Mount Prospect investing in its merchants' success

With continuing news of falling retail sales this summer, the village of Mount Prospect is making a commitment to its local merchants through a village-sponsored marketing campaign, "Experience Mount Prospect."

The campaign's goal is to urge residents of Mount Prospect and other nearby suburbs to shop local and is based on an existing village Web site and e-newsletter that was developed in 2007.

The updated and expanded program will continue to help merchants get the word out about the unique products and services they offer with new graphics and other marketing tools to increase revenues in a down economy. The campaign's focus is on retailers and restaurants with a shopping, dining and events theme.

Experience Mount Prospect offers residents a "reward" card, which will be good for discounts and special offers at participating merchants. The card program, Web site and E-newsletter are free to both merchants and customers alike.

Other components of the campaign include a street pole banner sponsorship program and a new show on Mount Prospect's cable channel MPTV. The show, ExMPTV will feature segments of on-site interviews and profiles of local businesses.

Mount Prospect merchants are invited to attend a meeting to learn more about the campaign at 8 a.m. Friday, July 24, at the village hall.

The meeting will include a presentation by Bridget Lane of Business Districts Inc. on "Tips to Improve Store Profits." Several store makeover consultations with local interior design company Touchstone Culture will also be raffled off.

For more information, visit experiencemountprospect.org or call (847) 392-6000.