May 2011 Newsletter

May 2011 Newsletter


1.  The CVBA will facilitate a “parade” for the Thursday Night Live. It will start at 8:00pm on May 26th and it will wind up at Dessart Sweets. We will be handing out glow sticks and goodies supplied by our businesses. If anyone wants to donate stickers, tattoos, or other treats or goodies please contact info@shopthevillage.ca. The official name of the hat parade is the Village Chapeau Stroll.  We will try to get some music for along the way. We will be postering the neighbourhood to inform people about the event. If you are interested in staying open until 8:00 that Thursday night please contact us. We will be advertising this event on 13^th Ave. http://www.cathedralartsfestival.ca/hats.htm


2.  Fashion Plate is rolling along! We have sold tickets but we have more to sell! Sell, sell, sell those tickets!  We will host this great event in 5 days! Please choose 'ATTENDING' and spread the word!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182321538471843  
*Please ensure your membership dues are up to date if you are participating in the Fashion Plate!


3.  Flowers/ plantars are a GO! for the Cathedral Business area. The CVBA has decided to proceed with city program. We plan to purchase about 20 planters. If you would like one in front of or near your business please call Kendra @ 522-9226


4.  The 20^th CVAF Anniversary Permanent Art Project in the Village (AKA The Bike Racks) is beginning to take shape. The CVBA will provide the Arts Fest with $2000 towards the project. Thank you to all those involved in making this happen. (For a tiny bit more information see April's Newsletter #7)


5.  The CVBA is actively seeking a new Admin. Assistant. If you, or someone you know, is interested please contact Leslie @ 347-2229.


6.  Congratulations to Shelley Hoffman and Sarah Garden for  their YWCA Women of Distinction nominations. The gala announcing the winners will be Thursday, May 5^th. We are rooting for our members!  http://www.ywcaregina.com/Information/Events/WomenOfDistinction/2010nominees.htm


7. Most of the membership have paid their dues. Thank you! Those of you still needing to pay will receive a reminder email this week. Any memberships not paid by May 15th will be removed from our website and facebook page. You will continue to receive emails until you request otherwise. If you would like me to come by your store please email at info@shopthevillage.ca or text me at 591-7020.


8. Check your STV ad online. I have added a photo for many of you. If you would like more information in your ad please email me! http://shopthevillage.ca/businesses/1/index.html


9. The CVBA is gearing up for the 20^th anniversary of the Arts Festival. The theme is, in case you've missed it,  “HATS OFF”. Start planning your displays and promotions!


10. If you would like to add anything to our monthly newsletter please email your information by the 20th of each month.


Follow us on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/13thcathedral and on facebook http://www.facebook.com/shopthevillage

April 2011 Newsletter

April 2011 Newsletter

1.         1. Spring is upon us! Okay, so I said that last month.... Now it really is upon us!

2.        2. The CVBA is gearing up for the 20^th anniversary of the Arts Festival. The theme is “HATS OFF”. Start planning your displays and promotions!

3.        3. March means membership. Your CVBA membership is due as of April 1st. I am in the process of delivering the new 2011 invoices and form. I have experienced a few delays in my membership drive this year. However, I do plan to come to your business, if I haven’t been there already. Watch for me! If you’re not there I will leave an invoice and a *NEW* member form. At that time I can also take membership fees, hear you (if you have anything to say), and get your feedback on our association in 2010.

4.       4. The next ‘fashion plate: food and fashion in the village’ is scheduled for Friday, May 6th @ the Artesian. Many, many more details to follow. Mark the day on your calendars if you are interested in attending! If you DID NOT receive the sponsorship email PLEASE contact me.

5.       5.  If you would like to add anything to our new monthly newsletter please email your information by the 20th of each month.

6.       6. The AGM was held on Monday, March 21^st. It was a great meeting! A new Board was voted in. It is as follows: Executive Council - Leslie (President) Groovy Mama, Colin (Vice-President) Bodhi Tree Yoga, Kendra (Treasurer) fashionologie . Members at Large – Brad (Paper Umbrella), Beth (a la Carte), Donna (ScotiaBank), Leanne (Zazu The Salon), Shelley (Dessart Sweets).  We are proud to have such a diverse Board representing our membership!

7.       7.  The CVAF is looking for financial funding for their public art project. These permanent art pieces are actually bike racks and would be placed in a few locations within our community. The CVAF, CACA and the CVBA are working together to try to bring this bike racks to fruition. We will keep you posted if we find any information out. There are tentatively three art pieces in the works. They are beautiful reflections of our community.

8.      8.  I am trying a new format for the newsletter. Perhaps one day we will find something that works for everyone! Ha ha, yeah right... but seriously, please provide your feedback on the blog. If you want to leave comments here on the blog you will need to sign up. If you have comments for me you don’t wish to leave here please email me at info@shopthevillage.ca

9.       9. STV is now on twitter! Our account is SHOPTHEVILLAGE. Many of our businesses are on twitter including coda, Retrovise, Paper Umbrella, Cuppa T, Dessart, and fashionologie.

10. Some of our businesses have created new facebook pages. You can link the other fb pages to your page by clicking the link ‘add to my pages favourites’ which is under that page’s ‘likes’ on the left side. All the pages I know of are on the STV page so you can use that as a reference. 

You may not realise it, but your purchases make a real difference in the way Regina looks and feels.

It may be “just shopping” but being a consumer who thinks local hugely impacts jobs, the environment, community well-being and much more.

Every time you spend money, you are voting to keep that kind of business in Regina. If you shop at local, independent places more often, then we’ll have more of those neat, unique shops and services that make Regina original. If you only spend money at big box stores or chains, more of those will pop up on our landscape and the local independents will fade away.

Just because it’s in your neighbourhood doesn’t mean it’s local. “Local and independent” businesses have a majority local ownership and make all of the business decisions themselves.

It’s easy to start thinking local in your daily routine – just find what works for you. Even a small shift in spending to “go local” and independent will make a big difference! So buy from local, independent businesses more often. Our list of members is a good start as many of our business are local and independent but there are more in our city that need your business, too. Keep an eye out for other local businesses in your area.

March 2011 Newsletter

March 2011 Newsletter

1. Spring is upon us! The Cathedral Village Arts Festival is scheduled for Monday, May 23rd to Saturday, May 28th. The theme for this year is “Hats Off 2011”. Watch for exciting things as the community prepares for the 20th anniversary of the festival.

2. March means membership. Your CVBA membership is due as of March 1st. I am in the process of preparing the new 2011 packages. I plan to come to your business in mid-March. At that time I will take membership fees, hear you (if you have anything to say), and get your feedback on our association in 2010.

3. The CVBA yearly member information night is scheduled for Monday, March 21st. The meeting will be held at the Cathedral Community Centre. There will be general information for everyone including current members and prospective members. Members will nominate the new Board (there has been much more interest this year!). Some munchies will be served. There will be a booth to sign up for a membership, pay dues, and a sign in for paid members (so you can vote). Please look for more details in the near future!

4. The Cathedral Area Community Association is having their AGM on Tuesday, March 15th @ 7:30pm at the Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre.

5. The next ‘fashion plate: food and fashion in the village’ is scheduled for Friday, May 6th @ the Artesian. Many, many more details to follow. Mark the day on your calendars if you are interested in attending!

6. As you may have noticed, some of the glitches with our http://shopthevillage.ca/ page have been fixed. If you notice any other issues please email me at info@shopthevillage.ca. If you would like your ad updated/ changed or a different photo used you can contact me anytime at with this email address or we can talk about your listing when I come visit your store.

7. If you would like to add anything to our new monthly newsletter please email your information by the 20th of each month.

8. The line-up for the Business Feature in the Village Voice is continuing on. If you signed up last fall by contacting me your name should still be on the list. This is what I currently have: April 1st - SEED Sustainable Style, June 1st - fashionologie, August 1st - Zazu. If you would like to be featured email contact me and I will add you to the list. If you placed your name on the list and it is NOT here please contact me. NOTE* it is the responsibility of the business to write a 300-400 word article about their store/ business and submit a photo to info@shopthevillage.ca. This must be submitted by the first of the month. The Village Voice is a bi-monthly publication.

9. facebook marketing is free and as such we have started a new promotion to entice more fans to sign up. We have asked different businesses who have fan pages (not group or person) to donate either money (or a portion of the money), product, or services and work with Shop The Village to promote each other. The promotions will run for about two weeks and be dually promoted through tags and wall posts. Our facebook fan page continues to grow (as do many of our businesses fan pages!). Thank you for helping make that a success. Don’t forget to post on the fan page or tag ‘shop the village’ (by adding an @ symbol before the name) to spread your business! We are working with coda (who has over 4000 fans) right now. The current contest is to win a $50 gift card from coda. Thanks to Colter for helping make this contest happen. Contact me if you are interested.

That’s all for now! As always, I am here if you need me.
Theresa
591-7020info@shopthevillage.ca