With a slowed economy some business owners are looking for alternative ways to advertise.

The Town of Cochrane budgeted $360,000 for two digital signs (2014) which are currently only available to non profit/community groups and Town of Cochrane messaging; is it time to change the rules?

Bill Popplewell, President of the Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce says if businesses were allowed to advertise it could make a huge difference.

"It is one way they could very clearly tell people they are here in town. We can't have other signage on the street under the current bylaw so they could use exposure on those signs."

Popplewell adds without street exposure many customers have no idea of their existence. While he understands the digital signs are not going to 'make' a business, they at least let people know they are here and ready to service the community.

"There's a number of people who tell us I didn't know that store was here, or that was here, or that was here."

While the digital signage may make people aware, Popplewell knows that  a sale is not going to come from just a logo panned on a screen. Customer service and product availability are key elements for long-term sustainability.

Cathy Haynes, owner of Riverbend Interiors Floors and Decor, says while usage of the digital signs has been explained to her; is there a reason why the bylaw could not be tweaked to include some form of business messaging?!

"It would be another route to get information out there, it (digital sign) has so many more uses than just town and non profits. Why can't it be looked at again?"

Haynes added there would need to be guidelines in place as to what kind of messaging would be allowed from businesses and whether or not a nominal fee should be associated. 

"You can't have too much, there needs to be formulas, and keep it simple. Not a lot of information just so its a flash with enough in it, to get your attention."

While Haynes understands the importance of promoting non profit and charity events; if local business is suffering it in turn impacts sponsorship dollars which many events rely on.

"When a non profit holds an event, it is there; why should that be any different than a business? It comes back to if the businesses aren't doing well, we can't help out, and the charity/non profits suffer; it is a circle."

When it comes to other forms of temporary signage many businesses and non profits choose the attitude it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.

The Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce is making business advocacy top priority this year.