Canada Blooms eNewsletter – December 2010

An exclusive peek at Canada Blooms the Flower & Garden Festival

March 16-20, 2011

As Canada Blooms’ 15th Anniversary approaches we are happy to announce that we are 70% Sold Out Already! We are looking forward to an exciting and successful festival as this year we catch the “Rhythms” of Canada Blooms, a celebration of music, relationships, time, space and life.
We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some of the exciting features you will see at Canada Blooms 2011.

The “JUNO Rocks” Gardens honouring the 40th Anniversary JUNO Awards will feature five celebrity gardens built by Award Winning Ontario Landscape/Designers.
20 exceptional gardens will be created by members of Landscape Ontario using the “Rhythms” theme.
A spectacular entrance garden created by over 40 members of Landscape Ontario will welcome show visitors, it will be one of the largest gardens created in the history of Canada Blooms.
The City of Toronto celebrates the environment with the presentation of the all new Urban Forest Garden.
Visitors will enjoy a variety of evening programs – Preview St.Patrick’s Day with special performances on the evening of March 16th hosted by Tourism Ireland; Industry Night and Awards Program on March 17th; Tourism Spain Night hosted by CTS-TV on March 18th
Canada’s largest flower show presented by the Garden Club of Toronto will feature 10 International competitors from Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the United States.
Drop by the all new Twinings Tea Garden and taste the world’s finest teas paired with culinary delights.
Don’t miss special family experiences at the all new Gardens for Living Natural Playground.
Guests will have an opportunity to Win an All Expenses Trip for two to the Garden Destinations of Ireland and Spain.

Canada Blooms Tickets are on sale in time for the holiday season. Tickets can be purchased individually online, at the Canada Blooms Head Office or other outlets selling tickets. If you would like to sell tickets at your place of business, join the Consignment Ticket Program and we will list your company on our website as a ticket outlet. Contact 416-447-8655 ext 21 or email Lisa Pascoe for more details.

If you are a member of Landscape Ontario contact Kathleen Pugliese by email or by calling
1-800-265-5656 ext. 309 for special ticket offers.

Note: We will send you information about the Preview Party in January.

Here are some simple DOs & DON’Ts to help you have and exciting and profitable event.

DO read and complete all the necessary supplier forms, they are now on the website, if you complete them ahead of timeyou will save yourself time, energy and money.

DON’T forget to use Canada Blooms promotional materials — posters, information cards, discount coupons — at your place of business or for direct mail campaigns, contact us to order materials.

DO design a professional booth that encourages consumers to browse, ask questions and purchase. If you WOW them, they will remember you! Remeber this is a Flower and Garden Festival so include lots of plant and floral material, contact Charlie Dobbin for a plant order form.

DON’T over crowd your booth, it is always better to have additional booth space than to have a booth that customers won’t enter because they fear breaking things.

DO have flooring/carpet in your booth. Not only does the show require it but it dresses up your booth and makes it more eye catching.

DON’T forget there is a competiton for the best booth in the Marketplace. Congratulations to the 2010 winners: Artemesia Daylilies and Vandermeer Nursery.

DO visit the Exhibitors Lounge located in Room A1.

DON’T use handwritten signs. Bright, colourful and professional signage and banners attract attention.

DO train your staff well. They represent your company, so they should have positive attitude and be able to answer questions from consumers. Make sure that you have promotional materials for consumers.

DON’T leave your booth unattended. You don’t know what business you might have missed, and don’t sit at the back of the booth waiting for consumers to come to you, take the initiative – smile, be friendly and inviting.

DO take advantage of any additional promotional opportunities such as:
Canada Blooms Showguide Advertising
This is an excellent way to stand out, you can use the ad space to really get noticed, offer show specials or promote your place of business before, during and after the show. The Showguide appears on the Canada Blooms website approximately 3 weeks prior to the show. View the Rate Card or Contact Steve Moyer for further details.

Toronto Star – Canada Blooms Special Feature Advertising
Contact Gerry Ginsberg for further details
Canada Blooms Promotional Opportunities
Canada Blooms can tailor a sponsorship or promotional package to fit your marketing goals. Contact us if you are interested in …

Aisle Signage Sponsorship	Restaurant/Leisure Lounge Sponsorship
Feature Garden Awards	Product Giveaways
Feature Sponsorship (Education Series, Garden Hall, New Products Showcase etc) …and more, contact Gerry Ginsberg for more details.

The Canada Blooms New Product Showcase is back! This is one of Blooms highlights featuring the newest and most innovative gardening, landscaping and outdoor products available from our vendors and located in a centralized location. Thousands of buyers and media visit the showcase hoping to discover ‘What’s Hot’!, This and excellent tool for exhibitors generate awareness of their new and innovative products for the 2011 garden season!
If you have a new product, complete the New Products Showcase Form and return it to us today, or contact Gilles Bouchard, Marketplace Manager.

Canada Blooms is a wonderful place to plan a reception in honour of best clients. Treat them to wonderful sights and fragrant aroma of the gardens and flowers at the Festival, what a great way to thank them for their busines throughout the year. Centreplate will be on hand to help with all your catering needs from something simple to something extravagant, click here to request a menu.

Canada Blooms was founded by the Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario