Only in Oakland
Promotion
Websites
Newsletter and Fax Broadcasts
Advertising
Community events
Promotion Committee
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ONLY IN OAKLAND
Setting out to discover Oakland leads one on a trip through one of Pittsburgh's most diverse and lively neighborhoods. Pretigious universities and museums, world class hospitals, grand architecture, quaint coffee shops, international cuisine and specialty shops all describe the hustle and bustle that is Oakland. If you are planning a picnic in the park, an evening of theater, trying out a new ethnic dish, or if you are searching for that Picasso masterpiece, Oakland has it all.
Serving over 100,00 people daily, Oakland is home to over 200 businesses and over 80 restaurant establishments all within walking distance of world class cultural amenities, Pittsburgh's Historic Schenley Park and the campuses of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Carlow University.
Oakland offers fabulous dishes to please every palate and pocketbook. Exotic curry dishes, Northern Italian specialties, creamy homemade ice creams and international flavors provide an eclectic assortment of cuisine from around the world. From classic American, Greek, Middle Eastern, Italian and Thai to Japaniese, Mexican, Spanish and Indian, Oakland offers a wide assortment of international cuisines.
Long considered the cultural center of Pittsburgh, Oakland is home to world class museaums, theaters, galleries and gardens. Plan a day in Oakland and you could explore collections of ancient and modern art to civil war artifacts, meet Tyrannosaurus Rex, learn the lyrics of "Oh Susannah," view the international classrooms symbolizing the heritage of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, enjoy a cup of java while browsing a classic novel, get in an evening of gripping drama, from Shakespeare to Shaw, or simply surround yourself in natural flora in a Victorian glass house.
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PROMOTION
The OBID offers a variety of projects that market the uniqueness of Oakland. OBID developed a marketing campaign, Only in Oakand that includes a business directory guide, a tourist friendly website www.onlyinoakland.org and a monthly newsletter. To date, the OBID has distributed over 55,000 guides targeted primarily at the Oakland student, employee and visitor populations. The website recieves over 10,000 hits weekly. Through such events as Freshman Family Weekend and Arrival Survival, the OBID partners with the local universities to market the business community to incoming students. In addition, with funding provided by the Sprout Fund, the OBID coordinates the A-Team Project where volunteers act as Oakland Ambassadors, guiding visitors and customers throughout the district.
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WEBSITES
In addition to our Only in Oakland website, the OBID keeps its membership informed at www.oaklandbid.org. This site is aimed at current and potential OBID businesses and property owners. With updates and information about everything from power washing to road construction, this site is informational to everyone who visits Oakland regularly. Both websites recieves over 10,000 hits weekly!
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NEWSLETTER AND FAX BROADCASTS
Bright and fun and chock-full of information, the monthly newsletter keeps OBID stakeholders informed about OBID activities, new developments in the district, and events in Oakland that will benefit merchants. The newsletter is intended as a membership piece, addressing the particular concerns of OBID business and property owners.
For the news our stakeholders need on an immediate basis, the Oakland BID maintains a fax/email database and can distribute information to more than 250 people in a few hours time. Information distributed in this manner centers on safety concerns, but has also included construction updates and press releases.
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ADVERTISING
Building on the success of the Oakland Restaurant and Cultural guide and the Only in Oakland shoppers guide, the OBID has begun a series of advertisements that will run in newspapers, billboards and on radio and television to inform consumers about the shopping, dining, and recreational and cultural opportunities in Oakland.
The OBID also is involved in marketing directly to employees, residents and students who live and work in Oakland on a daily basis. Through partnerships with the universities and institutions surrounding the business district, the OBID reaches out to the interests of specific audiences to educate and entice them to spend their time discovering the shopping center just outside their offices.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
2005 marked the first year of the Oakland Farmers' Market. With assistance from Western Pennsyvania Buy Fresh Buy Local, every Friday from July 1st until mid-November, local farmers provided the Oakland community with everything from fruits and vegetables to homemade breads and salsas. The Farmers' Market; which was located on Sennott Street between Atwood Street and Meyran Avenue; attracted University of Pittsburgh students, UPMC employees and Oakland residents, as well as local business owners and employees.
On Friday July 15th, the OBID hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to present the Farmers' market to the community. Guest speakers at the event included:
City Councilman Bill Peduto
City Councilman Gene Ricciardi
PA State Representative Jake Wheatley, Jr.
Mr. Jason Altmire, UPMC
Dr. John Wilds, University of Pittsburgh
Ms. Laurel Rush, PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture
Mr. Nathan Hart, Oakland Community Council
Mrs. Andrea Sobel, National City Bank
On October 7th, volunteers appeared out of the woodwork for the Day of Caring Project; a collaberation between the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Health Systems and the Oakland Business Improvement District. Several Pitt employees walked through the rain to pass out 1,000 canvas bags (donated by UPMC) to Oakland Residences and businesses providing health information, business coupons and more! This project was spear-headed by Steve Zupcic and Gwen Watkins from the University of Pittsburgh and Margaret Bell and Susan Zimecki of UPMC.
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PROMOTION COMMITTEE
The OBID Promotion Committee meets at least four times each year to evaluate and plan OBID marketing efforts. Any Oakland stakeholder is welcome to attend the Promotions Committee meetings, which will be announced to the public on this website. For more information about this and other committees, call the OBID at 412-683-OBID!
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