Member News October 12, 2022
It's going to be a busy 4th quarter and we hope you will join us to make it a great season. Waterdown Village comes alive when BIA members collaborate to drive foot traffic and excitement across the entire business community.

Please keep scrolling to learn more about how you can get involved with:

  • Hamilton Day 2022 Sat., Nov. 5
  • The 100th Anniversary of Memorial Hall Celebration, Nov. 11 - 13
  • Winterdown Activities, Fri. Nov. 25, Sat. Dec. 3, 10 & 17

Apologies up front - there is a LOT of information here. Please take a few minutes to carefully review details and options and call Susan at (289) 260-1261 if you require any clarification.

You can also join us for a Member Information Session on Monday, October 17 at 10 AM (in person or by Zoom) at which time we'll review upcoming programs, provide more details, brainstorm ideas and answer questions.

To join by Zoom -
Meeting ID: 829 3786 4447
Passcode: 450021
One tap mobile
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Member Information Session
LOCATION
BIA Office (20 Main St. N., behind Magnolia House) or by Zoom

DATE AND TIME
10/17/22 10:00am - 10/17/22 11:00am

Learn more about Hamilton Day, Winterdown and more.
I'll be there!
Maybe
I can't make it
HERE ARE ALL THE DETAILS:
Hamilton Day Returns!! Sat., Nov. 5, 2022
What is Hamilton Day?
Hamilton Day is an initiative to support Hamilton’s small retail shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, theatres, independent artists and musicians, florists, gyms & fitness studios, personal services and more.

Why Hamilton Day?
Hamilton Day was first held in 1931 during the depths of the Great Depression, as a way of rallying spirits in the midst of adversity. In 2021, the Hamilton Chambers of Commerce (Hamilton, Flamborough, Stoney Creek) re-launched Hamilton Day to support small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waterdown Village saw lots of activity for Hamilton Day in 2021, with a Hamilton Day Bucks Loyalty program, raffle prizes, entertainment and many businesses offering special discounts, tax savings and/or staying open late.

Hamilton Day 2022
The Chamber is making Hamilton Day an annual event and has secured corporate and media sponsors to promote Hamilton Day 2022.
How to Get Involved:

Register Your Business at hamiltonday.ca

Registering is FREE and gives you:
  • Access to a suite of promotional materials & updates
  • Online sales? Get a listing on the Chamber's NEW Hamilton Day online map
  • A FREE 90 day trial of Get in the Loop via the Community Plan (if interested) to help you amplify your Hamilton Day offers and better connect with local consumers.
Waterdown Village Hamilton Day Extensions

Once again, the Waterdown Village BIA is an official partner in Hamilton Day and we look forward to promoting participating businesses and the 'Support Local' message.

Similar to last year:

  • We encourage businesses to create a special Hamilton Day offer - storewide discount, save the tax event, stay open late (until 7 PM), hourly specials, pop-up experience, etc.
  • The BIA will host a Hamilton Day page on our website highlighting your offers and share information on our social media sites (boosted ads)
  • We'll place buskers in one or two key areas within the BIA
  • We'll provide Hamilton Day loyalty bucks to participating businesses that you can use to thank consumers for supporting your business. The more bucks people collect, the more ballots they'll receive to win one of 10 Waterdown Village gift baskets. If you participate in the loyalty program, your business name will be listed on the bucks.
  • Gift baskets will include items from BIA businesses (with the BIA paying 50% of the cost of donated items / gift cards).

NEW for this year:
We have Farmers' Market vendors who've expressed interest in being matched with a local business to celebrate Hamilton Day. We're looking to position a few 'pop-ups' with interested businesses - with the farm vendor paying an admin. fee directly to your business (approx. $45). We will work to match businesses with complementary vendors, which will enhance the activity around your business on Nov. 5. Let us know below if you would be interested in hosting a 'pop-up' farm vendor.

Hamilton Day is just three weeks away, so we need you to act fast.
Will you be registering to participate in Hamilton Day?
Yes
No
We're in. Our business will:
Offer tax free savings on November 5
Offer a 'Hamilton Day' discount or packaged promotion
Offer hourly specials
Host a special in-store experience
Other (email details to susan@waterdownvillage.ca)
Shop late - until 7 PM
Yes, I will keep my location open late on November 5
No, I will close at my regular time
Hamilton Day 'Loyalty Bucks' Program
I will hand out loyalty bucks and ballots from my location (list us on bucks)
Sorry, not this time.
Raffle Gift Basket Items
I'd like a product from my business in prize basket (with BIA paying 50%)
I'd like a gift card from my business in prize basket (with BIA paying 50%)
No, not this time.
Would you be interested in hosting a farm vendor on Hamilton Day (Nov. 5)?
Yes
No
Memorial Hall
100th Anniversary Celebrations
Nov. 11 - 13

Waterdown's Memorial Hall has been a part of Village life for 100 years!

To commemorate this special anniversary, a group of past and current Hall users (including the Flamborough Heritage Society, the Waterdown Lion's Club, Village Theatre Waterdown, the Rotary Club of Waterdown, the Waterdown Legion Branch 551, the Waterdown Museum of Hope and the Waterdown BIA) are organizing an Anniversary Open House and activities on the Remembrance Day Weekend.

Activities will include the showing of a World War I documentary produced by an Academy-Award winning director, interactive displays, community entertainment, a fun Trivia Night and a Sunday morning brunch and tour.

This is another event we hope will bring people into the core.

Watch for a full schedule and more details to follow very soon.

Consider how you can celebrate the anniversary in your business.
  • Could you offer a prize for the trivia night?
  • Maybe add a wartime cocktail on your menu?
  • Play up the number 100 - offer a $100 special, a prize for your 100th customer of the week, a discount for anyone who shares Memorial Hall 100 'pass code' at checkout...?
  • Perhaps offer a small percentage of proceeds to donate to the Legion poppy fund in celebration of the anniversary?

Email susan@waterdownvillage.ca if you plan to do anything special so we can share.
We're very excited to launch NEW holiday programming to mark the holiday season in Waterdown Village!
We're putting a new twist on elements of previous BIA holiday traditions.
With your help, we hope to make Waterdown Village a can't miss destination for holiday celebrations.

Friday, November 25, Memorial Hall & Early On Centre
We're bringing the community Tree Lighting back downtown paired with a night time Stocking Stuffer Marketplace. It all happens the evening before the return of the much loved Flamborough Santa Claus Parade.
  • Tables for the Stocking Stuffer Market Place will be offered first come first serve, with priority offered to BIA members
  • BIA members pay $50 for a table
  • If a BIA member also keeps their store open late (until 9 PM), the vendor fee for a table will be reduced to $25
  • Outside artisans (if space permits) will pay $100 per table
(Tree Lighting to coincide with the kick-off of YOUR lighting and decorating initiatives).

Saturday, December 3
Watch for a special Shop-focused Day with free wagon rides, entertainment, gift wrapping and treats.
(To be enhanced with YOUR retail-oriented in-store activations).

Saturday, December 10
It's all about the kids! Memorial Hall will be the meeting place for children's entertainment, face painting, holiday crafts, photos with Santa and a special-sponsored program that will give the first 100 kids in attendance $10 of Winterdown Village bucks to spend in participating businesses.
  • Winterdown Bucks will be handed out to kids while supplies last
  • They will be in $1 denominations, with no cash value (no change should be given)
  • Bucks must be used on December 10 ONLY
  • Participating businesses will collect all bucks redeemed and will be reimbursed by the BIA (via Winterdown Kids' Sponsor) for full amount of bucks received
  • Bucks will be stickered or embossed for security purposes
  • Participating business, where bucks will be valid, will be listed on the reverse of the bucks
  • You must sign up as a participant if you will accept Winterdown bucks
  • This is a great opportunity to help kids do their holiday shopping in YOUR businesses
(This, to be combined with your children-themed in-business activations).

Saturday, December 17
It's the Winterdown 'Cheers' Weekend with a focus on food, beverage and entertaining. We'll have special treats, giveaways, a food bank component, entertainment and raffle basket giveaways.
(Combined with YOUR 'cheers-themed specials and offers).

Sponsorship Opportunities
Some of you have already signed up to be a sponsor of the first ever 'Winterdown' celebrations and we are grateful for your support. Your sponsorship will help us make Winterdown bigger, better and more festive, with more entertainment and more giveaways. (See sponsorship details here). Please reach out to board of management director, Christina Birmingham, if you have questions or would like to discuss these opportunities further. christina@birmingham.ca, or (289) 895-8948.

Ensure Your Activities are Part of Winterdown
Many of you host successful holiday programs in your own businesses - from hosting kids' and adult workshops, pop-up vendors, photo booths, sampling programs, flash sales, etc. The more activity we can generate around themes, integrating all of your event plans into the Winter program, the more of a true community-wide event each of these days will become.

The BIA will prepare a direct mail brochure to handout at the Tree Lighting, in participating businesses and through Canada Post.
  • Sponsors will be listed.
  • Business activations and/or links to your plans will also be included - IF you sign up early and get your information to us before our print deadline ((by Friday, November 4th at the latest).

We think Winterdown could be really great for bringing people to town - but we need it to be a coordinated effort. Please help us make Waterdown Village a Winterdown wonderland.
I would like to be involved with the Tree Lighting Event (Nov. 25)
I'd like a table in the Stocking Stuffer Market
I will keep my store open late (until 9 PM) for the event
I'd like a table at the Market and I'll keep my store open until 9 PM
I would like to volunteer to help with activities
I will participate in the Shop-Focused Day (Dec. 3)
I will offer a special discount, offer or one-day sale
I'm planning a value-added shop experience (fashion show, treats, workshop, etc
I will invite a pop-up vendor to partner with me for the day
I would be interested in having carollers or buskers visit my location
Other - email details to susan@waterdownvillage.ca
I can volunteer to assist with activities
I would like to participate in the Kid's Winterdown Bucks program (Dec. 10).
Yes, I will accept Winterdown bucks (Dec. 10 only) - to be reimbursed by the BIA
No, accepting Winterdown Bucks will not work for my business
I would also like to participate in Kids' Day activations (Dec. 10)
I will have a kids' only discount
I will host a kids' activity at my location (craft, workshop, game, etc.)
I will have a kids' giveaway or treat at my location
I would like to have a family-focused table/activity in Memorial Hall
I can volunteer to help with Kids' activities at Memorial Hall
Other - please email details to susan@waterdownvillage.ca
I will participate in the Waterdown Cheers Day (Dec. 17)
I will have a special food, beverage or grocery offer, discount or packaged deal
I will have a food giveaway at my location (hot cider on the patio, free cookie)
I will encourage customers to buy one / give one for food bank collection
I will donate food item or GC for raffles (with BIA paying up to 50%)
I will run a workshop (entertaining at home, make a centrepiece, etc)
I will book entertainment at my location
I'll provide a recipe for online Waterdown Village holiday recipe book
Other - email details to susan@waterdownvillage.ca
Is YOUR Scarecrows Up?
This is a reminder - brochures are out and we've already seen lots of walkers looking for scarecrows and clues. Please make sure they are not disappointed. If you're listed as a participant, ensure your scarecrow is up.

If you're donating treats for treat stations (where your name will be listed as a sponsor on treat bags) - please get treats to the BIA office asap.

If you would like to give out treats from your location and were not listed in the brochure (click on image) - you can still participate. Email susan@waterdownvillage.ca, and we'll make sure you get a purple balloon indicating you are a treat location.
Waterdown Village Business Improvement Area