Vicky Day Weekend; Who’s Behind It & Why You Need To Take Part!
The following is a blog written by the incredible, Dominque Léger, owner of In Pursuit Mobile Boutique & In Pursuit The Uptown Boutique, outlining all you need to know about the upcoming Vicky Day weekend! We CANNOT CONTAIN our excitement and couldn't resist sharing this piece with the Tuck community!
"I'm a fixer." - Beth Fullerton Thursday, May 9th. Also, Dominique Léger, every day of my life for 41 years.
"In March I, along with Clare from Paddington Station and Anne McShane from The Feel Good Store put together an event called "Get Lucky Uptown." This event was created and executed in less than 3 weeks, became a neighbourhood-wide scratch & save bonanza that included 37 businesses offering deals and discounts plus a passport giveaway entry that awarded one participant over $2000 in donated prizes.
Did we do this because we like to have fun? Sure. More importantly (and more truthfully) did we do this out of a deep desire to help all of the businesses around us who had been very obviously struggling and asking for help? Absolutely. Regardless of what any statistics or numbers may dictate, the facts are that street level retail has seen a dramatic decline in foot traffic since 2019 and in 2024 we are struggling to get people back to the core.
The event was an instant success. Both for participating businesses and also for locals who were given something incredible to look forward to along with an opportunity to take part in a fun scavenger hunt of sorts without spending a lot of money. (You needed 5 stamps on your passport to enter the draw but did not need to make a purchase in order to get a stamp. My thinking behind this was just because someone doesn't have the means to spend today, it doesn't mean they didn't enjoy the experience or ambiance and won't brag about it to someone else and/or come back at a different time to make a purchase. People in = people in and that's worth something. I didn't want anyone to feel like they were being penalized for not spending.)
Days after this event, still flying high off the fumes of incredible feedback and thank you messages, I received an email from Judith Mackin owner of incomparable TUCK STUDIO. She asked if we could talk. She said she was fired up to see people on the street again and wanted to know what else we could do to keep the momentum going. Any time I've ever spent with Judith has inspired me in insurmountable ways. I actually couldn't wait to connect and see what we could come up with.
We hashed out some rough ideas of what we could do next. Something similar, but different. Even MORE inclusive than the last time. I said I was down for anything but it couldn't be marketed as "a sale." We aren't big box retailers faking high prices in order to offer 60% off events every 2nd week. We are inspired. We are community driven. We compete on a world class stage against some of the most well known boutiques, brands, home decor outfitters, entertainment venues, bars and restaurants worldwide and we WIN time and time again. We are relentlessly driven by the people we serve and by those we have hired to act as front facing ambassadors for our businesses. What Saint John offers is unique, it's eclectic, it's unmatched and unparalleled and THIS is what needed to be showcased in our next event.
Translation: Our magic.
We decided it should happen on Victoria Day long weekend. The unofficial start to Summer, aka the grand exodus from the city center to camps, cottages, vacation homes and "anywhere but here" destinations near and far. We also decided our next recruit would be legendary Ray Gracewood, President of AREA 506. If our event was going to be inclusive, why not start from the Bay and work our way up?"
This is a chance to kick-off the summer season with a BANG! So grab your friends and make a weekend of it! With over 60 places to visit, there's something for everyone! From a High Tea Platter at East Coast Bistro, a Galbraith Florists pop-up shop at In Pursuit, and the first two Waterfront Concert Series shows at the AREA 506 Container Village featuring Sloan and Pretty in Pink, there are plenty of ways to 'Unleash the Season'!
"Judith called Ray. Ray was in. Along with Ray came brilliant and impeccably organized Sarah Tippett. Along with Judith also came Heather, who is incredibly clever and a creative force in her own right. From there we needed a voice from the restaurant industry and here entered Moe Arsenault, owner of Rocky's Sports Bar & Beer Bread Pizza with a unique perspective.
I'll save you the notes from our brainstorming sessions but at some point prim & proper sounding Victoria shortened to Vicky and Vicky became a bad ass b* inspired by royalty, the Sex Pistols and the "We Can Do It!" posters from the 40's. Because guess what? Hell yeah, we can do it."
"For Get Lucky, because we had such a small window from creation to execution, I wanted everyone to agree to do the same thing. For Vicky Day, we wanted everyone to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of being as creative as they wanted to be. We wanted owners to showcase the very best version of themselves from May 16th - May 19th, however that translated in their own minds.
Our next step was to pitch and if the pitch was successful, the word would then spread organically through our group of ambassadors. We set the meeting for 8:30am on a Friday morning at In Pursuit. We didn't offer free coffee. No donuts. We didn't even have chairs. Yet, THE ROOM WAS FULL. In what was the most beautiful coming together of business owners and supporters all with the same goal in mind, we pitched, we answered questions and we received a resounding "let's do it" from everyone who attended."
"The inaugural Vicky Day Weekend runs from May 16th - May 19th, 2024 (make sure to double check the hours for your favorite business when you're making plans!). We have over 60 participating businesses and over 100 prizes to giveaway with our passport program. There's a cruise ship in port on Thursday. The Container Village at Area506 opens on May 16th (also Thursday). On Friday night, Sloan plays the Area 506 stage and Pretty and Pink lights up Area 506 on Saturday night. All galleries and retailers are staying open until 7pm on May 16th. In Pursuit will be offering 3 days of Tax Free on the entire store, Eleven NB is our special guest on Thursday and Galbraith Florist joins us with hand tied bouquets on Saturday. When I tell you the streets are going to be FULL, the STREETS ARE GOING TO BE FULL. There are deals, discounts, signature cocktails, special menu items, activations, pop-ups, (heck! you can even get a piercing at Obscurity during the event!), free gifts with purchase, crafts, bubbles, tarot readings, live musical performances and the best damn vibes in the whole province.
We need your support, your encouragement and your business more than ever. We need you to show up for us in the same way we are showing up for each other.
Watch the Podcast, share the event, search your favorite store or restaurant and see what they're up to. Take the afternoon off work. Make a whole weekend out of it! Challenge your friends to get the most passport stamps and then book a table at East Coast Bistro and chat about it while you dine on their shareable high tea platter. Have you ever tried Axe Throwing? Woodchucks is offering it at 20% off for the weekend! Imperial Theatre is offering Tea & Tours. Can you even imagine!? A free gift at your fave store, a discount at another, a signature cocktail somewhere, an English style meal at Britt's and a tour of Imperial Theatre and you've barely scratched the surface of your 60+ stops on your passport."
At Tuck, EVERYTHING in store (even art!) will be included in our scratch-to-win, for a chance to save up to 40% off your entire in-store purchase! Also included in with every purchase (first 200) will be A FREE 8 x 10 limited edition art print from Robert Moore. Plus, the chance to win the original painting, 'We are Mildly Amused'! And shop our Hello Chocolate Pop-Up Shop, featuring the best craft chocolate from around the world!
This weekend is going to be incredible. We already can't wait to hear all about how you decided to stay in town or get your out of town pals to visit Saint John for Vicky Day Weekend. Make sure you tag us & vickyday.ca in all your social media posts!
For more details: www.vickyday.ca
