MERCHANT NEWS
From the HVMC
July 2024: HVMC Announces Leadership Changes
Monday, July 8, 2024
Dear Merchants of Hayes Valley and Members of the HVMC,
I am gratified to accept the role of President of the Hayes Valley Merchants Council and want to thank you all for trusting me with this important position. As the founder of a Legacy Business that has been located in Hayes Valley since 1994, I am devoted to continuing the work for our neighborhood that I’ve been doing alongside Lloyd Silverstein since 2020. As I take on this new role, I promise to continue to work to support our merchant community’s shared interests and to help ensure that our corridor continues to thrive, with a leading directive of promoting cooperation across all industries represented in the area.
I am additionally pleased to announce my fellow board members:
Vice President: MaryMar Keenan, MMClay
Treasurer: Megan Ray, Miette
Secretary: Marianne Faulkner, Dark Garden Unique Corsetry
Board Member at Large: Adelina Matinca, Wildling Shoes
I warmly invite members of our merchant community to join the HVMC and contribute their voices and time.
Goals and Plans for the Council
Boost Member Engagement and Communication
I want to make sure we're all more connected and engaged. Communication is key and my plans include the following:
Continue Monthly Newsletters and additional bulletins to keep everyone updated on the latest news, events, and opportunities
Hold Quarterly Meet-Ups: These will be great chances for us to share ideas, discuss concerns, and collaborate with our neighbors
Continue to Improve Our Digital Presence: We are in the midst of upgrading our website and planning new collaborative social media opportunities
Continue to support the Merchants Community WhatsApp group for Safety and Crime concerns
Continue Our Work of Advocating for Business-Friendly Policies
Our council should be a strong voice for policies that help businesses and I believe the role of an effective Merchants Council is to:
Work with Local Government to make sure our concerns about cleanliness and safety are heard
Push for Regulatory Reforms to make it easier to do business without unnecessary hurdles
Build Partnerships with other organizations to strengthen our advocacy efforts
Promote Local Business: A strong local economy helps all of us and my plans include;
Organizing even more community events to draw more customers to our businesses and foster a sense of community
Robust Marketing Campaigns to showcase the unique offerings of our members and encourage local shopping, dining, and socializing
Pursue city initiatives to support local small business
Foster a Supportive Community
I want our council to be known for its supportive and inclusive culture and this includes:
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: Ensuring equal opportunities for all members
Offering Peer Support Networks: Where members can share challenges and find support
Celebrating Successes Together: Recognizing and celebrating our members' achievements
In conclusion, I'm very optimistic about the future of our council. By working together, I believe we can achieve great things and continue to make our community a thriving hub for commerce and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with each of you and welcome your ideas and feedback.
Thank you once again for this opportunity. Let’s move forward with determination and unity to reach our shared goals.
Best regards,
Autumn Adamme
(she/her)
Founder of Dark Garden Unique Corsetry
President, Hayes Valley Merchants Council
Dear Fellow Merchants,
Four years ago, a committed group of business owners got together to form what has become the Hayes Valley Merchants Council. Our purpose was to give our individual businesses a platform to share our common goals and concerns, and then act on them with one strong voice to make Hayes Valley a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant commercial corridor.
When I took on the role of Founding President, my intention was to formalize our Council, build our board, and lead us for the first year. Then the pandemic hit and everything changed. We quickly shifted into triage mode, doing whatever we could to support our struggling businesses. We addressed crime and dirty streets head-on. We scheduled community events to bring people back to Hayes Valley and into our businesses. We built a public-facing website and engaged via social media to market Hayes Valley as the premier shopping and dining destination that it is. We worked with City agencies and private grantors to support our efforts.
Now after four years, Hayes Valley has roared back and it is time for fresh energy and new leadership to take HVMC to the next level. I have stepped down as President effective June 30th, according to our by-laws. I will remain on the board for one additional year in the role as Immediate Past-President to serve as a resource as needed.
I am thrilled to announce that Autumn Adamme, owner of Dark Garden and previously our Vice President, has assumed the Presidency. As she is one of Hayes Valley’s legacy business owners, I could not be leaving HVMC in more capable hands.
We have achieved much of what we set out to do, but there is still more work ahead. I hope you will join me in supporting HVMC and your new board.
In community,
Lloyd Silverstein
Immediate Past-President, HVMC
Owner, Optical Underground
Community Bulletin Board! A reminder that the community bulletin board on Proxy is open to all date-specific special event fliers. In addition to clearly stating the date of the event, fliers should be 8.5” x 11” or smaller. Please reach out via email to explorehayesvalley@gmail.com for review before submitting a physical flier to be posted on your behalf. Priority is given to paid members of the HVMC and we reserve the right to decide which items are included as part of this free, public communication service. Click through here for more information about joining the HVMC.
Get Social! Make sure your social media manager is following us over at Instagram and using #explorehayesvalley in your own neighborhood related posts. It’s also the best way to help ensure a follow-back, but always feel free to reach out to us via explorehayesvalley@gmail.com to get connected to our social media team. We are always looking to collaborate with businesses in the neighborhood, particularly members of the HVMC.
Got News? Do you have a news item that you would like to submit for inclusion in our monthly newsletter? Are you running a special promotion and looking for more exposure via email and online? Are there items you would like to see included on our calendar? Send us the details via email 30 days in advance (if possible) to explorehayesvalley@gmail.com for review, as we welcome your input and content suggestions. Note that priority is given to paid members of the HVMC and we reserve the right to decide which items are included as part of our communication services. Want to become a paid member of the HVMC? Click through here for more information and to join us.