By red

February 15, 2010 2:04 PM | Link to this

Ms. Belcher, what? A billboard with ‘Get Patented’ is better than Get Midwest? They both stink. Ref ‘Dayton Patented’.. If we’re talking about the City of Dayton, what professionals are moving there? Our history is neat, but is that a marketable attribute? And to say we have tourism is an insult to one’s intelligence. What we have that is marketable is one of the most affordable cities in the US, water, good values, just enough things to make it a great place to live. Marketing starts with understand what the customer wants. The city’s campaign is comical, get midwest isn’t the best in terms of a slogan, but what they are selling is a bullseye and the DDC does more for our area than all other groups combined. Put some businesspeople in charge and watch things get better. You do a nice job ususally Ms. Belcher, but your dig on the DDC and applauding the ‘Get Patented’ shows you don’t know anything about marketing either.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 2:30 PM | Link to this

“Maybe it was because I did not expect much….” That comment is pretty solid evidence that Dayton’s national image is somewhere between bad and non-existent.

By The Patent Sources are Gone

February 15, 2010 2:52 PM | Link to this

Unfortunatley, the biggest sources for Patents in the Dayton Area (GM, Delphi, and NCR)are now gone from the Dayton Area.

By Julie

February 15, 2010 3:36 PM | Link to this

So…Dayton stinks right now. We can sit around and complain about it or we can make an effort to improve the image and promote our location. I’m just glad to see some positive words getting out about Dayton. (have to admit though it’s a pretty lame logo)

By d

February 15, 2010 3:45 PM | Link to this

You’re highlighting a reader’s comment in a DDN story? Hopped Up Harry? How about Bozo the Clown and Tim the Toolman Taylor? Come on. This is amateur

By Skeptic

February 15, 2010 3:57 PM | Link to this

The thing to remember is that Dayton’s campaign was targeted to people already in the region who understand our shared history. The DDC campaign is designed for those outside the region who might consider moving here. So the campaigns have different goals, audiences, and market segmentation. I’m not sure most people understand that distinction.

By smiley

February 15, 2010 4:22 PM | Link to this

“Get Midwest” and “Get Patented” are way too close to “Got Milk” in my opinion. Which is a bit dated (licensed in 1998).

By Big Daddy

February 15, 2010 4:33 PM | Link to this

Tumbleweed connection used to have stickers that said” Dayton’s alright! If you have never been anywhere else” More applicable everyday.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 4:43 PM | Link to this

Perhaps another try at the slogan/logo is in order….? Dayton actually has some really good things going for it, but for the average Daytonian, the best parts of dayton have nothing to do with patents, poets, airplanes, museums, Arts, etc. In Dayton, it is possible to buy a decent place to live without working 70 hours a week to pay off the mortgage. It’s a relatively peaceful place for most of us. It’s nice to see a cow, deer, or a cornfield. If you want to be left alone in your home in the ‘burbs, that’s very possible. If you want to have a street-level interaction with others, that’s available too. Midwesterners are, for the most part, not in-your-face people. The people of Dayton generally work hard, mind their own business (with a few exceptions) and solve their own problems. Maybe the problem with the slogan/logo is that we’re working too hard at being what we think others want us to be, so they’ll come here and do business. I don’t have a specific slogan/logo in mind (I’m not in that business) but maybe there is another way of approaching this issue.

By red

February 15, 2010 5:39 PM | Link to this

@ thinkitwillsnow- very well said. I agree with you. I travel all over the country for my job and there’s no place I’d rather live and I always look forward to coming home to Dayton.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 5:49 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Red. I’ve traveled a lot, too. In many ways, we simply can’t compete with NYC, LA, Atlanta, Chicago, etc….But in a lot of ways, they can’t compete with us, either. Let’s find a way to re-frame the discussion.

By Mark W

February 15, 2010 6:49 PM | Link to this

Two problems with “Get Midwest”. First, that could apply to an awful lot of cities. There’s nothing especially Dayton about it. Second, although a lot of Ohioans like to think of Ohio as part of the midwest, the opinion is more divided outside of state. Heavily urbanized Ohio has more in common with Pennsylvania than it does Illinois, and a third of Ohio is part of Appalachia. Ohioans can disagree with outsiders who don’t think Ohio is midwestern, but right or wrong ultimately it’s up to the audience that hears the message. To them, “Get Midwest” promotes places west of Ohio.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 7:09 PM | Link to this

Good points, Mark.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 7:23 PM | Link to this

One additional thought: I think we stand a better chance of marketing the outlying communities as sites for potential businesses, than convincing businesses to locate in City of Dayton. “Saving” downtown and bringing businesses to the greater Dayton area are two separate matters. We always hear that the fate of the suburbs is linked to Dayton….that’s probably somewhat true, but I’m not convinced the link is that strong or that it matters to a business. Dayton’s been de-populating for quite some time now, and it will eventually “right-size”. I suggest we let that process occur, and let the chips fall as they may for City of Dayton.

By Chris

February 15, 2010 7:57 PM | Link to this

I’m glad USA Today likes Dayton Patented, unfortunately I only like to complain.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 8:06 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Chris. Now go outside and play in the snow.

By Mark W

February 15, 2010 8:15 PM | Link to this

Perceptions of a region are often driven by perceptions of the core city. The actual problems of the core city also often begin spilling out into the nearby suburbs. Business site selection teams do consider such things. Regardless of the “common fate” argument, though… The suburban lifestyle is good for a lot of people, but it’s not for everyone. Both the young and to a lesser extent the empty nesters include a number of people who prefer more urban lifestyles. If such people are part of a business’s targeted employee group or targeted customer base, that business will have reasons to prefer locations that feature both suburban and urban lifestyle experiences. I doubt that downtown Dayton will ever resemble its heydey again, but a reasonably livable downtown both helps to convey regional health and provides more lifestyle choices to help business recruit and retain talent. Most midsize cities have at least some decent suburbs like the Dayton area has. But currently the Dayton region is at a competitive disadvantage vs. cities and regions that offer both suburban and urban lifestyles.

By Think it'll snow?

February 15, 2010 8:23 PM | Link to this

You make a valid point, Mark. I’m just wondering if “a reasonably livable” Dayton proper might not be considerably smaller in population (but more livable) in a decade or so. Maybe simply managing the downsizing as painlessly as possible might be the wisest option. Swim with the tide, or exhaust ourselves fighting it….?

By Gary

February 16, 2010 1:13 AM | Link to this

That’s nice, I’m glad they like the slogan. Maybe that will convince good people into coming to Dayton; because right now the slogan for Dayton appears to be “Looking for a hand out or a hide out come to Dayton”. If you want to save Dayton, save the neighborhoods and just not in the Dunbar district. Why would I or anyone move a company to a city that a large parcel of the housing is abandonned or rentals and the US Marshals spent a lot of time here looking for running crinmals? Just a opinion…

By Barry

February 16, 2010 1:52 AM | Link to this

A more fitting slogan for Dayton would be “Get Carjacked”

By Carter

February 16, 2010 2:34 AM | Link to this

I guess when your “stuck” in Dayton like Ellen Belcher because your not good enough to get a job at a larger market newpaper or media outlook, then you do have to look for any good news regarding the dump, in this case its Dayton, that your living. Many of DDN writers are ignorant about the lifeless dump Dayton has become.

By Geico

February 16, 2010 4:56 AM | Link to this

Dayton…it’s the bees knees!

By FreedomWriter

February 16, 2010 8:06 AM | Link to this

Dayton: (The place where History is STILL being made everyday!) Or Dayton: (Re-worked!) Dayton: (Open for Business)

By FreedomWriter

February 16, 2010 8:07 AM | Link to this

Dayton: (The place where History is STILL being made everyday!) Or Dayton: (Re-worked!) Dayton: (Open for Business)

By FreedomWriter

February 16, 2010 8:11 AM | Link to this

Sorry about the double posting.. Great connection here on my ened with TWC RR.. Need i say more?

By FreedomWriter

February 16, 2010 8:14 AM | Link to this

See what i mean.. Opps (End)

By William

February 16, 2010 9:57 AM | Link to this

Dayton does have a lot to offer, it just needs a plan and someone competent to run it.

By Swingin sweetie

February 16, 2010 9:59 AM | Link to this

We should highlight the areas on North Dixie. The Dayton Swim Club for instance is world renowned. I got a bad case of herpes there once, but other than that all positive experiences w/my hubby and I and others…lol.

By gaping ahole

February 16, 2010 10:07 AM | Link to this

i loves a

By null

February 16, 2010 10:25 AM | Link to this

One must consider the source when it comes to complaints. Class acts like carter truly understand what they’re talking about. Just looking at what cartwer wrote it’s easy to tell he’s a dump all by himself.

By davidss2

February 16, 2010 10:46 AM | Link to this

Dayton, open for business! is the best one so far. I keep putting myself in the mindset of a small business or large business person. Seeing that in an ad for Dayton would catch my eye if I were open to expanding or moving. I would wonder how “open” they were in the way of tax breaks, incentives, etc., to move to Dayton or the Dayton region.—————People need to start realizing that Dayton is dead, done. Dayton needs to help the suburban areas get businesses cooking; that will employ people from Dayton City, the ones who don’t have the entitlement mentality that Obama and Friends are trying to increase still with all the programs to take care of people. Now that Dem. McLin has failed, maybe Dayton can start changing the spirit of their people, but I doubt it. So talk here needs to be about the region, not just dumping money into the city itself. Dayton City needs to put up cameras that check for insurance on cars, red-light violations, speeding, drugs, drunk drivers, and old-time politicians from the CJ McLin era who think they can steal money from the public coffers and get by with it (well, they have for the most part gotten by with it), but Trammell seems to have been given a bypass in the media through the years along with others. So the media can take the fault here.

By Marketing goof

February 16, 2010 10:58 AM | Link to this

Dumb name… enough said. Hopefully the new mayor will not make the mistakes of the old one.

By K

February 16, 2010 11:01 AM | Link to this

I’m a Dayton original and grad of Dayton Public High School, Wright State University for undergraduate and medical school, and trained at a Dayton residency. Now I’m a primary care physician practicing and living within the Dayton city limits. Professionals born, raised, and trained in Dayton are still here!

By T

February 16, 2010 11:03 AM | Link to this

Dear K - That’s really cool!! We need more people like you.

By fortressdayton

February 16, 2010 11:12 AM | Link to this

Before you can advertise something, it has to have something marketable (besides history). Cute slogans will not create jobs, products or infrastructure. If they did, then North Korea would be the paradise their propaganda says that it is. If we want to be honest with ourselves, then we need to address our delusions: let’s say ‘Tech-building’ instead of ‘Tech-Town’; change ‘Dayton Patented’ to ‘Dayton Foreclosed’. Our city is like a pretty woman with a big cancerous lesion on her lip. You can’t get past the way our city looks to outsiders. Santa Clara is the 9th emptiest neighborhood in the US (!). Robert Mugabe couldn’t have done a better job running this city into the ground. We can use cute phrases all day, but until we admit the ugly truth to ourselves, nothing will get better.

By t

February 16, 2010 11:51 AM | Link to this

Like I said ….maybe market the ‘burbs? Fortressdayton makes very valid points. I honestly don’t know how to fix Dayton. That it has been run into the ground is pretty obvious. Is it fixable? Anybody?

By Think it'll snow?

February 16, 2010 12:13 PM | Link to this

How about this: Wright Patt is developing UAV technology. What if some of the really small UAVs were used to patrol the lousy neighborhoods in Dayton? This gives the UAV development people a chance to perfect their product and gain real-world experience deploying it, and helps law enforcement in Dayton. As far as privacy goes, once you are outdoors, your right to privacy is essentially zero - witness all of the paparazzi. Just a thought…

By Stephen Lahanas

February 16, 2010 12:25 PM | Link to this

Well, as I’ve posted here before, my son & I came up with this slogan after hearing about the other awful campaigns in 2008: “Birthplace of Innovation: Where Opportunity Takes Flight.” Even started up a blog [http://miami-valley-usa.blogspot.com] to try to get some coherent strategy going - but nothing in this town seems to happen outside a few small circles of elites, like the DDC who sells access for political influence -which is why we’re in the mess we’re in. We don’t need to spend $20 million a year on marketing - the money needs to go into real projects & businesses…

By JB

February 16, 2010 12:34 PM | Link to this

“Branding” Dayton is nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig. The “brand” is not some catchy slogan - its the experience of living in Dayton, and what precisely is that experience? The sames as any other boarded up rust belt city in the Midwest, dilapidated infrastructure, high crime, etc.

By It's Great in Dayton!!!

February 16, 2010 1:50 PM | Link to this

Just when Dayton’s plight seems hopeless…he appears. Wearing a weird hat, his pockets bulging with fraudulently-obtained cash…he’s Raleigh Trammell, the only man that can save Dayton (cue music). “What’s all this $hit about slogans and logos? Re-branding? I made all kinds of money, and never did any of that cr@p!” Just then, a federal auditor steps out of the shadows. “I’ve been looking for you, SKANK-BUTT” he says with a sneer. Trammell turns to face his accuser, and quickly sizes up the situation. “Uh….well…ummm…see ya later!” His strange little hat falls off as he sprints out the door. The auditor slowly walks over and picks it up off the floor. “This hat is probably all the restitution we’ll get from this guy. I’ll keep it on my desk as a reminder of ‘the skank that got away’.

By Think it'll snow?

February 16, 2010 9:18 PM | Link to this

I like it!

By Riverdog

February 17, 2010 7:51 AM | Link to this

Dayton : “Love It or Leave It” The fatal thinking is the “Burbs” are substainable. If Dayton kept water service in the city limits,alot of so called great places to live would be dry. We stretched infrastructure at extreme costs to kill the inner city which we are dependent on for services. Short sighted and ill informed should be the brand of Montgomery County.

By Leave Dayton ASAP!!

February 20, 2010 7:27 PM | Link to this

More reason to leave Dayton ASAP. DAYTON — Thieves are ransacking southeast Dayton, breaking into homes and cars at a pace that has police overwhelmed and asking for the community’s help. Reports of home burglaries there are up 44 percent this year and on pace to race past 2009’s five-year high of 732, according to Dayton Police Department data. Car break-ins have soared from 58 reported at this time last year to 139 through Sunday, Feb. 14 — a 140 percent increase.

By fortressdayton

February 24, 2010 11:26 AM | Link to this

For those of you who are interested in stats: 9 out of 10 children attending Dayton Public Schools are eligible for free/subsidized meals. Welfare fraud is up….hang on to your hat, Raleigh!!…700%!. How do you market that??

By It's Great in Dayton!!

February 24, 2010 10:39 PM | Link to this

IN ADDITION TO FORTRESSDAYTON’S NUMBERS——FROM DDN: “…even before the new budget was adopted, January 2010 city income tax receipts fell lower than projected. Income tax revenue this January fell 6.57 percent compared to January 2009. The city anticipated a 2 percent drop. Income tax revenue of $110 million in 2008, that was projected to decrease to $105 million in 2009, actually fell to $100 million last year.” —-DAYTON’S DYING.—-