Member Blog only

Please join us for the next 2017 Business Development Series event on Thursday, March 2, at 8:00 a.m. at Wonderland Ocean Pub, 5083 Santa Monica Ave. Hosted by Erik D. Karlson, financial advisor at Edward Jones, this Health & Finance Program will include information on promoting your physical and financial health. Don't miss the delicious free breakfast and top-notch class! To reseve a space for yourself and a guest at this educational workshop, please call 619-223-8357 no later than Friday, February 24, 2017.

Merchants: A series of heavy storms are headed to San Diego. High tides and a storm surge are expected. Please take proper precautions TONIGHT to protect your building including sandbags and any other measures your particular location requires. Do not wait for the deluge in the morning!

Hi Ocean Beach businesses!

I’m working together with the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association to help promote your Ocean Beach business to San Diego visitors through the San Diego Tourism Authority’s Visitors Guide! 

Would you like to be a part of this co-op with your fellow Ocean Beach businesses?

This is the premier official guide for all of San Diego County through the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) and is ‘the’ guide people get at the Visitor Centers, Airport, Car Rental Facility, hotels, etc.  It is available in print and online.  And they can request a copy via mail before arriving to San Diego.

Lots of editorial, with insider tips and recommendations – just like a friend would be referring them for things to do while in San Diego!

•         Official guide put together by the San Diego Tourism Authority (SDTA) for all of San Diego County
•         80,000 printed copies annually available at the airport, visitor centers, car rental facility etc (and available on SDTA’s website to be mailed to visitors domestically and internationally) – 24,000 copies are picked up at the airport and 56,000 are mailed to those requesting them domestic and internationally.
•         Available online and formatted for the following products: apple, android, tablets
•         Bi-annual publication – next issue Spring/Summer, April – Sept 2017
•         34 million visitors travel to San Diego spending $9 billion annually
•         Current issue:  http://www.sandiego-digital.com/sandiegovisitorguide/fall_2016_winter_2017?pg=1#pg1

**Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association is agreeing to subsidize some of this cost for you, so you’re getting a fantastic rate to be included in the guide.  It will be a full page ad with 8 businesses on a page (page size is about the same size as a regular piece of paper).  Each slot is $93.82 per merchant/per month (for 6 months).  View the last ad we did for OBMA; view the media kit.

Would you like me to save you a spot?

Shauna

Shauna Francisco
San Diego Magazine
San Diego Pets Magazine
Exquisite Weddings Magazine
San Diego Tourism Authority's Official 2017 Visitors Guide

P 619-744-0504
C 858-208-0173

707 Broadway, Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 92101

OBMA members are invited to vote for People's Choice selections for our committee awards for the 2017 OBMA Annual Awards Celebration! Winners will be announced at the event.

VOTE HERE by noon on Monday, January 16, and don't forget to join us on Thursday, January 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Point Loma Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, for the big night!

California City & County Sales & Use Tax Rates (effective January 1, 2017)

San Diego (City) – 7.75% Sales Tax Rate

This is .25% lower than the rate in 2016.  Please make sure to adjust your sales tax rate on your online stores and your in-store registers.
 

Sage Business Education has shared with us that the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) received a grant to help retail employers conduct employee training to increase their skills in a wide variety of areas, from customer service to leadership to software. So, they have "FREE MONEY" for training current employees, but the money must be allocated before the end of February.

Here are the details:
•    SDWP will reimburse minimum of 50% of training costs, with some types of training being 100% covered = 100% free!
•    SDWP needs to allocate all funds before the end of February 2017.
•    See attached for more info.
•    They also have many other reimbursable training programs, such as OJT, still available too, that non-retail employers can access.

Learn more at http://workforce.org/news/training-funds-available-retail-employers

Photo courtesy of San Diego Workforce Partnership
 

The holiday season is here! To help you take advantage of the spirit of the season, increased foot and online traffic, and advertising opportunities, we've prepared the 2016 Holiday Packet for you. The packet includes information on our popular storefront decorating contest, OB holiday events, advertising info, and the holiday homes contest. Those of you with storefronts in the Business Improvement District and Voltaire Street Corridor will be receiving a hard copy of this information as well, but we encourage all our members to review the online version!

Don't forget this year's Storefront Decorating Contest -- let us know you are entering by 9 a.m. on Friday, December 2, to be included in the judging and People's Choice competition!

Remember, our website OceanBeachSanDiego.com is a popular destination for residents and visitors who want to know about Ocean Beach and our local business community. Traffic increases significantly during the holidays, and advertising on our website is an affordable option to reach thousands of potential customers 24 hours a day! Please contact us if you're interested in a web ad.

Hope you all have a festive and profitable holiday season!

Tevia Oskin
Promotions Committee Chair

Dear OBMA members... NOW IS THE TIME to let us know if you want to participate in this year's contest! See all the details below. Are you in? Email Isabel in our office at [email protected] if you want the chance to win great prizes as you help to create a beautiful and seasonal Ocean Beach!!! You MUST notify us by 9 a.m. on Friday, December 2, if you will participate!

Spread holiday cheer this season by decorating your storefront!
The OBMA invites you to create a festive and beautiful business district.
Attract holiday shoppers, beautify OB, and compete to win great prizes!

Notify OBMA BY 9 A.M. DECEMBER 2 that you are entering.
(email [email protected])

Pictures will be taken of your storefront the same morning to be posted on the Facebook album for voting for People’s Choice. Encourage customers and friends to vote for you at facebook.com/OBMA92107.
Voting is from 5 p.m. December 2 until 5 p.m. December 16.

Judge’s Awards - Judging on Friday, December 2, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

(Please let us know if you will not be open during this time.)

• Most festive inside ($150 prize)
• Most festive outside ($150 prize)
• Best use of this year’s holiday theme, The Year of the Pier with Holiday Cheer ($150 prize)

Chosen by Facebook likes:

(vote at facebook.com/OBMA92107, Dec. 2-16).

• People’s Choice Award ($150 prize)

PLUS the winning storefront photos will be featured in the Peninsula Beacon holiday edition!

Decorating Tips

Windows should be attractive day and night. Set up timers for your lights to make sure the street is festive and brightly lit until midnight every night. Timers are available for purchase at OB Hardware. Check your lights and displays each day to make sure everything is functioning properly and looking great. Not sure where to get lights? Try CVS, Rite Aid, or Supermax.
 

Questions? Contact Ocean Beach MainStreet Association:
[email protected] or 619-224-4906

Thanks to Tami Fuller's Real Estate Team and Wonderland Ocean Pub for hosting an incredible OB MainStreet member sundowner last night.  We had over one hundred members show up to mix, mingle and enjoy the gorgeous views from the restaurant and bar.  The food was delicious and the drinks were plentiful - plus six members walked away with really great raffle prizes. What a night. Thanks to everyone involved and to Troy Orem Photography for the great photos.