Suggestions for rethinking how to brand Kalispell
This week I had the opportunity to speak to the retiring and new members of Kalispell’s Business Improve-ment District at their monthly board meeting. My comments were to provide my perspective and thoughts going forward regarding the board’s actions.
In opening, I suggested that the historic presentation of Kalispell is naive and misdirected. Yes, old buildings are historic, and many communities try to hang on to the belief that the past is coming back. I suggested that the dynamics of Kalispell have changed and should be recognized by the district.
Let me begin by saying that I have strong ties to the community and a large financial commitment as a property owner. The success of the core district is very important to me. I suggested the district address the needs of the various segments of the Business Improvement District in their deliberations. Allow me to offer the following observations.
Kalispell’s core district can be broken down into five classes of business.
1. Five financial institutions are located in the core district. In addition, brokerage, insurance, mortgage bankers and real-estate offices complete this class of businesses. These businesses occupy the largest space in the community. These institutions also employ the largest number of individuals in the Business Improvement District.
2. Professional and personal services include attorneys, lawyers, medical services, computer-related business and residences.
3. Food and beverage services.
4. Government, quasi-government institutions and religious organizations.
5. Retail stores and grocery stores.
The large employment base in the Business Improvement District is a wonderful starting place to attract activity to continue this community transformation. The changing consumer behavior from store shopping to point-and-click shopping for products and services is making all sectors of the economy adapt to the new economy. I encouraged the board to view the changing business climate in their allocation of district funds to include all sectors of the district not just one segment and also to employ strategies to attract members of the community to the core district and retain employees working in the district.
To the board I said, “The malls and box stores are here and part of our community, don’t try to change that; those businesses have enough problems with the point-and-click consumer.” Let us look toward the future and see what it holds. Try new ideas outside the box. State the purpose, set a standard for the results and remove or retain the action and not allow the “historic” methodology to prevail or prevent future actions.
I would recommend to the board to discard or at least diminish the premise of Kalispell’s Historic District and possibly adapt a business theme such as:
“Kalispell, where business is done by those who do business.”
That single concept alone would let our community know we in the district are here for you and business — that we are modern and forward thinking. Keep the good hard work up, my friends on the board and in the business community. Your hard work will pay dividends.
To my naysayers who cling to the old methodologies and memories of times long past and hoping for the way things were, I would say “let it go.” I will get lots of negative comments on my thoughts. That goes with territory, but if you can define and identify something better, get involved, show us, be part of the future and the solution to the challenges the community experiences.
I heard a quote some time ago from Warren Buffett, which seems appropriate at this time: “The future will surprise the pessimists.”
Ken Yachechak is a resident of Kalispell.