Dear Pearl Business,

We hope you are having a successful year in the Pearl District! We are sending this letter to remind you to sign up for membership, and to tell you about some exciting changes we are making this year.

Membership and sponsorship contributions provide important funds for PDBA to continue its efforts to market and support the Pearl District retail, service and business community. Now more than ever, we need your support so we can continue to drive business to the Pearl District and to our members.

Membership dues represent approximately 35% of PDBA’s operating budget, with sponsorship contributions and other revenue streams providing the balance. Your financial support is critical in helping us accomplish our goals. This year, PDBA funds will be utilized to provide the following:

• Public Advocacy: This year, your membership contributions, along with a grant from the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations, supported public advocacy programs such as working with the City of Portland to install street sign caps throughout the Pearl. This year, we will continue our efforts to gain I-405 freeway signage for the Pearl District and represent the Pearl in discussions surrounding the Burnside-Couch couplet.

• Website Redesign: The current website design for www.explorethepearl.com has not been updated since 2005. We hope to add the following features through the re-design: enhanced member listings, improved site navigation, updated content and editorial features, a consumer-facing eNewsletter to the general public and more.


• New PDBA Guide in Explore the Pearl Magazine: This year, we will upgrade our traditional walking map into an expanded version that will be in the back of Explore the Pearl Magazine (see sample magazine enclosed in this packet). Replacing our former walking map with a new layout that will consist of defined meta-tags and an easier to navigate format. This will enable us to increase the size of the street artwork (easier to read) while increasing distribution--which means added exposure for your business!

The magazine will continue to be distributed into approximately 45,000 homes representing an upscale demographic with zip codes in the West Hills, Nob Hill, SW Portland, Lake Oswego, Irvington, Forest Heights and more. We also plan to include selected areas of Clark County (WA) starting with the November issue. In addition,we will continue to mail 5,000 magazines directly to Pearl District homes and businesses.

Extra copies of the magazine will also be available in high-traffic locations such as Powell’s and the Portland Visitors Center (Pioneer Square) and through dedicated street racks throughout the Pearl. Total annual distribution for the year will be approximately 330,000 - this represents a 32% increase over last year’s distribution of the Pearl District Walking Map!

*** All PDBA members will receive a free listing in the Explore the Pearl Business Directory and Map, plus members will receive a discounted rate should they decide to place a display ad. Because we feel it is important for all of our members to be recognized in the new Business Directory, we are no longer offering the “non-map” option from years past.

• Marketing + Advertising Campaigns (examples include):
• Pearl District Holiday Shopping Guide: PDBA worked with Portland Monthly Magazine to create Pearl District-branded pages within the magazine’s holiday issue (2006).

• Discover Portland: PDBA worked with Mediamerica to design a special product-focused Pearl spread in the 2006-07 edition of the Discover Portland hotel book. In support of this partnership, Discover Portland agreed to donate a portion of the ad sales back to PDBA.

• Summer advertising campaign in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

• Pearl District Color Insert (24-page booklet) into Portland Monthly, Seattle Metropolitan and Bend Living Magazines (2007)

• Pearl District Sidewalk Sale Campaign (coming up on Labor Day Weekend). Ad placement into Portland Picks, Seattle Picks, the Oregonian (Art in the Pearl insert in A&E), and an insert into selected zip codes of Oregonian subscriber copies (45,000 homes). The Sidewalk Sale also received editorial coverage in Explore the Pearl Magazine and the Pearl District insert in Portland Monthly, Seattle Metropolitan and Bend Living.

• Member eNewsletter and Networking Events: Member eNewsletter and Networking Events: Each week, PDBA compiles and sends out an eNewsletter to inform members of important Pearl District events and news (construction, bridge closures, etc.). In addition, the eNewsletter includes information about events, sales and promotions taking place at member businesses. PDBA also offers 4-6 networking and/or educational events per year. These events enable members to learn about other businesses and generate leads and referrals for their own business.

• Philanthropy and Cause-Related Programs: Last year, PDBA launched its first major cause-related event: Pearl for the Cure. The program benefited Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Oregon & SW Washington® and it consisted of three elements: The Official After Party in the Pearl at Jamison Square Park—an event following the Komen Race for the Cure® in Portland’s Waterfront Park; the Pearl for the Cure merchant program (retailers donate a portion of their proceeds on race day), and the After Party in the Pearl Fashion Shows. PDBA is proud to partner with Oregon’s largest charitable event (50,000 participants) and continues to support this important cause. All net proceeds are donated to Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure of Oregon and SW Washington®.

Membership is currently available on a pro-rated basis. Once you sign up for membership, we will post (or update) your listing on www.explorethepearl.com and include your map listing with the next issue of Explore the Pearl. For example, applications received before December 12 will be incorporated into the January 2008 issue of Explore the Pearl.

Download your application by clicking here

PDBA is excited about the coming year and we look forward to working with you. Please show your support for our business community by sending in your membership application and payment.

Sincerely,
The PDBA Board