Lyn's note: Please feel free to send us any pictures you'd like included. If your photos are for sale, let us know and we will put them under that category. We have a special section for that purpose. If anyone would like to buy a print of any of Herbert's photos, all profits will be donated to one of the local non-profit organizations. Here is the link to this week's Pictures of the Week.
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-12218.html
http://carefreeazbusinesses.com/pictures-of-the-week-12218.html
A mural being painted in Thailand
Photo by Don Cassanova
Here is your bonus round from Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/11718-roadrunner.html
Photo by Don Cassanova
Here is your bonus round from Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/11718-roadrunner.html
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
http://www.carefree.org/336/IN-THE-NEWS
CITYSunTimes link:
http://news.citysuntimes.com/
Lyn, I am doing everything I can to help market and promote our wonderful town. One way, was bringing the Foothills Trolley to both Carefree and Cave Creek through a public-private partnership with both towns and our business community. With the exception to the Thunderbird Festival, Carefree has virtually no events currently planned for January – May, our high tourist season. While the trolley is not the only solution to attracting consistent visitors to our community, it’s another potential tool in our marketing tool chest, but only if we embrace it and promote it to the rest of the Valley.
Some exciting things are now happening around the trolley. Our local high school, Cactus Shadows music department (Rock the District) will soon have students performing live music on the trolley, it’s called “Music in Motion” and Johnny Ringo in Cave Creek is organizing to have a volunteer ride the trolley as a tour guide and talk about the restaurants, shopping areas and history of both Cave Creek and Carefree through his initiative “Info on Wheels.” I’m working on creating other events around the trolley to make it fun and unique, so it becomes an attraction unto itself for shoppers and tourists. The trolley is a very inexpensive opportunity to promote Carefree and expose our retail and restaurant merchants every weekend for five months during our highest season. There is vast support from a great majority within our community for the trolley, as both a public service to our citizens and attraction to others to visit us.
Again, if my analogy to a mini-San Francisco was over the top, I apologize. My reference had to do with how the trolley can be branded and identified with Carefree just as it is in San Francisco. Carefree is capable of that same type of branding opportunity as another attraction (upon many) if we embrace it and find ways to make it better and allow visitors and tourists to discover the hidden gems within our town core.
Nevertheless, I welcome ideas and criticism regarding the trolley and other Carefree events held in town. By the way, Councilman Micheal Krahe actually apologized to me after the council meeting for his comments, and that was nice.
Thank you,
Michael E. Farrar
Town Council - Carefree
Great pictures!
Gene Orrico
The Italian/American Club held its January meeting at Alberto Ristorante. Here is the link to some photos taken by Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/11818-january-meeting-of-the-italianamerican-club-at-alberto-ristorante.html
Town of Carefree Marketing newsletter
http://www.carefree.org/336/IN-THE-NEWS
CITYSunTimes link:
http://news.citysuntimes.com/
Lyn, I am doing everything I can to help market and promote our wonderful town. One way, was bringing the Foothills Trolley to both Carefree and Cave Creek through a public-private partnership with both towns and our business community. With the exception to the Thunderbird Festival, Carefree has virtually no events currently planned for January – May, our high tourist season. While the trolley is not the only solution to attracting consistent visitors to our community, it’s another potential tool in our marketing tool chest, but only if we embrace it and promote it to the rest of the Valley.
Some exciting things are now happening around the trolley. Our local high school, Cactus Shadows music department (Rock the District) will soon have students performing live music on the trolley, it’s called “Music in Motion” and Johnny Ringo in Cave Creek is organizing to have a volunteer ride the trolley as a tour guide and talk about the restaurants, shopping areas and history of both Cave Creek and Carefree through his initiative “Info on Wheels.” I’m working on creating other events around the trolley to make it fun and unique, so it becomes an attraction unto itself for shoppers and tourists. The trolley is a very inexpensive opportunity to promote Carefree and expose our retail and restaurant merchants every weekend for five months during our highest season. There is vast support from a great majority within our community for the trolley, as both a public service to our citizens and attraction to others to visit us.
Again, if my analogy to a mini-San Francisco was over the top, I apologize. My reference had to do with how the trolley can be branded and identified with Carefree just as it is in San Francisco. Carefree is capable of that same type of branding opportunity as another attraction (upon many) if we embrace it and find ways to make it better and allow visitors and tourists to discover the hidden gems within our town core.
Nevertheless, I welcome ideas and criticism regarding the trolley and other Carefree events held in town. By the way, Councilman Micheal Krahe actually apologized to me after the council meeting for his comments, and that was nice.
Thank you,
Michael E. Farrar
Town Council - Carefree
Great pictures!
Gene Orrico
The Italian/American Club held its January meeting at Alberto Ristorante. Here is the link to some photos taken by Herbert.
http://aneyeonyouproduction.com/11818-january-meeting-of-the-italianamerican-club-at-alberto-ristorante.html
Thank you Lyn & Herb, these are great!
Mike Farrar
Great Job as usual, Herb & Lyn. You guys are the best. A BIG THANK YOU for all you do.
Geno 👍😁👁
Interesting read. However what is missing from this report is the return on investment to the merchants located in the immediate vicinity during the festival and long term not just in terms of increased awareness but actual increase in sales.
John Nimsky
(Lyn's note: I passed John's question on to Gary Neiss. Below is his response.)
Many of our restaurants have reported to the town as well as numerous businesses that they have significant increases in business due to the consistent consumer traffic into the town center during these events. Additionally, one of the most significant contributors to the town's tax base, the Carefree Resort, has new owners and is currently being re-positioned into a world class health and wellness spa. This new owner was drawn to Carefree as a result of our unique events. The Basha's successful remodel is another such example of a key economic contributor to the town. Johnny Basha has attributed his desire to stay and reinvest in the Carefree store as a result of our unique events. In fact he believes in the pumpkin festival so much he brings one of his signature refrigerator trucks to keep pumpkins fresh and donates hundreds of pumpkins annually. So yes, the town has and continues to see positive economic impacts from events such as the pumpkin festival.
Gary Neiss
Hi Lyn,
Thanks for the followup. With all due respect to Gary, he did not answer my question. Having spent 50 plus years as a business owner, marketing executive and consultant, It is clear to me that a financial commitment such as the purchase of the Carefree resort is based on factors other than an occasional festival. The Basha remodel was based in part on a Basha long range Internal business plan that called for remodeling of various Basha stores for competitive reasons much like Safeway and Fry food stores have business plans that call for store remodeling over time. And the Basha Family has been a good corporate citizen in various parts of the valley since the late 50”s so his support of Carefree community activities is not unusual. Finally, on special event days, with respect to restaurant activities, much of the food purchases are with the vendors and food trucks most of which are not Carefree merchants. Yes, the few restaurants in town are busy during those times but my experience is that during the winter season they are busy irrespective of special event activities. ( I base this last comment on personal experience since my wife and I have been regular visitors to Carefree since the mid 60’s and as residents of Carefree since 1994.
The return on investment of marketing dollars is generally measured in terms of long term business sustainability and trend, not as an immediate reaction to a particular event. I suspect that the town administration has not performed any type of ROI analysis on the marketing budget. If I am wrong I would certainly appreciate the information. If I am right in my conclusion I would encourage our town administration to proceed with such an analysis.
Thanks for listening
John N.
I understand what John has stated. However, John did not sit in the meetings with me as we talked to these parties. As with any decision there are direct financial factors and other external factors which have a significant influence on the decision making process. Financially there were alternative opportunities for Basha but they were influenced by our revitalization plan and town events. The resort sells experiences; they were also compelled by our unique events. Yes numbers have to make sense in business decisions but the unique quality of life activities that further define a community are significant factors, which is why many communities cultivate events to help define a community's culture. Additionally, this Council has two marketing executives with 40 to 50 years of experience each. They certainly take ever decision regarding how these public funds are invested very seriously and are very aware of how these events had a significant influence on whether these two businesses continued to operate in Carefree.
Gary Neiss
I can tell you that, as far as Bashas' goes, they were getting the hard court press to relocate into the Terravita Marketplace where Albertsons had been for a long time. They stayed in Carefree and dumped a bunch of money into the upgrade because they believed in Carefree.
The Basha and the Sanderson families are both wonderful about giving back to the community. That is so cool. We feel the same way. It's why we do all the stuff we do for free. Herbert is also the ONLY radiation oncologist in the entire Valley who treats no pay and self pay (which is often almost no pay) as a matter of policy. We are big on giving back, so we appreciate others who feel as we do.
Lyn
Lyn,
Thanks for your response. I am not questioning the value of giving back to communities. My wife and I have been doing so for many years and with many dollars. I started this email chain by asking for an analysis, (data) that addresses the ROI) for the marketing dollars spent. Anecdotal examples are great but they are just that that, anecdotal. Without minimizing Bashas or anyone else's community contributions, ( I applaud your Husbands commitment to accepting uninsured patients—truly a rarity in today’s environment), at the end of the day Carefree, like any town or city, should be run as a business. And like any business that includes operating on hard data which speaks to the impact of expenditures.
As Gary states there are many factors that go into a decision regarding how to spend the taxpayers dollars, quality of life being one of several. Again no argument with the premise. However, and I think Gary will agree, that does not alleviate the need to understand, as policy makers, the resultant impact. And empirical evidence will provide that information.
Enough said about all of this. Again, I appreciate the opportunity for this discourse. Have a great day.
John
Hi Lyn,
I want to thank you for displaying our ad in your emails. There has been a tremendous response. I really appreciate it.
-Dave Bertram
Bertram Signs & Graphics
480-595-4744
Dear Lyn: This is Susan Hutchins we spoke a few months back in front of the Carefree Chamber. We spoke about me finding a place to live. Right after we spoke I had a fall and broke my wrist. So for the past few months I have been regaining my energy and healing my body. Wow, that was a wake up call. Presently, I am living temporarily with my kids on Tranquil Trail. I am working with Deborah Gooch at the Wellness Clinic at the Sun Dial in Carefree. Can you still place an ad for me in your Carefree network? I am looking to lease a guest house, or Casita. I have a small 15 lb dog "Lucy" very well trained that is my companion. I am non-smoker, non drinker. I am hoping to be moved by Feb or early March. I have references and anything required Anything you can do would be so much appreciated. When we have a chance to chat I can share some of the energy healing work I now do. Thank you in advance... Susan Hutchins ... 37625 N. Tranquil Trail, Carefree, 85377 ...480-213-4794 p.s. look forward to hearing back.
Mike Farrar
Great Job as usual, Herb & Lyn. You guys are the best. A BIG THANK YOU for all you do.
Geno 👍😁👁
Interesting read. However what is missing from this report is the return on investment to the merchants located in the immediate vicinity during the festival and long term not just in terms of increased awareness but actual increase in sales.
John Nimsky
(Lyn's note: I passed John's question on to Gary Neiss. Below is his response.)
Many of our restaurants have reported to the town as well as numerous businesses that they have significant increases in business due to the consistent consumer traffic into the town center during these events. Additionally, one of the most significant contributors to the town's tax base, the Carefree Resort, has new owners and is currently being re-positioned into a world class health and wellness spa. This new owner was drawn to Carefree as a result of our unique events. The Basha's successful remodel is another such example of a key economic contributor to the town. Johnny Basha has attributed his desire to stay and reinvest in the Carefree store as a result of our unique events. In fact he believes in the pumpkin festival so much he brings one of his signature refrigerator trucks to keep pumpkins fresh and donates hundreds of pumpkins annually. So yes, the town has and continues to see positive economic impacts from events such as the pumpkin festival.
Gary Neiss
Hi Lyn,
Thanks for the followup. With all due respect to Gary, he did not answer my question. Having spent 50 plus years as a business owner, marketing executive and consultant, It is clear to me that a financial commitment such as the purchase of the Carefree resort is based on factors other than an occasional festival. The Basha remodel was based in part on a Basha long range Internal business plan that called for remodeling of various Basha stores for competitive reasons much like Safeway and Fry food stores have business plans that call for store remodeling over time. And the Basha Family has been a good corporate citizen in various parts of the valley since the late 50”s so his support of Carefree community activities is not unusual. Finally, on special event days, with respect to restaurant activities, much of the food purchases are with the vendors and food trucks most of which are not Carefree merchants. Yes, the few restaurants in town are busy during those times but my experience is that during the winter season they are busy irrespective of special event activities. ( I base this last comment on personal experience since my wife and I have been regular visitors to Carefree since the mid 60’s and as residents of Carefree since 1994.
The return on investment of marketing dollars is generally measured in terms of long term business sustainability and trend, not as an immediate reaction to a particular event. I suspect that the town administration has not performed any type of ROI analysis on the marketing budget. If I am wrong I would certainly appreciate the information. If I am right in my conclusion I would encourage our town administration to proceed with such an analysis.
Thanks for listening
John N.
I understand what John has stated. However, John did not sit in the meetings with me as we talked to these parties. As with any decision there are direct financial factors and other external factors which have a significant influence on the decision making process. Financially there were alternative opportunities for Basha but they were influenced by our revitalization plan and town events. The resort sells experiences; they were also compelled by our unique events. Yes numbers have to make sense in business decisions but the unique quality of life activities that further define a community are significant factors, which is why many communities cultivate events to help define a community's culture. Additionally, this Council has two marketing executives with 40 to 50 years of experience each. They certainly take ever decision regarding how these public funds are invested very seriously and are very aware of how these events had a significant influence on whether these two businesses continued to operate in Carefree.
Gary Neiss
I can tell you that, as far as Bashas' goes, they were getting the hard court press to relocate into the Terravita Marketplace where Albertsons had been for a long time. They stayed in Carefree and dumped a bunch of money into the upgrade because they believed in Carefree.
The Basha and the Sanderson families are both wonderful about giving back to the community. That is so cool. We feel the same way. It's why we do all the stuff we do for free. Herbert is also the ONLY radiation oncologist in the entire Valley who treats no pay and self pay (which is often almost no pay) as a matter of policy. We are big on giving back, so we appreciate others who feel as we do.
Lyn
Lyn,
Thanks for your response. I am not questioning the value of giving back to communities. My wife and I have been doing so for many years and with many dollars. I started this email chain by asking for an analysis, (data) that addresses the ROI) for the marketing dollars spent. Anecdotal examples are great but they are just that that, anecdotal. Without minimizing Bashas or anyone else's community contributions, ( I applaud your Husbands commitment to accepting uninsured patients—truly a rarity in today’s environment), at the end of the day Carefree, like any town or city, should be run as a business. And like any business that includes operating on hard data which speaks to the impact of expenditures.
As Gary states there are many factors that go into a decision regarding how to spend the taxpayers dollars, quality of life being one of several. Again no argument with the premise. However, and I think Gary will agree, that does not alleviate the need to understand, as policy makers, the resultant impact. And empirical evidence will provide that information.
Enough said about all of this. Again, I appreciate the opportunity for this discourse. Have a great day.
John
Hi Lyn,
I want to thank you for displaying our ad in your emails. There has been a tremendous response. I really appreciate it.
-Dave Bertram
Bertram Signs & Graphics
480-595-4744
Dear Lyn: This is Susan Hutchins we spoke a few months back in front of the Carefree Chamber. We spoke about me finding a place to live. Right after we spoke I had a fall and broke my wrist. So for the past few months I have been regaining my energy and healing my body. Wow, that was a wake up call. Presently, I am living temporarily with my kids on Tranquil Trail. I am working with Deborah Gooch at the Wellness Clinic at the Sun Dial in Carefree. Can you still place an ad for me in your Carefree network? I am looking to lease a guest house, or Casita. I have a small 15 lb dog "Lucy" very well trained that is my companion. I am non-smoker, non drinker. I am hoping to be moved by Feb or early March. I have references and anything required Anything you can do would be so much appreciated. When we have a chance to chat I can share some of the energy healing work I now do. Thank you in advance... Susan Hutchins ... 37625 N. Tranquil Trail, Carefree, 85377 ...480-213-4794 p.s. look forward to hearing back.