For this reason, Prime gladly volunteered, for the 11th year in a row, to be a Gold Leaf Sponsor for this year’s Maple Grove Days. In addition to publishing the Official Maple Grove Days Event Guide, Prime sponsored many of the leading events, such as the Pierre Bottineau Parade, the art fair, and the fireworks display. Also, partnered with Excel Promo, Prime provided and donated over 800 t-shirts to Maple Grove Community Organization, those volunteering at the events, and those participating in the Rice Lake Classic 5-K Run.

Maple Grove Days is an opportunity for the community of Maple Grove to put its best foot forward, and as ever, the city didn’t disappoint! During the events, we at Prime made our presence known, not only with our neon-orange shirts and frisbees in the Parade, but with our friendly and fun attitude at the Business Expo. At the Business Expo, Prime got the opportunity to interact with Maple Grove’s involved community members, as well as the chance to give back to the community that has given us so much. To do so, Prime offered up a drawing so those attending the Business Expo had the opportunity to win some great local prizes!

We held the drawing, and here are the results:

Winning a $25 gift-card to Malone’s Bar and Grill was Sharla D.. Natalie B. and Stephanie K. each won a $20 gift-card to Broadway Pizza. There were three lucky-winners of $25 Sawatdee Thai Restaurant gift-cards: Jennifer W., Audrey J., and Sandy T. Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank-you to all who participated!

The drawing at the Business Expo was such a success, we plan to kick-off a monthly drawing! From our community base at MyPrimeGuide.com, we will draw a name every month, and that lucky person will win some great local prizes! So, if you’re interested to win gift-cards to the hottest restaurants in Maple Grove, go to MyPrimeGuide.com, provide your email/zip code, and respond to Prime’s confirmation email. It’s that easy! You can also “Like” MyPrimeGuide.com on facebook to view updates on the site’s launch. Then you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the best that the community of Maple Grove and Prime Advertising has to offer!

This is Maple Grove’s largest event and it is a big undertaking! Deb Syhre, the President of Maple Grove Community Organization, sent us a list of what it takes to make Maple Grove Days successful…

• 46+ events
• 25+ entertainment groups
• 23+ organizations
• 130 business in the Business Expo
• 104 units in the parade
• 115 sponsors
• 48+ business vendors
• 11+ locations
• 300+ volunteers

WOW! This is HUGE! To add to that list of numbers, we are proud to say we have 130+ local area businesses that participated in the Official Maple Grove Days Event Guide. There are lots of great coupons and offers that residents look forward to every year. Plus you can find out all the event details!

The main events include:

• Business Expo
• Fireworks
• Bed Races
• Art Fair on Main Street
• Classic Car Show
• Garden Tours
• Rice Lake Classic
• Parade
• Live Entertainment and much more!

New this year, we are excited that the event guide is available with a searchable flipper technology on MyPrimeGuide.com.

This year, Prime will be participating in the parade on Thursday night and the Business Expo at the Maple Grove Community Center on Saturday. Hope to see you during Maple Grove Days!

AWC hired Prime Advertising & Design to streamline their marketing, making it more effective, which included an updated logo, website redesign, blog, e-mail marketing and creating new print ads for the Official Community Resource & Residents’ Guides and City Newsletters.

Prime started with the logo redesign, once that was complete, Prime’s attention turned to their website. AWC offer a wealth of educational information and their previous website navigation was difficult to follow and did not reflect their unique facility that sets Animal Wellness Center apart from other pet hospitals.

Creating a beautiful design and building the website on the Element Z Content  Management System was essential, allowing for easy updates to the website, blog and their email marketing program. AWC needed the ability to keep their clients informed on events, news topics and specials that change regularly. Prime also streamlined AWC’s client communication by programming the blog to feed directly into their website and Facebook page, allowing for one update to reach people in multiple ways!

By making the process of client communication significantly easier and more streamlined, AWC can focus their attention on what they do best, offering advanced veterinary care with a personal touch!

In order to secure a better position in the marketplace, Prime assisted in the renaming of Builder’s Carpet to FocalPoint – Flooring, Cabinets, and Design to better communicate what they do and let the public know that they are not just for commercial builders, but they have 3  retail locations that are open to the public. They are a lot more than just a carpet store!  In addition to the new name, we designed a new logo to visually attract more customers.

The updated logo led the way to the new branding that we created for FocalPoint which included: new stationary & business cards, signage & vehicle graphics.  We also developed a comprehensive marketing plan to include digital indoor advertising within the Hennepin County markets, advertisements and coupons within Prime’s Official Community Resource & Residents’ Guides, city newsletters and specialty publications.

After creating print materials, Prime designed & developed a new website utilizing our Element Z Content Management System. They also utilized our copywriting services to help them create a consistent voice throughout the site. In addition, Prime designed & developed an E-mail template and blog which will allow them the ability to get in front of their customers regularly with news, updates, promotions and specials.

Prime was able to be the one-stop shop that FocalPoint needed to take their business to the next level. Contact us today to see how Prime can help grow your business!

The Guide features holiday offers and fun events that are happening around the area. There is truly something for everyone! For a complete list of all of the Mistletoe & Memories events visit www.MyPrimeGuide.com/mistletoe I am so excited about a brand new event that Maple Grove Community Organization (MGCO) is putting together this year in conjunction with the Hometown Holiday event on Main Street, which has taken place the past 3 years. Drum Roll please…………. A Holiday Parade in Maple Grove! YES! The Sleigh Bells and Sparkle Parade will happen on Saturday December 4th at 5pm. Get your spot on Main Street between the Town Green and Arbor Lake Parkway. To find out more details on the event, go to www.MapleGroveDays.com

This year, our Mistletoe & Memories Holiday Events Guide™ will be online! Now you can read the guide anytime, anywhere! The new page-flipper technology gives the user the ability to search text in the guide. Click on ANY website or email in our publication and it will link to that website! We give you instant access to what you want!

With my obsession for Christmas & holiday fun, I was so excited for the Parade to take place here in my hometown. I will be volunteering through MGCO to help put on the NEW Sleigh Bells and Sparkle parade! Come out to see Santa and enjoy all that Maple Grove has to offer. Hope to see you there for this family fun event!

We encourage everyone who either lives or works in Maple Grove to get involved, regardless of your training or photographic experience. Photos must have been taken in Maple Grove in 2006 or later and can feature any part of the community in one of the four seasons.

[View with PicLens]

Submit your favorite photos in the following categories:

* Great People (people talking, working, learning, playing, living, volunteering—e.g., kids in the backyard, birthday parties, shopping, eating out, working in the garden, students getting on the school bus, neighbors talking in front of their home).

* Great Community (events/activities—sports, community celebrations, plays—e.g. National Night Out block parties, Maple Grove Days events, farmers market, concerts, baseball/soccer game).

* Great Outdoors (parks, landscapes, plants, animals, sunsets, weather).

Photos received by April 30, 2010 will be reviewed, and there will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize awarded in each of the three categories. First-prize winners will receive $100 each, 2nd place $50 each, and 3rd Place $25 each. Winners in each category will receive their prize and certificate of appreciation at a Maple Grove City Council meeting.

Winning entries will be published in the Summer 2010 City of Maple Grove newsletter (designed and published by Prime) – all photos submitted also will be online at www.myprimeguide.com. In addition, as many submissions as possible will be displayed at the Government Center for public viewing Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from early April through May.

The City of Maple Grove is proud to partner with Prime in sponsoring the contest. Photos submitted may be used on city websites as well as in area-wide publications such as city newsletters, Parks and Recreation brochures, and Prime’s Official Community Resource & Residents’ Guide among others.

Please share your photographic skills and snapshots of your community! For detailed rules, entry form, and additional information visit www.MyPrimeGuide.com/photos, the City of Maple Grove website, call 763-494-6002, or pick up a photography contest packet at the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway.

Keep in mind, when the contest is over, the city is still looking for good Maple Grove photos for use in city publications, on the city website, and in other promotional items. If you would like to donate the type of photos outlined above to be used for City of Maple Grove publicity purposes, you may submit them to admindept@ci.maple-grove.mn.us. Your contributions are appreciated!

Pictured above are before and after photos for J. Cousineau’s. Five years ago 
J. Counsineau’s began using a photo of their famous "Z Mac Daddy" burger. Did that photo work? Yes, but anyone can see the AMAZING difference that a professional photographer who specializes in food photography can make! WOW! 
 
I’m personally just blown away by what this photo has done for their overall look. The transformation started with the website design we created and was then carried through on all of their marketing – from their menu design, ads in our Official Community Resource & Residents’ Guides™, City Newsletters, all the way down to their business cards!
 
Below is an example of the direction and new look  we took with their ads, you can see the difference! Trends come and go in advertising just like in fashion. To keep progressive and to keep your business on the cutting edge we all need to freshen up our look from time to time. We are currently working on an entire overhaul of our own website! Let us help you keep things on the edge!

If you would like  to take your business to a whole new level… “We can help you do that!” We have professional photographers on staff who SPECIALIZE in different types of photography – food, commercial, portraits, action, architecture and more. Here at Prime we offer you the Prime Advantage – helping you grow your business in all areas. Contact Prime Advertising today to find out more!