"When downtown prospers, all of Royal Oak benefits."

Believing that, and under contract to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to raise sponsorship dollars to promote and market downtown Royal Oak, Marketing Consultant Peggy Goodwin is pleased that many residents understand the connection between a prosperous downtown and viable neighborhoods. "We are fortunate that Downtown Royal Oak is a regional destination."

Goodwin, along with former Downtown Manager Jerry Deffloff and the DDA and City Hall and the Chamber of Commerce and leading downtown retailers, is an important factor in what VersagiVoice has dubbed the "Downtown Dialogue." She recently appeared before the city commission and made the case for maintaining a Marketing Consultant, because the need for that position was being questioned by one commissioner as part of the city’s overall budget discussion.

Goodwin, who grew up in Huntington Woods, left, and has been back for seven years, is an entrepreneur whose The Goodwin Co. provides marketing, public relations, and fund-raising services to clients which include the U.S. Department of Justice and other private and non-profit sector clients. For the DDA, she has provided those services for such events as Holiday Magic, Cooperative Advertising campaigns on TV, Radio and in print, Clay & Glass Taste of Royal Oak Festival working with the Chamber of Commerce. She has raised more than $350,000 over the past two years in cash and in-kind media donation. "Holiday Magic and the Clay & Glass Taste of Royal Oak Festival are the top two events that draw thousands of families and create a positive economic impact for our Downtown."

The Marketing Consultant works closely with DDA’s Main Street Promotions Committee, about which several retailers have complained. She recruited these retailers who complained to the committee and "The situation is improving," Goodwin says, pointing out that at least five prominent retailers now attend the Promotions Committee meetings, three as voting members, two as participants who provide input. Asked whether it is not a conflict of interest for a paid city contractor to sit on a committee where the contractor’s services are among the agenda items, Goodwin compared the situation to when I served on the board and as president of the Chamber of Commerce with business owners who could, and some did, use Versagi Consulting’s services.

"You get to know each other, but you may or may not do business with each other," she said, adding that she has no vote on the Promotions Committee but simply provides input, guidance where her skills pertain. Sensing a possible conflict of interest, Goodwin says she declined an opportunity to bid on providing services to Ferndale.

About downtown Royal Oak and the DDA-retailer tussles, Goodwin recognizes that the image of restaurants and bars does not always appear "family-friendly," but she goes on to point out that existing businesses draw customers from the region, not just from local residents, and this helps the whole city. As for the potential impact of increased condo-dwellers, her take is, "Restaurants and retailers go hand-in-hand," and predicts an appropriate, dynamic balance will evolve.

Whether mounted officially by DDA/Main Street or by independent retailers, events like the recent Bridal Elegance are important, but not enough. "Marketing should pay for itself," she says, "but continuous promotion must supplement such marketing events, especially during seasonal lulls," Goodwin contends. Such things as the forthcoming map and Central Business District guide, a seasonal TV Campaign and the website (www.downtownroyaloak.org) can provide such promotion.

Goodwin’s letter to the editor during the recent School Board campaign drew attention because she seemed to go beyond disagreeing about issues to attacking candidate Dale Savage concerning his stance on the neighborhood impact of widening I-75. "I do tire of hearing that the South End is being badly treated or being ignored. When we Mohawk residents made our reasonable case to the city commission, we got action. The City Commission passed two resolutions - one against the initial plan for the I-75 Expansion and a second asking for revisions to the amended plan -- so the South End was never "sold out."

One letter-to-the-editor rebutting Goodwin saw a connection between her professional activity to her stand about the I-75 fight, suggesting that her DDA connections might reflect that "the DDA [would] most likely not mind an I-75 exit placed at Lincoln Avenue." Goodwin says "My ability to vote and speak freely like any other citizen has nothing to with my work. I do know this, if people to work to harm the city’s reputation or that of my neighborhood, I will take issue with them. But I won’t apologize for having clients."

Concerning VersagiVoice’s past criticism of DDA’ operation, Goodwin says the group has granted the contract for cleaning up downtown and "We have developed a marketing plan which will generate positive results for downtown and the city as a whole." -- 29 Apr 2005

List of Coffee Conversations