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The Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association (DDMA) is launching a powerhouse new marketing campaign called Love Downtown Dunedin, targeted specifically towards the revitalization of our downtown area in partnership with the City of Dunedin,  Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Visit Dunedin and the Florida Business Incubator.

In the wake of the last few months, our DDMA members and partners have come together to support each other in heroic and creative ways, building new professional bridges and strengthening our community roots. It is time to use that ingenuity to its full advantage and push as one banded entity. Love Downtown Dunedin will be the focused undercurrent for the town’s reemergence back to where we know we can be.

This grassroots effort takes shape in a multi-pronged advertising endeavor which will include events, merchandising, art projects, ad space both on TV and in Newspapers as well as a digital tidal wave of social media and e-news avenues. 

Currently, DDMA’s Facebook page is in the top three ranked sites for those who want to keep up with Dunedin online as a destination to visit overnight, learn about shops and restaurants to explore as well as attend local events. 

Our current page likes are above 16k and have extraordinary reach when shared among our members. Our #LoveDowntownDunedintag will allow all our members to track and share any event posts and news, resulting in near-effortless and incredibly low-cost viral advertising.

Newspaper and TV advertising are being structured to make the most of limited funds. Having direct partnerships with Spectrum and Tampa Bay Newspapers brings us into every home, surpassing the limitations of digital-only avenues. Strategically placed spots ensure that all demographics are touched, especially those focused on where our digital reach is the least concentrated.

Mural projects are planned through the Downtown Dunedin Mural Project endeavor incorporate our vast artist community, bringing back life and color like only Dunedin can. Scavenger hunts, social sharing and unveiling events support the regrowth of our local artist’s livelihoods while simultaneously using word of mouth to propel the Love Downtown Dunedin’s mission and awareness.

Family events are currently being negotiated and DDMA’s wildly successful yearly productions (like Mardi Gras and Wine the Blues) provide us with the contacts and experience necessary to make them come to life. As a community, we’ve been in something of a state of withdrawal when it comes to events to look forward to. Specialized, low-cost and virus-aware events will be a great way to lift spirits and rebuild our city’s link to incoming traffic. 

Having well-orchestrated, and safe events on the horizon breathes life directly back into our lodging partnerships which in turn permeates out into all aspects of downtown. By highlighting these events to the tourist populations – as well as to locals - we create a cyclical interest in not just vacationers, but of our existing community encouraging family and friends to come visit to attend. 

Merchandising then pairs with advertising to round out the Love Downtown Dunedin message, reiterating the comradery of the community efforts on shirts, bracelets, coasters and gifts – both for sale and as giveaways. The Love Downtown Dunedin hashtag and logo will provide a unifying visual language to drive awareness and support.