A report prepared by tourism consultant Roger Brooks of the Seattle-based firm Destination Development Inc. In order to get the most out of this presentation, we recommend that you review all three parts, as pertinent information is interspersed throughout. Includes remarks related to Weymouth and Bear River.

2. Weymouth

3. Our introduction to Weymouth was less than flattering. People
judge the book by the cover. Look at your gateways.

4. First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions
The rule of perceived value

15. WHAT TO DO
Always put your gateway signs where you will make the
first, best impression.

17. We did eventually find it. Nice visitor information center. Can use
some curb appeal though.

18. Overall we didn’t see much in the town. Suggestion: The word
“gateway” is something you pass through to go somewhere else.

20. Anything down any of these rural roads?

21. Bear River

22. What a charming little community - and one probably overlooked by
a lot of visitors. A must-visit town while in the area.

23. The cafe is very inviting.
Suggestion: Change the red
lettering to yellow.
Curb appeal is terrific.

24. This is one of the best galleries
we’ve seen in the province. It is
Bear River’s “anchor tenant.”

25. Promote Your Anchor Tenants
The mall mentality rule

34. This really is a terrific gallery.

35. NOTE: People are four
times more likely to buy
art when they meet the
artist.

36. A nice central gathering space. Suggestion: Add some half barrels
with evergreen shrubs in them.

37. Always promote what it is you sell before the name of the business.
We weren’t sure what this place is - or was. Still in business?

38. Great job. Good sign.
While we don’t know what
Myrtle & Rosie’s Shoppe sells,
we assume it’s an ice cream
parlour.

39. This little gallery can use some curb appeal. It’s a little light on
offerings - inventory.

40. Unfortunately, the ugliest storefront is located at the primary
gateway. Add some benches and half-barrels. People were sitting on
the window ledges.

41. Reminder:
Women account for 80% of all spending.

42. Think benches.

44. Make the guys comfortable.

45. “The town on stilts.” Very charming and quaint.

47. Good information
center. Add 24/7
information.
We had to come back
a second time when it
was open.

48. We also visited Oddacity Designs.

50. We also visited the museum.

51. Great Stories Make the
Campfire Memorable
The rule of stories versus artifacts

52. 1. The average museum visit lasts between 20 and 40
minutes.
Museum notes:
2. If you can captivate the visitor for two hours, spending
will increase.
3. Museums MUST learn to tell stories, not just display
artifacts with facts and figures.
4. No offense, but visitors don’t really care who donated
various items.

56. By the way, the things they make are a funding source for the
museum’s operation.

58. The Wallace & Area Museum also did a great job telling stories.

59. Good! Visitor information ahead.

60. Now what? Where is it? Make sure you finish the job with your
wayfinding efforts.

61. Real Men Don’t Ask For Directions
The rule of wayfinding

63. Community Services
Visitor Attractions/Amenities

67. We would have never found the visitor info center had it not been
for these hand made signs. Move the sign down a meter.

68. Same here. Suggestion: Have a wayfinding system developed for the
entire area.

69. Here we go!

70. Suggestions: Add murals to the building to give it some appeal. Add
some native landscaping instead of the lawn area.

71. When are you open? We tried three times and finally gave up.

72. This looks like a great activity - but out of business? Invite us back!

73. What a shame. And a missed opportunity.

74. Had we not been doing an assessment, we would have never found
these other attractions - including the two wineries.

75. With your wayfinding system, you must put up “reminder signs.” Ten
k/m feels like 20 to first-time visitors. We nearly gave up. Twice.

76. It DOES exist! Very nice sign. Beautiful setting.

77. Open? Suggestion: When open replace the “welcome” with “OPEN.”

78. Really? We drive onto the lawn?

79. No sure if it’s open. Visitors are uncomfortable going into private
homes. What is the specialty here? What are the hours? Just walk in?

80. We were only able to find half the galleries listed in the Bear River
gallery guide.

81. When we found them we had a hard time knowing whether or not
they were open to the public.

82. We also found the other winery and got a very nice tour of the
winery, the process, and grounds. Nicely done. Gracious hosts.

84. Pros:
• Nice photos
Suggestions:
• Jettison the generic (A place like no other!)
• Cut the text by two-thirds
• Beef up the size of the photos
• Use bullet points
• Concentrate on the artisan brand
• Provide a better map

85. Pros:
• Wonderful descriptions
• Sounds fascinating - and worth the trip
Suggestions:
• No professional, high quality look
• Print it in color
• Add photography
• This is worth taking up a notch - a big notch

86. Pros:
• A beautiful brochure
• Very compelling
• Excellent photography
• Very good descriptions
Suggestions:
• Map is a “start over” proposition. It needs
to be in scale, more accurate, provide street
names and better location information.