Member News February 17, 2022

In this issue of Member News:  Our BIA Email Addresses are Changing Promote Your Business - Look Local Advertising Opportunity for Mother's Day 2022 BIA Marketing and Events Calendar is Here Seeking Farmers' Market Vendors & Sponsors Keep scrolling for details.

BIA Email Addresses Changing this Weekend! We're getting ready to launch the new BIA website. We're testing it now and think you're going to love the dynamic design, functionality and vastly improved business directory. We can't wait to share the launch date once it is confirmed so you can check it out. To align with our 'Waterdown Village' branding (moving away from referencing BIA, a term less familiar to the average consumer), we're also updating our email addresses. We'll be offline from 4 PM this afternoon (Thursday, February 17) until early afternoon tomorrow (Friday, February 18). Please be patient if you don't hear from us until next week. After tomorrow afternoon (February 18) you will be able to reach us as follows: susan@waterdownvillage.ca adam@waterdownvillage.ca info@waterdownvillage.ca Please update your address books. Our old email addresses will point to the new ones for a short period of time.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY 'Experience Waterdown Village' Special Edition

Discounted Rates with Waterdown BIA Subsidy The BIA Marketing Committee is pleased to be working with Look Local on an exciting Mother's Day issue of the lifestyle magazine that will include an exclusive 16 - 20 page Waterdown Village insert. The insert will: Include a minimum 6 pages of Waterdown Village editorial plus a two-page Waterdown Village Mother's Day gift buying guide and two full pages sponsored by the BIA with strong 'Spend It Here' messaging Include local ad space offered at significantly reduced rates (approximately 40% discount!) Appear inside the full magazine distributed by Look Local in Waterdown, Oakville and Burlington Be posted on the Look Local website and promoted on their social media platforms And, the BIA will print 5,000 extra copies of the insert for direct mail to Waterdown postal codes and distribution at local events. Editorial pages and BIA messaging will include details on 2022 BIA events and promotions, giving the insert shelf life beyond the Mother's Day window. A number of BIA members have had great response to advertising in Look Local. This program gives all members a chance to try the magazine, with enhanced distribution and great subsidized rates. Beth Walder, account manager with Look Local will be visiting Waterdown Village businesses to share details about this opportunity and see if it might fit with your marketing goals. If you'd like to set-up a meeting or talk with Beth, you can reach her at beth@looklocalmagazine.com or at (905) 973-0909. You can also call Susan if you have any questions at (289) 260-1261. See Rate Card and more information HERE.

The 2022 BIA Marketing & Events Plan is Complete! Amanda Groves of Groves Law, BIA director and chair of your BIA Marketing Committee, is excited to share the Marketing Committee has been hard at work completing a comprehensive marketing and promotions plan for all of 2022 aimed at driving foot traffic to the streets of Waterdown Village. The 2022 plan includes tried and favourite programs like the Bunny Egg Hunt, Farmers' Market and the Scarecrow and Treat Walks. It includes the return of newer programs like Hopscotch Saturday and Hamilton Day as well as the introduction of a few new initiatives - the first being a Staycation Boarding Pass activation for March Break.

Click HERE to see the year at a glance.

You can see an electronic PDF of the BIA 2022 Marketing and Events Plan and Workbook HERE. Take a few minutes to review the plan to stay on top of what's coming up and learn how you can get involved. Start planning now for your participation in the BIA programs that will integrate best with your own marketing plans. We'll also print and distribute the workbook and stop by your businesses in the coming weeks with a copy you can keep as a handy reference tool. We've created an online 2022 Events Member Registration form to make it easy for you to sign up to participate, and easy for us to track participation as we approach events. You can start the form at anytime and go back and edit throughout the year (just keep the link to your form that you'll receive in a confirmation email once submitted.) Watch for full details on the new Staycation promotion to follow next week!

Applications for the Waterdown Farmers' Market Now Open The Waterdown Farmers' Market returns to the front parking lot of the Waterdown Legion for the 2022 season. Sat. mornings, 8 AM - 1 PM May 28 - Oct. 15 We're gearing up for a great season of farm-fresh fun and are looking for dynamic local growers, farmers, small batch producers, VQA vintners, artisans and more. Please share news about the vendor applications with any local growers you know who may be interested in connecting with Waterdown families and Market supporters. The Waterdown Farmers' Market is a much-loved community event drawing more than 900 visitors weekly. Find information, policies and applications at waterdownfarmersmarket.ca. Welcome NEW Farmers' Market Committee Chair We're pleased to announce BIA member and board director, Sheila Locke, from Re/Max SMART Realty, has taken on the role Chair of the Farmers' Market Committee. Sheila will work closely with Farmers' Market Manager, Adam Neumann, and committee members to plan and execute the 2022 season.

Farmers' Market Sponsorship Opportunities A reminder that the BIA sponsor tent is available for FREE for BIA members - booking on a first-come basis. NEW for 2022 - There are also several NEW exciting sponsorship opportunities for businesses looking to raise more awareness, engage more with Market goers and give back to the community. For more information, call or connect with Adam Neumann at (289) 260-6841 or farmersmarket@waterdownvillage.ca . Click HERE to see sponsorship details.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Waterdown Village Business Improvement Area