Comments on: Beg these senators to stop a tourism travesty

By: Barb Skidmore

Barb Skidmore — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:35:50 +0000

It’s working so why break it ? This campaign did work very well and needs a more reliable source of funding. If a private company has dropping sales does it end its advertising/marketing program first ? We have a great product at a given and fair price, it’s Michigan, and people are buying it, increasingly. Over the years our Legislature has let many good industries slip away, right before our eyes. We are known for auto, agriculture and tourism. These are our core industries. Must we witness the unravelling of yet another job creator in this State, just because our Legislature cannot punch their way out of a wet paper sack ?

By: John Czarnecki

John Czarnecki — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:28:11 +0000

This is simply bad public policy to pass this legislation. So we should allocate the sales tax revenue from restaurants to promoting eating out. Sales tax revenue from retail stores to promoting shop locally. It is the legislatures responsibility to allocate tax dollars to critical needs. I do believe we need to increase our dollars going into promotion but putting it into law is not the right thing to do.

By: Cindy Timmerman

Cindy Timmerman — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:42:56 +0000

I agree with Merilee – not only does the Pure Michigan campaign promote tourism, but it shows the rest of the nation that Michigan can offer a stellar quality of life – and makes a weary Michigan public proud. Continued funding of this campaign makes economic sense – dollars and cents. We are worth the investment.

By: Merilee Griffin

Merilee Griffin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:38:33 +0000

The Pure Michigan campaign is great for tourism, no doubt. But I believe that since the ads are so brilliantly written and beautifully done, they have an emotional impact that goes far beyond developing tourism. They will probably help the rest of the nation understand why protecting our Great Lakes is so important. They also stir the pride and heartstrings of this long-time Michigan resident. Please make the calls, send the emails and letters, and talk to your friends. This campaign could be important in many ways, long into the future.

By: Hugh McDiarmid Jr.

Hugh McDiarmid Jr. — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:20:01 +0000

Well done John. I can’t even imagine cannibalizing what is arguably the best vehicle for casting Michigan in a positive national light that has come along for quite some time.

By: Alan Stamm

Alan Stamm — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:35:05 +0000

“Penny wise, pound foolish” fits, though I usually shun cliches.

Hello, senators: This is Marketing 101 — spend to earn.

Just this week, in fact, a veteran marketing exec posted this on a business e-newsletter called Online Metrics Insider:

“It’s a simple forumla: Recession requires more tactical spending. But when saving money becomes the goal . . . something big always suffers — and it’s usually the brand. . . .

“Remember, there are always two options: DO something or NOT DO something. Both are definitive choices requiring their own payback analysis.”

Brand Michigan can’t cut its way to prosperity.

[Closer to home, respected business journalist Rick Haglund voices outrage about 'Pure Cowardice in Lansing' at his MichEconomy.com blog.]