Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Proper Banner Bracket Installation: Dual Banners

In many cases, Downtown Decorations, Inc. can assist you in installing your banners and hardware. However, as a general rule of thumb - it's advantageous to know a little about the process, the tools involved, and the hardware itself.

Please visit our YouTube Channel DowntownDecorations at: http://youtu.be/COg_fl80tl8 to watch a full installation video, produced by one of our expert installers. Please remember if you require additional assistance, or would simply like to bounce some ideas off of some expert ears, do not hesitate to contact us at: 1.877.369.6332 or email at: info@downtowndecorations.com

Monday, August 29, 2011

Lighting Choices – You be the judge: Color vs. Cool whites vs. Warm whites


I am sure that we can all recall the Christmases and holidays of yesteryear, filled with warm memories, laughs, some tears, and well, of course – tons of sparkling, shining, and gleaming decorations and lighting. While up until a decade ago – the only option on the market was energy sapping incandescence bulbs. The next question was – what do you prefer – white lights or colored? The white we are referring to here has that very familiar golden yellow color glow.
Colleagues and families have been known to have heated, and long term debates that carry on for generations – you usually maintain only one school of thought. However, with the advent of LED’s and their quickly growing popularity the options for Christmas lighting have grown again. The options for white lighting have grown. Customers now have the options of warm white, or cool white lighting. The “cool whites” are referred to as such due to the bluish hue that appears “cool.” It is important to note that there is a MAJOR difference in the “cool whites” of today, and those of just a few years ago. Technology continues to evolve rapidly and so have the lights. What was a distinctly blue hue a few years ago, has changed dramatically to a much more “clear white” color. This cool white option has become incredibly popular within the past few years as towns, cities, retail centers, offices, and building managers prefer there chic, contemporary appearance.
So, not only must one decide incandescent vs. LED, one must also decide on lighting color/style. Perhaps, the popularity of cool whites has risen due to the popularity of LED’s in general. They reduce energy expenditures by 85% and illuminate for over 50,000 hours! To see all of our lighting options please view: http://www.downtowndecorations.com/Products/CommercialChristmasLights
So, I leave you with the question:  What do you and your colleagues prefer for commercial decoration – remember there is no “wrong” answer? Is there a difference in what you prefer for your business venue vs. what you prefer at home?

http://www.downtowndecorations.com/Products/CommercialChristmasLights
www.downtowndecorations.com

Improving your holiday visitor experience: Decorate

Snowflakes, Christmas trees and reds and greens may have taken over the New Haven downtown area, but city promoters say it would be a mistake to confuse the Elm City with the typical suburban mall experience.

Community organizations, stores and city promoters have come together this season to offer visitors a slew of events ranging from a holiday window-decoration contest to “Hung by the Chimney,” a concert by the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus. Promoters said they have seen a rise in attendance from previous years, but whether the increased tourism will translate into successful sales for stores in a season of economic downturn remains to be seen.

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The window of Paul Richards is bedecked with holiday decorations. Retailers and city officials have put together a series of seasonal events to support downtown businesses.“It’s not just about spending money,” Town Green Special Services District Assistant Director Daisy Abreu said. “We’ve created a festival atmosphere, so people and families want to come and enjoy the things we’re offering.”

New Haven offers a unique alternative to shopping malls because of its great wealth of restaurants, unique shops and theaters, Abreu said. Over 130 restaurants are situated within walking distance of the Green, Abreu said, and since 2002, over 100 new businesses have entered the downtown area. The University’s museums, the Knights of Columbus Museum and the city’s theaters also contribute to this cultural wealth, Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau President Ginny Kozlowski said.

Every Thursday, stores and museums plan to hold late hours, Abreu said, and every week the holiday festivities will highlight one shopping district. This week, the Chapel and College street shopping area plans to feature a Santa and a toy drive, and this Thursday the Yale Gospel Choir is set to tour the area in the city’s electric trolley while singing carols. Meanwhile, visitors can indulge in free popcorn, peanuts and cider.

“All of us are working to really get this off the ground, to get people to not go to the malls as much and to really enjoy the experience of a town of this size culturally and dining-wise and the eclectic shopping that’s here,” Abreu said.

Kozlowski said she views New Haven’s holiday celebration as the culmination of the many seasonal events that New Haven hosts during the year, such as the International Festival of Arts & Ideas and the Music on the Green concert series. The filming of Indiana Jones this summer in New Haven — which drew hundreds of onlookers and fans — may also have inspired people from out of town to revise their impressions of the city, she said.

“A lot of people … came down who probably hadn’t been down in a number of years and saw what had transpired in the downtown areas — the number of shops that are open and the number of restaurants that are open — and people became excited and engaged,” Kozlowski said.
For now, stores are sitting tight and watching the holiday crowds filter in. But while Urban Objects store owner Karen Conlin said she and other local merchants are concerned that this year’s consumers are pickier than in the past, she said she is holding out for the last week and a half before Christmas, when she generated the most revenue last year.

Atticus Book Store Cafe General Manager Jean Recapet said New Haven has often been insulated from national economic downturns. The cafe has seen an increase in sales compared to last year, which he partly attributed to the Yale Repertory Theatre productions down the street.
“You know, I’ve been in New Haven a long time … New Haven is a microclimate when it comes to the economy,” he said. “I don’t want to say we’re Teflon, [but] the downtown area has always been a very vibrant and resilient area for retailers — through the years we’ve been fairly unaffected by the economy.”

Abreu said while the holiday program grows every year, there is still room for more students and out-of-town residents to engage in the city and work past their assumptions. For example, she said, people from out-of-town may be deterred from coming to the city on the assumption that parking will be difficult, dangerous or expensive. The issue is a matter of perception, Abreu said, since the city has plenty of street garages that are open well into the night.

The Town Green Special Services District is also working to promote the city’s festivities to Yale students, Abreu said, but she is unsure how successful those efforts have been. Final exams and reading period distract students from enjoying the festivities, but increased student participation would be achievable if students could have a better sense of New Haven events through a “more open line of communication,” Abreu said.

But when it comes to visitors from around the nation and the world, Kozlowski said plenty are starting to realize all that the city has to offer.

“When people come here and experience the city, they like what they find,” Kozlowski said. “You can go out and walk a couple blocks and be at a world-class museum or art gallery, you have access to the cultural assets that Yale has … we’re small enough, but we’re a city, and people can have a big-city experience without having to go to a big city.”

-Kristin Heintz contributed reporting.
http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2007/dec/06/city-businesses-rely-on-holidays-to-boost-sales/#

Friday, August 26, 2011

Fall/Winter Banners

Now is the time to begin thinking about Fall/Autumn as well as Winter banners. Orders have been flying in throughout the past two weeks as our clients prepare their fall/winter décor. It’s hard to believe the summer has already come to a close and the kids are returning to school! Contact one of our account executives and ask them to see some exciting examples of Fall and Winter banners.

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The Holidays are on the Way!


Greetings! As the holidays approach the question often pops up to members of our staff – do you still enjoy the Christmas season? The ubiquitous answer is YES! Everyone at Downtown Decoration’s loves Christmas and the holiday season – we often have Christmas music playing year round and it’s not odd to see a plate of delicious frosted Christmas cookies on the counter during the middle of July…What does your office do to celebrate the season?

New Company Blog!

Thank you for taking time to read and review our blog! We have recently opened up a blog area for our site as a way to reach out to our clients and prospective clients with yet another form of media. We already have had an overwhelming positive response and we attribute this due to current popularity of social media and interaction, and the fact that everyone wants to see some “behind the scenes” action. Our blog will allow not only members of executive management, but also our staff as a whole to post interesting articles, words of wisdom, and pictures/renderings from some of our favorite projects and products. We will keep the blog continually updated so please visit us frequently! Also, please feel free to read, comment, and “add your own two cents” – we love hearing from you!

This is a test post for the new company blog. Let us know what you think!