ORIENTAL, N.C. The Oriental Tourism Board hopes that a new promotional brochure that was developed during 2014 brings new visitors to the sailing village in 2015.
The tourist group got help from college students in production of the brochure, which double-sided with eight color panels and overlap. It can unfold with information, photos and a map. It is also capable of having inserts included.
The board had 20,000 copies printed, and distribution began earlier this year throughout Eastern North Carolina, including visitor centers along I-95, ferry sites and on the Outer Banks.
Marsha Paplham, the chairman of the tourist board, has viewed the Oriental landscape for more than a decade after opening Marsha’s Cottage as one of the town’s most popular niche shops.
She credits Carol Mabe, who has worked pro bono on branding and other promotional ideas for the town in the past, as being the key figure in getting the new brochure done.
Mabe, a member of the ECU Board of Trustees, contacted the school of design, and students took it on as an extra credit project.
“They came down, and Carol and Grace Evans and I walked them around,” said Paplham. “We took them places and gave them the essence of what the village is all about. Carol worked with them a tremendous amount.”
She said it was a win-win situation.
“They took from the very beginning, laying it out and coming up with a logo, so it was cool for them in that they were able to take it from beginning to end,” she said. “Most kids in college don’t have a chance to do something like that. It worked out fabulously for us, too.”
Mabe said the logo design holds some key elements about the town in a modern design — dragon, sun and a sail.
“It is young, contemporary and fresh,” Mabe said. “It is a fun logo.”
Mabe, who has extensive professional experience in design and marketing promotions, said the wording on the front was a consensus that came from previous town public meetings on branding.
Although the town is still known as the Sailing Capital of North Carolina, the new brochure sports the phrase, “Where simple pleasures fill your days.”
The phrase and the log are printed atop a photo of fishing vessels in the town harbor.
Paplham said the tourism board wanted a brochure that would stand a test of time for years to come.
“In so many cases people put together brochures and list all the business and other things,” she said. “Well, within two months that is obsolete, because invariably a business is going to close and a new one is going to open.”
So, the objective set forth to the students was a non-time-sensitive guide.
“This brochure is just introducing you to the village of Oriental — what we are, who we are and what we offer,” Paplham said.
She said for special distributions and during events, insert cards will bring visitors up to date on businesses.
“Our concept with the tourism board is once we get you in the village, it is our job as business owners to make sure you are aware of what we have to offer and to give a more personalized directive as how to enjoy our village,” she said.
She said a key message is that coming to Oriental is relaxing. The brochure has no heavy pitch toward a to-do list once you are here.
“It is a fun little place, a beautiful spot on the water and we offer peace and serenity,” she said. “But, we’ve also got sailing, kayaking, camps, beautiful bike routes. We can keep you busy.”
Other tourism board members include Bill Wheeler, Suzanne Gwaltney and Bret Doman. Barb Venturi is the liaison with the town commissioners. The Tourism Board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in town hall.
The ECU design students included Abby Rarig, Sydney Tomer, Daniel Hilsin, Nick Rowlett, Leland Privott, Megan Burns and Anna Selby.
Local photographers included Joel C. Arrington, Kathy Cobb, Charles Garrett and Robert Mabe.
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