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Effective Advertising in a Tough Economy: Bonnie Quinn & Down Home Delights, Oro Valley, AZ

By Mike Jones

Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

July 26, 2010 01:45 AM

Bonnie Quinn and her A-Frame Sign for Down Home Delights, Oro Valley AZ

A-Frame signs are illegal in the town of Oro Valley, AZ.

That's a problem for businesses struggling to survive in these tough economic times, and so the town council met last Wednesday night to discuss the possibility of temporary relief from the Sign Code for Oro Valley businesses.

Oro Valley deems these signs unsightly.

Bonnie Quinn, owner of Down Home Delights on Oracle Road, carried that sign you see on the right to the meeting and set it up for the council to see as she addressed them:

I opened my cafe and bakery, Down Home Delights, in 2007. Like other businesses, [Down Home Delights] has taken a huge hit from the economy. I am in a small strip mall, set back from the road behind a hill, with horrible visibility from the road.

The most effective form of identification for me is an A-Frame sign near the road. I put an A-Frame sign out last weekend, and doubled my sales revenue from the previous weekend. It works. I know it works. New customers who came in that weekend said to me "It's great that you have a sign on the road, so we knew who you were."

When I told them I'm not allowed to have that sign out there, they were flabbergasted! It's what brought them into my cafe that day. Thay know it works.

...I want to work within the guidelines of a reasonable sign code that protects the economic stability of my business and this town. I believe these signs can be used reasonably and effectively.

I believe Oro Valley residents want small businesses to thrive. ...we need help, even if it's just temporary, to get through this recession. It's unsightly...to have shuttered businesses and empty storefronts! ...it undermines consumer confidence and is a bad indicator for prospective new businesses and [people considering a move to] Oro Valley. Respectfully, I request relief from the sign code.

THE MOTION TO GRANT TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM THE SIGN CODE PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY.

Down Home Delights: Mike in Tucson

Down Home Delights

Place page

10110 N Oracle Rd # 180
Tucson, AZ 85704-7609
(520) 219-9300 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 219-9300 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

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I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson Mortgage Lender.

NMLS #223495

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE llc ~ Correspondent Mortgage Bank
Offices (AZ) Mesa, Tucson, Nogales, and Albuquerque, NM.

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Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

WHY ARE A-Frame signs are illegal in the town of Oro Valley, AZ.???????????????/

What the (*(^$$^&* sense did the ordanance make in the first place. Just too many people making too many useless and worthless laws. Fire them all. How much money are they making and what law gives them that much power.

Are there any remaining law makers that give a (**^%$ about the citizens they represent??????

Jul 26, 2010 12:01 PM

Vince McEveety

Gilleran Griffin Realty - Sherman Oaks, CA

nice

Jul 26, 2010 01:46 PM

Kate Kate

San Diego, CA

We can't let the tail wag the dog these days. I give the A-Board a thumbs up.

Jul 26, 2010 02:03 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Kate,

Me too!

Vince,

Lenn,

I half expected to see another comment by you with that photo of you toting that big ole shotgun!

Leolinda,

C'mon down, and Ginny and I will join you!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 26, 2010 04:15 PM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Lenn,

Here's the latest from Oro Valley's website:

Council Approves Temporary Sign Relief
July 22, 2010 - The Oro Valley Town Council voted on Wednesday to institute temporary relief on the Town’s sign code to help businesses during the economic recession...

Mike in Tucson

Jul 26, 2010 04:24 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Lenn

Why is it temporary??? What law gives the council the power to restrict advertising in a way that they KNOW will harm a specific business or a class of businesses??? I'M OUTRAGED.

Clearly, when the vote for temporary relief DURING THE ECONOMIC RECESSION. . . . reveals that the council KNOWS that the law harms a business can they deliberately have a law that specifically . . . . . GEEZ! I'm rambling.

Vote them OUT! Vote them OUT and let them know that they are being voted OUT because they abused their position and power to try to put a lawful business out of business.

Jul 26, 2010 10:49 PM

Petra Norris

Lakeland Real Estate Group, Inc. - Lakeland, FL

Realtor, Lakeland FL Homes for Sale

Mike - What were these council members thinking - only a temporary relief. Do they think the recession will be over in six month? - I don't think so.

Jul 27, 2010 01:18 AM

Bill Travis

Captain Bill Realty, LLC - Gilbert, AZ

Broker/Owner

Gilbert AZ passed a new sign code allowing A Frame signs. You may want to check that out

Jul 27, 2010 01:43 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Val,

I certainly will; thanks for mentioning it.

Petra,

The idea is that they will get feedback during that period. Looks like the feedback has already started here on Active Rain!

Michael,

Thank you. I'll google Naples, FL sign code and see what I can find.

Lenn,

I don't live in Oro Valley, but I certainly patronize businesses there. Thanks for your comments!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 27, 2010 03:58 AM

Anonymous

Bonnie Quinn

Here in Oro Valley AZ we have a General Plan for the town that protects dark skies (we have observatories in the area) but it also states that business signage shall be for "identification purposes" only, and NOT for advertising. (???) They consider a-frames and neon window signs unacceptable...they wanted to limit clutter and avoid a "trashy" appeareance. The sign code was created to reflect the General Plan, period. The plan can and should be amended. Recently, we elected a new mayor and some new town council members, and they are all MUCH more proactive and business-savvy. They recognize that we cannot have our cake and eat it too: this town has no property tax and therefore relies exclusively on SALES TAX REVENUE generated by our local businesses. How can this town possibly survive in this economy and NOT be flexible in their approach to business? I agree that temporary relief from the code is not enough, but boy is it ever a positive sign and a great start towards changing things here. In the 12 years I have lived here, we have always had a reputation as being "anti-business". My husband and I are both business owners here and for the first time, we feel positive and encouraged by this latest turn of events. We and all local business owners are cheering on our new mayor and council and look forward to more positive changes to promote longevity for local businesses and to help ensure a healthy bottom line for the town.

Jul 27, 2010 04:16 AM

#19

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Bonnie,

Thanks for weighing in! See you for a late breakfast at Down Home Delights!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 27, 2010 04:50 AM

Sharon Alters

Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL

Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Mike, we have 'sign police' here and were not allowed to use directional signs or any other signs on main roads to advertise Open Houses. Ridiculous! Finally it was repealed and we can put them out on the weekends. Good for Down Home Delights - I consider their sign a directional sign anyway and not advertising, since it lets people know they are in there!

Jul 27, 2010 06:23 AM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike,

It is all about control, not common sense. If it works for people and it helps them in this economy, and they are not a danger to others, let them do what business dictates

Micro-legislation is a problem

Jul 27, 2010 07:06 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Mike,

The problem in Oro Valley is that it has an overall Master Plan, sort of like an HOA for an entire town. That needs changing, and prospects are good, I think.

Sharon,

I'm sitting in the corner at Down Home Delights enjoying a mid-morning breakfast and blogging (they have free Wi-Fi.) The Apricot Scone is scrumptious!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 27, 2010 07:14 AM

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Mike - I had a coffee shop once and the city code enforcers were always either taking my signs or coming in and telling me I had to remove them - after 2 years I had to close the doors and I believe that the signage problem was part of it! GREAT post!

Jul 27, 2010 07:14 AM

Mike Jones

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ

Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Barbara Jo,

Bonnie Quinn just read your comment over my shoulder. She sent a link to this blog post to John C Scott, a local radio personality who has a Radio Show in Tucson. She's going to be interviewed on the John C Scott Show on Wednesday, July 28th, at 3:40 p.m. Isn't Active Rain the Bomb?!

Mike in Tucson

Jul 27, 2010 07:28 AM

Robert Vegas Bob Swetz

Las Vegas, NV

Congrats on the Gold Mike and let's keep this post alive with another feature at one of my favorite groups ...

SUCCESS AT ACTIVERAIN

Vegas Bob

Jul 27, 2010 04:08 PM

Doreen McPherson

Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ

Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

This A-frame sign thing seems to be an issue in lots of places. I agree that small business needs them to help people find them. Maybe rather than ban them, set up some basic guidelines to keep them simple and clean. I believe some towns that allow them have rules like they have to be put away when the business closes. That is not unreasonable.

Glad to see the Oro Valley is at least looking at it with an open mind.

Jul 27, 2010 09:31 PM

Li Read

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC

Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Good post! Sometimes those rules can be outgrown, without anyone "noticing"....a proactive person, and glad that it worked out in the favour of the business.

Jul 29, 2010 04:49 AM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Mike, great post, and agree with Lenn...except I don't have a gun :)

Jul 30, 2010 03:03 PM