By Melos Ambaye
Some Lexington business owners on Nelson Street say they welcome a new social media campaign that’s trying to attract more customers.
Sheila Glaeser, owner of used clothing store Violett Consignment, started a Facebook account in February after she was fired on Jan. 31 from Main Street Lexington, a nonprofit organization that promotes downtown businesses.
She said she was fired from her social media coordinator position after she moved her consignment store into a larger space.
“There are reasons,” said Jeff Hughes, a member of the Main Street Lexington board of directors. “We wanted to go in a new direction, and there was not any movement going towards the new agenda.”
Rebecca Logan, executive director of Main Street Lexington, said business owners can and do work at Main Street Lexington.
“We do have one employee who does have a business in Lexington,” Logan said in an interview.
Glaeser said in an interview that she created her Facebook page, Next Stop-Nelson Street, because she was unhappy with the way Main Street Lexington promoted downtown businesses. Her account has about 250 followers.
“There’s a void that needs to be filled downtown, and I’m trying to fill it,” she said.
Input from other business owners
Lauren Haskell, co-founder of Curated Interiors, said she likes Glaeser’s approach.
“Breaking business areas into sections like this means there can be more focus on specific shops,” she said in an interview.
Glaeser said she focuses on Nelson Street because the area gets the least foot traffic.
“I kind of just took up the slack with Nelson Street by posting or reposting for the merchants,” she said. “If a restaurant is having a special or sale, I just put it on our page now. It used to go on the Main Street Lexington page, but they’re not doing that anymore.”
Hughes said Main Street Lexington has not stopped sharing posts for Lexington merchants.
“Rather than just reposting what they’ve already done, we post original content,” he said. “I think we’re still doing what we were doing. We’re just doing it more and different and better.”
Glaeser worked for Main Street Lexington for five years as a part-time staff member. In a Feb. 1 post on Facebook, Glaeser said the organization fired her via email.
“As mandated by the Board of Directors, Main Street Lexington is heading in a new direction with regard to how we conduct our social media,” the email says. “Therefore, your services are no longer needed and your time with Main Street Lexington has ended.”
Logan declined to comment about why Glaeser was fired.
Glaeser said she also has an issue with the organization because its board lacks diversity.
Main Street Lexington’s 10-member board is 70% male. But Glaeser said 95% of downtown merchants are female.
Hughes said he doesn’t see a problem.
“I think when you see people through sex or skin color rather than through the skillset they bring to the table, it diminishes their humanity,” he said.
Glaeser also criticized how Main Street Lexington gets its funding.
“There’s a void that needs to be filled downtown, and I’m trying to fill it,” Glaeser said.
“They shouldn’t be relying on taxpayer dollars,” she said. “They should be out trying to do fundraising on their own.”
Logan said Main Street Lexington gets $80,000 in funding annually from the city for operating costs, including salaries for its three employees.
She said the organization raises about $130,000 in annual donations from sponsors, volunteers and private contributions.
Logan said the nonprofit organization spends the donations on its annual events.
“Events cost money,” she said.
Input from city officials
City Council Member Leslie Straughan served on Main Street Lexington’s board as the council liaison for several years.
“Main Street Lexington is an asset to the community,” she said in an interview. “They serve all businesses in the downtown district, and unlike the Chamber of Commerce, businesses do not have to join or pay dues.”
Mayor Frank Friedman said he’s happy with Main Street Lexington’s work. He said he is not familiar with Next Stop-Nelson Street. But he said he thinks it’s a good idea.
“I’m a huge advocate for neighbors working together to solve problems and create opportunity,” he said.
Glaeser said she does not plan to ask the city for funding.
“What we’re hoping to achieve doesn’t really even require a budget,” she said. “I think we just want to join together and be friends and neighbors as well as fellow merchants.”