The key to success for many organizations are its volunteers.

A shining example of what volunteers can do is with the Buffalo Central Terminal.  The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation has a large group of people who dedicate their time to helping keep this treasure alive.  People help with everything from cleaning to marketing.  They do it because the believe in and love the Terminal.  Their efforts have taken the building from being on the brink to being Buffalo’s unofficial convention and events center.

The Broadway Market needs the same type of group.

If you look at the love a lot of WNYers have for the Broadway Market, it would be easy to create a large and dedicated group of people to  volunteer at the market. This group could help fill the gaps in many areas where the market needs help.

There are people who already volunteer and help the Broadway Market.  I do it. But there is no organized effort or plan to build a volunteer group.  It just makes sense to do so.

A volunteer group could bring needed skills, ideas, energy, excitement and create a sense of community ownership to the market.  Volunteers would also become market’s best ambassadors because they believe in it.

Like I said, EASY.

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To read the complete series of articles, click here—>

Please join the Broadway Market on Saturday May 12, 2012 at the Broadway Market as they celebrate Mom!

We will have some special vendors on hand along with our traditional vendors!

The Carol McLaughlin Jazz Ensemble will take the Market Stage from 11am to 2pm!!!

Music, food, flowers and MOM!!!

http://broadwaymarket.org

From the Broadway Market’s website:

In addition to a our year-round vendors, these businesses will be at the Market next Saturday, 05/12/2012.

Vetter Vineyard
7 Vines Vineyard
Chateau Buffalo
Headstone Heat
Adams Apples
Hands and Paws Treats
Sunrise Bakery

If you want a cake for mom, the Market’s very own Melanie’s Sweets Unlimited makes a variety of Mother’s Day Cakes!

Unyts will also be holding a blood drive on Saturday. (click here for more info)

Music, Food, Flowers & MOM!!!

Please join the Broadway Market on Saturday May 12, 2012 at the Broadway Market as they celebrate Mom!

We will have some special vendors on hand along with our traditional vendors!

The Carol McLaughlin Jazz Ensemble will take the Market Stage from 11am to 2pm!!!

Music, food, flowers and MOM!!!

http://broadwaymarket.org

First, I thought I could finish this series before Easter.  As life would have it, I could not.

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Out of sight, out of mind.

A majority of publicity the Broadway Market receives is at Easter time.  No big news to you, right?

The whole Easter experience has become such a huge Buffalo tradition that hardly any advertising is needed during this time.  People come, local media does a ton of stories and the spotlight is on 999 Broadway. The problem is attracting people the rest of the year.

Some vendors in the market do their own advertising and that is great.  But the Broadway Market needs some innovation to help keep the it in the public’s eye year-round.  An easy way to do this would be to pool the resources of existing market vendors.  Vendors should be active partners in the trying to make the place a year-round destination.

The Broadway Market could create a program where vendors participate in an advertising plan that would be mutually beneficial to the market as whole.  Think weekly or monthly ads promoting specials.  Whether it be print, radio or TV, the market would be selling itself to the public.  People need to be reminded that the Broadway Market is open for business and what it has to offer.

Easy…

To read the rest of the series, click here—>

The Master Gardeners of Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension will be offering up a course in the basics of gardening at the Broadway Market (in the old Key Bank) this Saturday, April 28th from 9 A.M. – 12 P.M.

This class is free and open to the public, so bring a pal and get a head start on planning your garden this year with advice from the experts!

There will be something for everyone!

http://broadwaymarket.org

Want to Garden?

Come to the Broadway Market Community Roof Garden Information Meeting on Saturday, April 21st at 3:30 PM on the roof (weather permitting, or, if not, in the old Key Bank Center).

To get to the roof, take the stairwell nearest to Strawberry Island or the the Lombard Street side ramp up.

You can find out more by visiting the garden’s application—> or The garden’s Facebook page—>

The Broadway Market should host after hours events throughout the year.

Whether events are run by the market or someone else, it can benefit.

Take a look around town and you will see a number of events being held at unique places.  Just this past weekend, Boom Days was held inside of a grain elevator.  Places like the Larkin @ Exchange building host events on a regular basis.  Heck, take a ride down from the market on Gibson to Paderewski and look at the events the Central Terminal puts on…people, businesses and organizations love to go to and have events at one of a kind spaces.  The Broadway Market fits the bill.

The market has a history of hosting special after hours events.  From Dyngus Day to public meetings to Hallwalls’ Artist and Models to everything in-between, the Broadway Market has proven it can successfully do it.

Establishing itself as an event venue will accomplish a few things.

• Increase exposure
• Attract different types of audiences
• Build reputation
• Build brand
• Generate income

Again, the whole goal here is to make the Broadway Market a year-round destination.

To take it a little further, the market has a 100,000 sq. ft. roof/parking lot.  This has to be the most underutilized space of the Broadway Market.   It offers unique views the neighborhood and downtown.  It could easily be used for a wide variety of summer events and essentially a blank canvas.  A one of a kind cool space in Buffalo.

As the title of this post and series suggests, EASY.

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The entire series of articles can be viewed by clicking here—>

(click on images for full view)

Had a great time at the Broadway Market yesterday!!!

The Easter Season is simply incredible for the neighborhood.  The influx of people visiting the churches, coming for Dyngus Day and shopping at the Broadway Market is wonderful.