The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ – “You’ll be amazed at all that’s happening in West Orange, New Jersey, you need to come see for yourself,” remarked Mayor Robert Parisi in a ">promotional video about West Orange.

How about ice-skating, fishing, hiking, or testing out the four golf courses totaling 90 holes? 

Yes, these are just some of the things to do in West Orange.

How about musical performances, theater, dinner out, or a trip to the Turtleback Zoo?

These are some other activities to enjoy in West Orange.

If these happenings were some of New Jersey’s best kept secrets West Orange residents only knew about, this is no longer the case, thanks to a new online video program highlighting leisure activities, and businesses within the municipality.

The program is the brainchild of Patrick Sutherland, a resident who owns Vidoovy.com, a business specializing in short, well produced, and inexpensive videos, designed to maximize growth of the subject matter featured.

Sutherland has been an advertising professional, with projects taking him around the world; yet, he also has an interest in working with local downtowns to help them build brand recognition, and increase foot traffic.

He describes his philosophy as a “holistic town centered approach”, targeting a specific geographical region, although Sutherland is available to work with towns throughout the state.

The videos become like documentaries, Sutherland said, with individuals featured telling their stories.

The Downtown West Orange Alliance inquired to Sutherland about the possibility of a grant program, to increase affordability for West Orange businesses in the special improvement district.  The grant permits a 50 percent payback to the businesses that opt to have a Vidoovy.com video created for their business, while helping them to develop an online presence through these videos. 

Currently, there are three businesses from West Orange, which have had videos posted online, and Sutherland said with others in the works, there will soon be a total of eight businesses overall with videos.

The Downtown West Orange Alliance has aligned with the Vidoovy.com idea, recognizing how the videos will receive worldwide exposure on websites including YouTube, Google Places, and Daily Motion. 

Sutherland further uses his expertise in search engine optimization, with keywords chosen to help businesses featured in the videos have an added edge.

In the short few months the West Orange videos have been online on the YouTube Vidoovy Channel, featured businesses have reported to Sutherland new customers have found their locations after searching the internet, and finding their videos.

“It’s the real deal, and it’s immediate,” said Sutherland.  “Their satisfaction is really rewarding.”

Sutherland said unlike other advertising methods, such as direct mail, which he said is effective, but has a shelf life, “The video can work for you forever.”

“It’s really a good start,” said Denise Esposito, Executive Director of Downtown West Orange, of the program.  Esposito said with more people researching information on their smart phones, video presence is a way to raise awareness of what is available in West Orange.

Schneider Hardware was the first West Orange business for which a video was created.  The hardware store is the oldest one in Essex County, with 87 years in business.  The store’s is under its third generation of family ownership, with brothers Roger and Gerald Schneider running it. 

The Vidoovy.com video focuses on the store’s history, the items they carry, the services they provide, and the free parking and delivery the store has available.

“It was almost instant success for us,” said Roger Schneider.  “He [Sutherland] has a top notch background and qualifications.”

Schneider said his store carries what big box stores do not, and pulls customers from an eight town area.  To top it off, they receive phone calls from Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Union Counties.

On the internet, Schneider said his store comes up first in Essex County for snowblower repairs, and last season, Schneider Hardware was inundated with calls.  Schneider credits the video for the increase.

“It’s not just the quality of the video he did, he’s able to boost presence online,” Schneider said.  He’s able to take a business and pull out what’s unique about what you do, and he’s very good with it,” Schneider added.  “We’re thrilled with what he’s done for us.”

Select Towing Auto and Truck Repair is another West Orange Business that has had a video created.  Owner John McElroy’s 7,000 square foot facility is a green auto repair shop.  His employees are holding over 40 ASE certifications, three of them are licensed state inspectors, and two of them have emissions repair licenses.  The business also boasts a Car Care Club, which, with a flat fee, offers 4 free oil changes, tire rotation, one tow, and free loaner cars, and pickups.

McElroy said, “While I can't tie the video to actual sales numbers I can say that the video has brought many comments my way.  My struggle in business has been to move away from my towing brand and increase my Auto and Truck Repair brand.  The video has proved invaluable in building my brand, and getting the word out that we are a first class dealer, level independent repair shop, without dealer pricing and inconveniences.  Mr. Sutherland offers a very professional product at reasonable rates for small business and I am delighted I chose to have it done.”

Click the following links to view the Vidoovy Videos for West Orange:

Welcome to West Orange, New Jersey -

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2vNhdmqzQ

Farmer’s Market, West Orange, New Jersey –

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2eQH97wVeM

Thomas Edison National Historical Park, West Orange, New Jersey -  

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEOkMHsyqnA

Schneider Hardware, West Orange, New Jersey –

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYBIHIAWnlI

Select Auto & Truck Repair, West Orange, New Jersey –

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owAjCw9hCS4

Luna Stage Theater, West Orange, New Jersey –

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lL_xCyAWXI

West Orange Businesses with an interest in having a video created for their business, contact, Denise Esposito from The Downtown West Orange Alliance at:  (973) 325-4109 or Downtown@westorange.org.