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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Campaign urges Winnipeggers to 'Do Downtown'

By: Geoff Kirbyson

26/08/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 21

The Downtown BIZ has launched a campaign to entice people to visit pubs, restaurants and shops as part of an evening out.

MIKE.DEAL@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

The Downtown BIZ has launched a campaign to entice people to visit pubs, restaurants and shops as part of an evening out.

The Downtown Business Improvement Zone has launched its first marketing campaign in three years to lure Winnipeggers to the city's core, asking them to "Do Downtown".

The tag line adorns billboards, posters and magazine ads where happy people are shown in various downtown locales, such as restaurants, pubs and shops.

The goal, according to Nisha Tuli, manager of marketing and communications for the Downtown BIZ, is to convince people who never come downtown to give it a chance and those who work within a few blocks of Portage and Main to hang around after hours.

"We'd like people to make a night of coming downtown. If you have theatre tickets, come downtown and have dinner before the show. Then maybe meet some friends for a drink afterwards," she said.

Tuli said it's not that downtown Winnipeg has morphed back into the ghost town of decades past but instead, that the need for this type of marketing campaign will never end.

"Visits to downtown are up, they're going up all the time. It's an ongoing thing to develop downtown. We always want more and more people to create a vibrant downtown," she said.

Tuli said the tag line is a play on the popular expression "let's do lunch."

It's about doing downtown to the fullest and doing it right," Tuli said.

She and Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown Biz, denied the campaign had any sexual undertones.

Grande said he could see how some people could misread the intent but he stressed the Downtown Biz has no X-rated mandate.

"It's more meant to remind people that there are wonderful things to do downtown. Nike says "just do it." "Do Winnipeg" definitely connects with the demographic we're wanting to attract downtown. I can tell you unequivocally, the sexual side of things isn't something we even thought of," he said.

One local marketing expert gives the campaign a thumbs up. Rob Warren, I.H. Asper executive director for entrepreneurship at the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Manitoba, said he believes the missive counters some of downtown's negative stereotypes.

"Most people don't necessarily think of downtown Winnipeg when they think of a classy evening. They think of (seedy) hotels and bars. The fact the billboards show people dressed up for an evening out says a lot about the message the BIZ is trying to convey," he said.

Warren said he can see the double entendre with the slogan but doesn't think it was done on purpose.

"If they had racier photos of people in bars, maybe. I think it's more of a take off of the old Nike 'just do it' campaign," he said.

Grande said the last thing the Downtown Biz's 1,400 members want to see is people parachuting in for their event, such as a Manitoba Moose or Winnipeg Goldeyes game, and heading back to the suburbs immediately afterwards.

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 26, 2009 B3

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21 Commentscomment icon

"Yes, I will Do Downtown. Once my injuries are healed from the beating I got from the small gang who 'asked' for my wallet. And, if I don't get jumped when parking the car."

I call EDITED.

The media would have put that on front page even though there were 48 other beating in the city that day not in the downtown, LOL

avatar

I love downtown Winnipeg.. even though it scares the crap out of me sometimes it doesn't stop me from going. What I wonder is what posseses people to break random stuff all the time. Everyday I go to work and something is broken, a bus bench, a bus shelter.. like what is wrong with these bums!

Joe: Just go away? Real mature.

Most of the issues the downtown is facing have nothing to do with the mandate of the BIZ. Poverty, mental illness, addictions, criminals, obsolete buildings. These are huge problems and the real obstacles to growth and economic development.

It does seem that the BIZ is not only keeping the issues alive but they are who they are suppose to be downtown boosters, and then some.

The campaign is okay. I like it.

Its time other groups and government departments step up to the plate.

And I agree, if it were not for all the cleaning the BIZ does the place would look like EDITED.

And don't get me started about the lack of police presence. If it were not for the presence of the Watch who arrest intoxicated I shutter to think what would happen.

Why are people so negative about the downtown? Surely there is one reason why each Winnipegger will come downtown.

If not, I say to you, just go away. You cannot add anything positive to the discussion. And I feel sorry for you.

d0ubLes...you are a bright young person.
Well said.
So much negativity on here.
I agree..affordable mid ranged safe apartments will make our city centre prosper

I am not worried about people asking for cigarettes or money, say no or ignore them and continue on your way. I used to think downtown was dangerous until I had to drive through the North End everyday. Downtown is really not that bad. I would love to live downtown if there were ok apartments to rent, with balconys, affordable for us who make just over minimum wage.
I don't hang downtown because I don't drive and hate taking the bus as it is. If I LIVED down there I would live it up. Build nice places to live and maybe you'll get some nice people down there.

To Anonymous: Corydon is far from safe.
Bikers, innebriated souls and trouble makers are there as well.
Lets we forget the bar torched recently there, illegal gambling, plus more and muggings on nearby streets?
Many incidents take place in suburbia as well.
There have been carjackings in St Vital, Trancscona and Garden City as well as other districts.
The Downtown still has the classiest places for fine dining regardless.

Yes, I will Do Downtown. Once my injuries are healed from the beating I got from the small gang who 'asked' for my wallet. And, if I don't get jumped when parking the car.

Tourists? I thought this was targeted to us Winnipeggers! I understand the tourists will all be going to the Human Rights Museum, not to downtown restaurants.

Tourists want a vibrant central core. They do not typically travel to a city to hang out in the suburbs!

Corydon is a linear restaurant and not much else.

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