12/14/1994 MINUTES - Laserfiche WebLink

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69 Mr. Vest said he had tried to identify a strategy and some major objectives of what our marketing program should be. He said he had several program elements such as retention and expansion, the collateral materials, image materials, trade shows where we would work with our allies, advertising with a tentative schedule so that we could get our name in front of people nationwide, direct mail, and also the potential to do some of our own targeting. He said he had identified food, plastics and pharmaceuticals as areas we know would be good industries for our community. He said one of the things he pointed out in this report relating to the strategy was a significant need to do more broad ranged marketing which P.E.D.C. hopes to accomplish through general advertising, working with the Texas Marketing Team and Allied Communication. Mr. Vest said in this report he had done an analyses of strengths and weaknesses of the Paris area, and he had placed some sample ads in the report from some trade publications. He said he felt it was a general marketing plan at this time, but he would like to ask the boardmembers to review it, and for them to take a shot at this before hiring a management consultant. Chairman Cecil said Mr. Vest was suggesting that prior to the next meeting for the boardmembers to study this Marketing Plan, to be discussed at the next meeting in January, and to vote on its acceptance or denial at that time. Mr. Vest said there were two things in the Marketing Plan he would like to address today which were involvement in the Texas -- Economic Development Council which he had previously referred to as the Texas Industrial Development Council. He said the Texas Economic Development Council was basically a organization for people involved in economic development. Mr. Vest said they are publishing a new directory and we need to get our memberships in by January 10. He said he had brought some applications for anyone interesting in becoming a member from this board. Chairman Cecil said this would be an appropriate expense for the P.E.D.C. to pay if boardmembers want to join the organization. Mr. Vest said there was another item where time was of the essence that is in the Marketing Plan. He said the Texas Department of Commerce is going to publish a magazine format booklet that will be printed in January and throughout the year they will use it to respond to all kinds of industrial inquiries received. He said they had asked communities to buy ad space in it, and if you buy ad space they give you an editorial copy. He said they are trying to close on that this month, and print in January. He said he felt it would be to our benefit to have some sort of advertisement and editorial comment in the book. He said they were ordering 50,000 copies to be distributed to the industrial inquiries throughout the 1995 year. He said if we are in that book, we are going to be in every presentation that the State sends out. He said he realized that it was not on the agenda and action could not be taken on it today, but he could expend the money through the Chamber of Commerce if he had a good indication from the Board that it was something that we could do. Chairman Cecil asked for an opinion on this item whether to expend the $1,900.00. Chairman Cecil said he realized this was not an agenda item except that it might fall under Mr. Vest's report. Attorney Haynes said in the discussion you would indicate as to whether or not you are in favor of the expenditure and, if the Chamber wishes to make that purchase, then it would become an agenda item in January to reimburse the Chamber the expenditure.