Promoting Businesses in the Heart of Durango

BID manages many promotional events and activities to support Downtown and North Main District businesses.

Check back here in the near future for more 2021 promotions!

Recent promotions created by BID include:

Rewards Program

In partnership with the Durango Chamber of Commerce, BID offered two Rewards Programs to encourage local shopping during COVID-19. The first was designed to spur local holiday shopping in November and December 2020. The Holiday Rewards Program rewarded individuals who shopped local at any restaurant, retail, hotel, or attraction within La Plata County with a gift card to a local store. The promotion produced almost $120,000 in spending at local businesses. This program was sponsored by Bank of Colorado, Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center, La Plata County Economic Development Alliance, and the Town of Bayfield.

In the spring of 2021, the Spring Rewards program was launched. 237 purchases qualified for a reward. This promotion generated $115,000 in spending at Chamber and BID business. The Spring Rewards Program was sponsored by Bank of Colorado and Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center.

 

Share the Love Online Store

BID created two Online Store promotions in 2020. These online stores provided the opportunity for community to support our local businesses during COVID-19. The online store featured items from local merchants such as gift cards, products, and services. 100% of the proceeds of each sale went directly to the merchant, thanks to our sponsors Alpine Bank and Durango Motor Company for covering the credit card processing fees. 

The Spring Online Store was open in April and May 2020, when the majority of businesses were closed. 116 businesses posted items for sale, and total sales were $101,000.

The Holiday Online Store opened in November and December 2020, and allowed people who were not comfortable going into stores yet to support local businesses. It also created a one-stop shop for local shopping. This promotion produced $31,000 in sales for local businesses.

 Combined, the Rewards Programs and the Online Stores generated $367,000 in spending at local businesses.

 

Red Balloon Events

In 2019, BID created Red Balloon Events, which were Downtown celebrations filled with activities, games, shopping and more. Over 40 merchants participated by offering something fun for everyone in the family. The event included a passport program to encourage people to visit as many participating stores as possible for the chance to win fantastic prizes from local merchants. The event concluded with a red balloon drop at the Main Mall offering more prize opportunities. Two Red Balloon events were held in 2019, one in spring and one in fall.

 

Shop Local Weekends

In 2018, BID created four shop local weekends that aligned with key shopping times – Spring Break, Mother’s Day, Labor Day and the Holidays. BID created a marketing campaign that promoted offerings at Downtown and North Main District businesses – sales, deals, open houses and more.

 

Fab Fridays

In response the 416 Fire in 2018 that hurt businesses in Durango’s busy summer tourism season, BID created Fab Friday events in Downtown over three consecutive weekends in July. These block party events focused on different two block area of Downtown each Friday. Businesses offered specials, discounts, and fun activities, and BID booked entertainment and promoted the events to the public.

 

Contact Tanya Clegg, BID’s Director of Marketing and Communications, to learn more. tanyac@downtowndurango.org