Our Town Motueka returns to core business

June 20th, 2013

Our Town Motueka's paid administrator Lori Keller has resigned, and the business promotion group will now use the wage money saved to refocus on making more impact with the key events and promotions it organises.

Lori did a great job over the past 12 months setting up OTM's classy website and lifting its Facebook presence, and has left them in a state which can easily be kept up to date, says secretary Linda Woodgate.

For the next few months Linda will be paid as a contractor to undertake administrative tasks including updating the website and Facebook page and handling emails.

Linda has also taken over organising the Festival of Lights, which this year will be a one-month period of promoted events run by individual community groups, beginning on July 18th.

Much of the approximately $30,000 saved from employing Lori for 25 hours a week - which has been almost 60% of OTM's complete budget - will be used to run and improve the Festival of Lights and Christmas Parade events, which may in fact be contracted out in future.

It will also allow work to be done on new CBD development projects such as extending the hanging flower baskets and installing free wi-fi internet through the centre of town.

"This new direction will free up significant cash-flow to allow OTM to carry out more significant promotions and projects in town," says OTM chair Howie Timms.

"For example, we are going ahead with installing automatic watering systems for hanging baskets this summer - a $20,000 project. We are also looking at implementing free Wi-fi in High Street.

"Without the additional funds from not having a coordinator, these projects would not be going ahead or being considered."

OTM has been trying to reposition to focus much more on marketing and promotions. Apart from the new website, new radio advertisements promoting Motueka as a shopping and tourist destination have been recorded and have been running on MoreFM over the last 6 months. This advertising will continue to run throughout the winter and shoulder seasons.

Linda says although Lori had mainly been involved in setting up the website and liaising with Motueka business owners, an increasing amount of her time had gone into providing a general information service to the public, which was not supposed to be one of her roles.

Lori completed the handover of administrative tasks to Linda at the start of this week and soon will be heading to Sri Lanka for a long break.

Comment by William Cleaver:
[Posted 22 June 2013]

Although I don't agree with most agendas of OTM I feel that going back to a core business needs to be looked at what the core business actually is. OTM - A body of representatives that support local businesses in creating a successful envioroment to work with. Thus giving the town a better profile and enjoyable place to live.

Lori Keller was on that band wagon! Providing information and support to local business is what it's all about. Without that, owners and operators of local businesses although knowledgeable in the own operation have the support for wider representation.

Festival of lights is not am OTM agenda. They were thrust into it because no one else would do it (why! because its original concept went out the window years ago). I have said many times if you are going to persist in doing this, The Festival of Lights at least look at what other cities do. Alexandra Blossom Festival and Tauranga festival of lights all run over one weekend. Why? cos it works.

Sprinkler system for hanging plants. Waste of money. Why because vandals will rip it out. And if it aint broke scenario. Free Wi Fi in the main street. jury out on that one. And finally Radio promotion. Now this one I definitely don't support as I just signed up for a year with a local radio and realistically my money would have been better in my pocket.

OTM ask the businesses what they want and stick to that. You are not event organizers you are Our Town Motueka that supports the businesses that pay you to do so.

>> , to be added to the page. [If this link doesn't work, use this form instead]

[ Return ]
[ Other news articles ]

We wish to thank these local community-minded businesses who generously sponsor our site. They recognise the value of supporting this community asset, and in return Motueka Online is pleased to use and recommend their services whenever appropriate.

Ray White Motueka, Motueka Floral Studio, Nelson Building Society, House of Travel,
Greenwood Active Health, Lynette Mytton, T.O.A.D Hall,