The Town Center Owners’ Association, Inc. (TCOA) has enhanced the ‘merchant support system’ that is designed to promote and enhance the businesses in the Town Center. Their hard work is paying off as more people are supporting the businesses in the Town Center.
At the request of its business member, this past summer, the master developer, Simkins Holdings, LLC re-designed and re-constructed Fire Pit Park to accommodate a wider array of events and activities. The park features a signature Fire Pit, a timber-framed bus shelter, a sound system, and a couple of grassy knolls to accommodate the strong events schedule hosted by the Town Center.
The new bus shelter was strategically located on Ousel Falls Road to make the bus transfer process go more smoothly. Skyline Bus service estimated that there were over 100,000 riders in a four month period last winter, with these riders loading and unloading near the shops, restaurants, and cafes at the Town Center.
Skyline and the Town Center also partnered up this year to initiate the new Park-n-Ride program where people park their cars in the Town Center and ride the bus on a non-stop trip right up to the base of the steps at Big Sky Resort.  This program was created to offer an eco-friendly and cost effective way for residents and visitors to gain direct access to the ski lifts. For parents with young children, the Park-n-Ride system could prove to be easier than parking at the resort, and parents with older kids can see them off at the Park-n-Ride area knowing that the non-stop ride up the mountain will get them right where they need to be, and back again safely. Once back at the Town Center, skiers can enjoy a number of shopping and dining options, including four restaurants. Park-n-Ride users also receive discount coupons for Town Center businesses, including Choppers Grub and Pub, Wokkee Mountain Kitchens, Huckleberry Café, The Root, The Cave Spirits and Gifts, Grizzly Outfitters (free hot wax!), and others.
Another benefit of locating in the Town Center is the extensive events schedule which helps bring the community together right at the Town Center. Events of 2008 included: a Corvette rally, MT Motorcycle Roundup, LaCense Horse Ranch open house, community appreciation concert at Fire Pit Park, and the fall brought the first annual Halloween Bash for the kids. Winter events have included Pancakes with Santa, the annual Christmas Stroll, and the ongoing popular community ice skating rink and bonfires in Fire Pit Park. Adding to these events for 2009, they’re making plans to host the Big Sky Festival of the Arts (proudly sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce), Winter Warm-Up (benefit for Big Sky LIFT), music on main concerts, and even a farmers market series with six dates. Every event gives local businesses the chance to participate with sponsorships and prizes, and adds foot traffic to businesses in Town Center.
The Town Center also recently launched an extensive new website designed to be a resource for visitors planning their trip to Big Sky. The entire website has been optimized to capture website traffic from search engines like Google and Yahoo. Each business in the Town Center has its own webpage complete with a photo slideshow, map, coupons, customer comment/ratings section, business information, and of course hours and contact information. The website allows each of the member businesses to publish content (coupons, offers, news releases, events) to promote their business. Businesses may also use the website to easily send monthly mailings to e-mail subscribers, and publish printed versions in the Town Center Lifestyles newspaper. Marketing studies have proven that when businesses publish their customer reviews, they stand to boost client satisfaction, loyalty, and acquisition. This allows a business to respond quickly to problem areas and to respond with a quick e-mail or gift thanking those who left great reviews. Another feature is a messaging system and forum that allows business owners/managers to communicate and coordinate with other Town Center merchants, with the goal of promoting coordination of events, sales, etc.
Town Center Lifestyles publication is a unique media and advertising outlet for businesses and residential developments in the Town Center. Lifestyles is a newspaper format publication/newsletter featuring Town Center businesses and projects, and current events in the area. Lifestyles publishes the first week of each month, and it inserts into The Big Sky Weekly or The Sun newspaper. It is also distributed independently in racks and participating locations throughout the Gallatin Valley including car rental providers, hotels, and airports the rest of the month. Lifestyles incorporates business profiles, market information, a calendar of events, area attractions and amenities, and real estate. Due to minimal overhead, the advertising rates remain low, and any advertising revenue goes back to the TCOA to further promote the businesses through events and other means.
In all, the Town Center is working hard to make their businesses successful. Big Sky has often been criticized for the lack of shopping, dining, and entertainment options as compared to other western mountain resorts. The Town Center will Continue to bring these amenities and more to enhance the experience of the resident and visitor. The Town Center has proven to be an important member of the community with generous support of parks and trails, water and sewer district facilities, event coordination and sponsorship, and with fiscally and environmentally responsible development practices. The Big Sky Town Center thanks the Big Sky community for its generous support over the years! Bigskytowncenter.com