Marketing effort
Our POA board has recently hired a new marketing director. That in itself could be a good thing if we can attract some of our country's "10,000 per day" retirees into Bella Vista.
However, it was reported that Ms. Napier suggested changing our name to "The Village." I believe that would be a huge mistake for at least two good reasons. First we might be confused with "The Villages" of Florida, and, secondly, we would be throwing away the strong positive equity our name has due to the previous marketing.
Bella Vista was recently named the "Best place to Retire" by Money Magazine and we have had good press by other organizations over the past few years as well. If marketing wants to change our name from "Bella Vista Village POA" to just "Bella Vista Village" that is one thing, but to re-brand us by dropping the words "Bella Vista" would be throwing not only good positive equity away but good money as well.
As I understand it, Ms. Napier has also recommended changing our logo from an oak leaf because that is used by some long-term care facilities. Our oak leaf is not orange, or yellow, or brown. It is green. A green leaf represents strength and vitality. And we do live in the Ozarks where the powerful oaks are the dominant tree.
To change our logo would cost a fortune, when you think about it thousands of dollars. We absolutely do need some marketing, but we need to use our marketing money to tell the great story of Bella Vista -- one of the absolute best amenities communities of the U.S.A., not for extensive name and logo changes.
Ralph Patterson
Bella Vista
Editorial on 04/15/2015