The Association of Commerce has proposed an aggressive marketing plan for its FY2008-2009 to promote Arthur and assist you in promoting your particular business.
About the AAAofC 2008-2009 Marketing
Plan.
General Arthur Seasonal or Year Long Marketing
With assistance of state and Arthur grants the association has plans to promote the area in both seasonal and annual publications including state and regional visitor guide, regional visitor guides such as the Arthur’s Amish Country Magazine, the Lake Shelbyville Guide, Rockome Review and the Agri-Tourism Guidebook. In addition, seasonal travel guides in StLouis, Chicago, Effingham, Springfield and Champaign group ads are planned. Local businesses will be given the opportunity to co-op into these layouts at our better larger ad, combined rate. Many of these seasonal ads are solicited and laid out months ahead for spring publication, so our group seasonal ads will be developed later this fall. The plan for these will be presented at one time and you will be able to decide which ones you wish to share in at that time.
Event Marketing Plans
The association marketing committee has prepared a general budget for major event advertising for the Farmers and 3rd Saturday Markets, the Cheese Festival, the CIBR-BBQ, and the Christmas Holiday Season for this year, and the Quilt Show and Arthur Days in 2009. Advertising for these 6 major Arthur events covers 28 specific event days plus the entire holiday season. Much of this event marketing will be done within a 75 mile radius of Arthur and fairly near in time to each event, as event visitors tend to make decisions close to the dates of the event. Cooperative advertising and group buying opportunities will be available for each of the events ad reduced costs to participants. The more businesses involved, the larger the ad buy, and the better the rates. Just over $20,000 is budgeted for the Association’s portion of these event ad buys. The total ad package for each event will depend on participating business interest.
First up… Cheese Festival Advertising
The first opportunity for group adverting will be based around the Cheese Festival, with ads being placed in Central Illinois media for the end of August. Your media and location choices will include newspaper, radio, and television and cover most of Central Illinois. Obviously, you may always buy your own advertising direct from your vendor of choice and ask for them to place your ad adjacent to ours. However, joining our association group ad should always result in a lower column per inch rate for your business.
SEE THE FALL 2008 GROUP ADVERTISING OPTION SUMMARY PAGE
How to participate
First and most importantly, let us know you have interest.
Send an email to George Fritz George AT ArthurIL.com to join the group. That way,
as we get specific details about each package, we can let you know. Some ad buys
may have a short opportunity to you to join in and email will be the first and
fastest method of communication.
Don’t do email? Then send a note to George at The WoodLoft, 138 S. Vine. Or,
call him at
As each marketing package is developed, we will contact you in advance to see if you wish to participate in that package (ad) We will try to develop an entire package for each event at the beginning so that you may choose how you might participate. If you are interested in any of the group ads, you will be asked to submit your ad by a due date so we can layout the group ad and submit it, camera ready as a group, for the best discounts. If you are not able to work up camera ready ads yourself we will be able to assist for a nominal charge. To negotiate the best rates we will have to commit earlier than waiting until the ad rep comes around just before each event trying to sell individual ads.
Contact one of the
endorsed media reps listed or George Fritz at The Woodloft,
