The Union Special Events Spotlight 2014

Put your business in the spotlight Vendor partnership opportunities

Event partnerships with

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for you

Content Introduction Twenty-nine years ago The Union started its Home and Garden show. We saw the opportunity to leverage our highly trusted and recognizable brand to deliver a first-class event to our great community.

Our goal then, as it is now, is to create unique events to leave lasting memories for our readers, advertisers and community. Twenty-nine years later, it is going strong with four annual events and a series of new events and banquets being introduced.

From Chocolate Infusion to Paint the Town Pink, from local celebrities to community service heroes, and from first-time Best Of Nevada County winners to five-times-plus winners, we create events that bring people face to face.

Our events are known throughout the region as first-class events with attendees that become customers. Add to this the continued growth of our core business and its winning combination. (CAC - Newspaper Audit Report 2013, 13,222 Union Distribution and 19,800 Union Direct.)

We are proud of what The Union has done, but don’t take our word for it, here are testimonials from two of our vendors:

“We look forward to The Union Home & Garden show every year. Attendees are serious buyers

and we always generate a lot of leads, with a 75% closure rate. We also visit with past happy customers which is important since 25% of our business comes from referrals. The Union event management is very responsive and the environment is professional yet fun — overall an enjoyable and profitable show for us.

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Laura and Buckley Armacher, owners Budget Blinds, Grass Valley, CA

“Last April’s Home & Garden Show at the Nevada County Fairgrounds was a great success

for us. We met with a lot of our existing customers and met lots of new ones. Our free toilet plungers we gave away helped make it fun. We invested quite a bit of time and money in to last year’s Home Show, and it was a great investment. Our immediate return on investment was over 200%, not including the future business it will bring. We’re definitely going to be at The Union’s Spring Home & Garden Show again this year.

”

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Andrew Twidwell, owner ABT Plumbing, Electric, Heat & Air, Grass Valley, CA

Be a part of the spotlight

In this booklet, you will see some partnership opportunities that once you choose to align yourself with our events, our promotional power is yours. We have a unique ability to reach an audience that is right for your business. Our weekend Home and Garden Show draws attendance levels of 8,000 plus. Join us so we can help grow your market share and help you connect face to face with your next customer.

The Union and theunion. com is committed to bring our community and business community quality promotional and marketing opportunities with measurable returns. Our events provide an opportunity to expose your products or services to a large section of potential customers in just one day. We make huge investments to ensure that each event and partnership experience is worth it for your business.

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Calendar of events The Union’s

Chocolate

infusion

Chocolate Infusion Chocolate confections, wine and jazz January

The Union’s “Best Of” Reader’s Choice Banquet

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200

March THE UNION’S

28th ANNUAL

Home and Garden Show Celebrating 29 years!

April

50+ Healthy Living Expo Exercise, real estate, lifestyle, finance and more June

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The Union’s 150th Anniversary Celebration Open house event and feature film that celebrates our 150 years in the community

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eat P r o

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September & November

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The Great Prospector Beer Run 5k, run, walk ... whatever October

Paint the Town Pink Proceeds benefit breast cancer care in the community October

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January

An afternoon of chocolate, wine,

The Union’s

Chocolate

infusion

Our first annual Chocolate Infusion event was a complete sell out.

Returning this year, attendees will taste chocolate treats, local wine and shop for Valentine’s Day. And there will be live jazz piano music provided by Ludi Hinrichs.

Be part of the fun!

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Local and regional chocolatiers offer samples of their decadent treats.

Whether you prefer white, milk or dark chocolate, you will find lots of delicious offerings at Chocolate Infusion.

What would a day of tasting chocolate be without some wine tasting to accompany it? Local wineries pour their best wines at Chocolate Infusion. Should you want something a little different, the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce offers a no-host Chocolate Martini bar.

jazz and fun.

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March

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200

The Union’s “Best Of” Reader’s Choice Banquet

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Honoring Nevada County’s best people and businesses, as voted by The Union readers. This event includes an award ceremony and dinner.

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April

Our goal is to make

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28th ANNUAL

• Extensive print advertising campaign in The Union newspaper and theunion.com • Live radio broadcast from the Home Show • Radio promotion on KVMR, KNCO and more • Internet advertising on theunion.com, Facebook, and more • Banners and posters reaching surrounding areas (Marysville/Yuba City, Auburn and beyond) • Print advertising in popular area publications • Special Home & Garden publication distributed to 27,000 readers • E-mail blasts to subscribers and previous Home and Garden Show attendees • Posters/Handouts at local vendors’ storefronts

We continually improve our marketing plan to increase attendance

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your business grow!

• Print advertising in popular area publications • Special Home & Garden publication distributed to 27,000 readers • E-mail blasts to subscribers and previous Home and Garden Show attendees • Posters/Handouts at local vendors’ storefronts

8,000

attendees for a weekend event 11

June

50 Healthy Living Expo +

People are living longer; keep your golden years long and full.

Approximately 45 percent* of Nevada County residents are over 50 years old. This informative and fun expo will focus on lifestyle, exercise, real estate, finance and more! * United States Census - Fact Finder 2010 data.

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Healthy Living, health care, activities and clubs.

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September & November

150 years in the community.

The Union’s 150th Anniversary Celebration Open house event and feature film. Help us celebrate the 150-year history of The Union and our community.

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Founded in 1864.

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October

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Beer

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5k, run, walk ... whatever

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Hundreds came out for the inaugural Great Prospector Beer Run hosted by Ol’ Republic Brewery in the 7 Hills Business District in Nevada City. We expect even more participants this year.

Runners are encouraged to dress in costumes, bring their pets and afterward, enjoy a cool beer or rootbeer with a barbecue lunch.

The after-run beer party includes a live band and much fun.

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October

A very special event to benefit advancement

Paint the Town Pink is produced by The Union with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. All proceeds go to the SNMH Foundation for local breast cancer care and advancement. Vendors are invited to support this great cause, while showcasing unique products and services.

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of breast cancer care in our community.

The Union as raised more than $125,000 to date for breast cancer care through Paint the Town Pink.

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