New Richmond Hill BIA board has fresh ideas to bring shoppers downtown
Promotional video, street signs among strategies
Yorkreigon.com
May 25, 2015
By Marney Beck
The Village of Richmond Hill BIA has a new board and aims to promote downtown businesses using fresh new strategies.
The BIA (Business Improvement Area) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the economic and social well-being of the historic village of Richmond Hill, representing 250 businesses in the downtown core, along Yonge Street from Major Mackenzie Drive to Benson Avenue.
New board chairperson, Mehrdad Sabouhi, said in a letter to media “Our purpose is to reshape the BIA district and incorporate innovative strategies to improve, beautify and attract shoppers to the exceptional services offered in the BIA area. I am pleased to announce that with a new BIA board, we are in the process of turning these ideas into reality.”
One idea and marketing strategy the group is backing is a commercial video promoting the downtown businesses, made with support from the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts and to be shown to patrons before the start of any shows at the theatre.
An online business directory on the BIA website - www.villageofrichmondhill.ca - will promote all businesses to shoppers. A new BIA website will include the optimization of all BIA businesses on Richmond Hill’s search engine.
In addition, two new streets signs will promote the BIA’s new marketing strategies for businesses.
The new board, under vice chairperson Dr. Farid Kakavand, treasurer Ali Vakili and secretary Elham Moaveni, also plans to create new events to bring foot traffic to the village core.
The board of directors includes Opal Rowe, Catherine Chambers, Sara Nejad, Farah Aghajani and Farhad Abbaszadeh. Town councillors David West and Tom Muench provide advice and encouragement, as the BIA is parts of both Wards 4 and 2.
