which has an interactive map that lists participants by region, with detailed descriptions of each participant's offering and driving directions. Rochester Main Street is purchasing an umbrella membership which will allow us to list your business on the website and provide access to postcards for mailing to your customers and the google mapping. In return, you MUST be open on Saturday and Sunday, November 6 & 7 for this event. This is a cooperative marketing event for downtown Rochester. Please contact the office directly at 603-330-3208 or email director@rochestermainstreet.org if you are interested in participating.
Participants will host special events, including craft workshops and demonstrations, hayrides, food samplings, menus featuring local foods, musical performances, lodging packages and more. Hundreds of visitors from New Hampshire and New England attended last year. "It's just after leaf-peeping season and it's a good opportunity for people to get a jump-start on their holiday shopping," says Carol Fusaro, a marketing consultant for the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen and New Hampshire Made, who are co-hosting the event. "The great thing about NH Open Doors is that it gives people an opportunity to connect with and purchase directly from farmers, producers and artists," said Diane Souther, owner of Apple Hill Farm in Concord and Open Doors participant. "Our visitors told us how much they enjoyed exploring the back roads and neighborhoods of New Hampshire." |
|
|
|
Barbara Wold's Consumer Tips for Fall-Everything Counts!!
The sales and customer service experience begins when a customer picks up the phone or walks in the door. Customers scrutinize how they are treated after the sale as much as they evaluate a business while making the decision to buy. They are closely watching how every situation is handled, especially the difficult ones. Remember: Everything counts when it comes to a customer's loyalty.
There are four specific things that customers say they will never forget about when doing business.
1. Customers do not forget attitudes. Each member of the team is an extension of the sales and customer service experience.
2. Customers do not forget promises. Business is based on trust. When a business looses a customer's trust, there is really no basis for continuing the business relationship.
3. Customers do not forget how a business handles issues or misunderstandings. When customers have an issue or misunderstanding, more than any other time, a business has the opportunity to develop a bonded relationship.
4. Customers do not forget what happens after the sale. The best marketing tool available to a business is the customer's satisfaction after the sale. A business can set itself apart by being an after-the-sale champion.
Customers will become loyal if the sales and customer service team develops a "no matter what it takes" attitude, keeps its promises, quickly addresses issues, and takes care of them after the sale. If a business does all these things, customers will be glad to come back for more! Remember: Everything counts! |
|
Construction Advisory: Week Sept. 20-24, 2010
Unitil Wraps Up Work: Sidewalk Construction to Begin
Below is a look at work expected to take place at the North Main Street Bridge rehabilitation work site this week.
· Unitil's natural gas distribution division wrapped up its work at the North Main Street Bridge construction site on Monday, September 20. The crew was on the site for a little more than a week moving a gas line from the downstream sidewalk to a new location in the upstream roadbed away from electric and phone lines. The work was completed four days early.
· Now the Unitil crew has left the site, a crew from S.U.R. Construction will grade the upstream side of the bridge.
· When the grading work is done, a crew from Wyman & Simpson will begin to build a new sidewalk on the upstream side of the bridge. They will move sidewalk forms and rebar into place in preparation for pouring the concrete sidewalk.
· Masons are nearing completion of work on the underside of span 3, where they are grinding out the old mortar and repointing the brick arches.
For more information about the bridge rehabilitation project, visit the Rochester Public Works Department bridge web site. |
|
IRS Changing Federal Tax Deposit Regulations for Individuals/Small Businesses - No Paper Coupons
The IRS has recently issued proposed regulations that will eliminate the rules for making federal tax deposits by paper coupon. The paper coupon system will no longer be maintained by the Treasury Department after Dec. 31, 2010. The proposed regulations generally maintain existing rules for depositing federal taxes through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).
Using EFTPS to make federal tax deposits provides substantial benefits to both taxpayers and the government. EFTPS users can make tax payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week from home or the office. Deposits can be made online with a computer or by telephone. EFTPS also significantly reduces payment-related errors that could result in a penalty. The system helps taxpayers schedule dates to make payments even when they are out of town or on vacation when a payment is due. EFTPS business users can schedule payments up to 120 days in advance of the desired payment date. Some businesses paying a minimal amount of tax may make their payments with the related tax return, instead of using EFTPS. More details regarding taxes required to be deposited using EFTPS, dollar thresholds and other specific requirements are in the proposed regulations (REG 153340-09). Information on EFTPS, including how to enroll, can be found at www.eftps.gov or by calling EFTPS Customer Service at 1-800-555-4477. |
Rochester Main Street Downtown Calendar
Thursday, September 23 - Rochester Farmer's Market, 3-6 PM, Foster's Parking Lot
Saturday, September 25 - Rochester Business Open House, 10-2, Meet at Roberge Center
Tuesday, September 28 - Rochester Farmer's Market, 3-6 PM, Foster's Parking Lot
Thursday, September 30 - Rochester Farmer's Market, 3-6 PM, Foster's Parking Lot
Saturday, October 9 - OctoberFest, Hanson Street, Central Square and Factory Court, 10-2
Saturday, October 15-31 - The Spaulding Psychiatric Asylum, Haunted House at Governor's Inn, 6:00pm
Saturday, October 16 - "Out of the Darkness" Walk, Hanson Pines, 8-11 AM
October 21-23, 29-31 - "Dracula" at Rochester Opera House, Special Midnight Show on October 30
Friday, October 29 - Horribles Parade/Trick or Treat On The Town, 4:15-6:15 pm ( under 10)
Zombie Walk (teen & adult parade) 7:00 pm, Union Street Lot to Commons
|
|
|
|
If you have any questions regarding the content of this newsletter or any upcoming events, please contact Mike Provost at (603) 330-3208 or director@rochestermainstreet.org
Sincerely,
Rochester Main Street
603-330-3208
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rochester Main Street | 18 South Main Street | Rochester | NH | 03867
|
|
|
