Thank you to everyone who joined us for a BSD Merchant  Meeting  at Vinotecca. ICYMI, here's a recap of items discussed: 

Special Events
Birmingham Farmers Market  - the 16th season will kick off on Sunday, May 6 and run every Sunday through October 28 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in Public Parking Lot 6. BSD merchants receive a free booth for two weeks during the season. Schedule your booth by contacting Ellen Yerks at 248-530-1200 or [email protected].

- Applications for the Construction Art Contest are due by Friday, April 13. Merchants are encouraged to decorate panels to promote their store.

Birmingham Bonus Bucks
The Birmingham Bonus Bucks program is underway and off to a great start. Early results show that shoppers are enjoying the program and encouraged to keep shopping in downtown Birmingham. Remember - there is NO cost to merchants; the BSD marketing budget is covering all costs. Not sure what to do when shoppers hand you a Birmingham Bonus Buck? Download instructions for merchants and share it with your staff! BSD staff members delivered postcards to businesses with BBB instructions for shoppers. To request more postcards please call the BSD office at 248-530-1200. For more information visit www.ALLINBirmingham.com/BBB .

Parking Update
In addition to two hours of free valet parking (download the valet parking map here), the City recently announced the following additional initiatives:

FREE Parking SATURDAY & SUNDAY in all Structures during Construction
 The City is now offering FREE parking on Saturday and Sunday in all City parking structures during construction. Come and visit your favorite locations in downtown Birmingham during the Old Woodward Reconstruction, and park for FREE on Saturday and Sunday in all City parking structures.
Staying More than 3 Hours? Go UP!
If you're parking in the City's parking structures for more than three hours, the City asks that you go UP. Freeing up spaces on the first and lower floors of the parking structures has the following benefits: opens 250 short-term spaces, increases traffic flow efficiency and reduces full capacity occurrences. The City appreciates your patience and understanding!
Lot Available for Monthly Permit Parking
 The City will be using the southeast corner of Maple and Old Woodward for monthly permit parking, helping to offload demand in the City parking structures. By doing this, more than 150 parking spaces are added to the parking system.
Marketing 
LSMX Licenses
There are still licenses available for LSMX through Buxton, the BSD's retail consultant. LSMX tells merchants who their customers are, where they can find others like them and helps them to target advertisements to that select group. Try the LSMX software at www.myLSMX.com. If you like the program, licenses will be given on a first-come, first-served basis to businesses expressing an interest to the BSD by e-mailing [email protected].
Kiosk
The BSD sells kiosk space at Henrietta and Maple. Promotional posters (36" wide by 62" high) can be displayed in the kiosk for three-month increments for $300. Learn more and reserve your space by calling the BSD at 248-530-1200.

Construction Update
City Engineer Paul O'Meara gave an update regarding the construction project and said the project is ahead of schedule due to favorable weather conditions. Download the most recent construction update here and the construction map.

Save the Date: The next merchant meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 16 at 8:30 a.m. at  Ceresnie & Offen Furs (181 South Old Woodward).




Birmingham Shopping District  151 Martin Street  Birmingham, MI  48009