‘Tis the season for your love and Downtown Akron Partnership knows exactly how — with a kiss.
For the entire month of February, DAP is bringing back the promotional Kiss My Akron campaign. The campaign gives the public a chance to highlight Akron destinations by posting kiss-print clings onto the windows of their favorite businesses.
According to the press release, DAP was inspired to create the Kiss My Akron campaign after hearing author and Akronite Peter Kageyama speak at an International Downtown Association conference about the powerful importance of community affection and its relation to development.
DAP ambassadors already handed out Hershey Kisses during Valentine’s day, but the organization brainstormed other ideas and came up with the clings. Sharon Gillberg, Communications Director at DAP, said the group asked local printer Power Media to develop a “vague concept” of the cling.
“Last year, the campaign kicked off on Valentine’s day, and we had about a dozen businesses and sent an email to put the information out, ” she said. “This year, we kicked it off on Feb. 1 at Akron’s monthly art walk. All the galleries and shops had clings, and we have more than double the participation.
Not knowing how the response would be in 2013, DAP ordered 500 window clings to start and by the end of the first day, they had to order more. The group went through two thousand clings. This year they expect to exceed more than 3500 with the campaign’s longer timeframe.
They also have a limited supply of chapsticks to distribute and will continue to handout the Hershey kisses.
Gillberg said she put her cling kisses on destinations such as the Peanut Shoppe, Lockview, Cilantro and Baxter’s Bar.
“I think it’s just fun to see the business owners appreciated. They get to see their customers and fans give back to them, and it’s neat that somebody thinks of them as one of their favorite spots,” she added. “I think it’s important for the businesses to know the visitors care and that we need them in the community.”
DAP encourages the public to capture the moment by posting pictures of their “kisses” on social media using #kissmyakron and/or sharing on DAP’s Facebook page.
Contact the DAP office at (330) 374-7676 for details and list of businesses distributing window clings, including 3 Point, Akron Civic Theatre, Akron/Summit CVB, Akron Zoo, Bakery at Hattie’s Café, The Lockview, NOTO, Palladian Palette, Rubber City Clothing, Urban Eats and Zeber-Martell Clay Studio & Gallery. The list continues to grow and will be updated at www.downtownakron.com. DAP Clean and Safe Ambassadors will also have a supply for visitors.
