Downtown marketing contest announces winner

Red Bicycle Communications’ downtown marketing contest has crowned its winner.

“This year’s recipient was Center Stage Studios, they’ve been in downtown for a long time,” said Red Bicycle’s owner Jill Kelly. “We’re very excited to work with Catherine and her team on all things marketing.”

The contest, now in its second year, is equally funded by the City of Lloydminster’s Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee (DARC) and Red Bicycle. Kelly says the contest began last year as they wanted to help small downtown businesses thrive. 

Center Stage Studios will receive $5,000 worth of marketing through the contest. 

Kelly says Center Stage was one of the strongest applicants they had this year.

“When you are able to shine a positive spotlight on your community in an authentic and loving way, I think that really shows you care and you’re taking the steps to make your downtown better. They were one of the applicants that were really strong in that field,” she said. 

She says downtown is the heart of any community and it’s important to uplift it.

“Our belief is that downtown should be the heart of any community,” said Kelly. “That’s typically where you find the local artisans and small businesses and cute shops and clothing stores and fun restaurants. That’s the personality of the town.”

This year, Kelly says they had a record number of applicants.

“We had double the applicants this year than we did last year. It was really good, a positive sign,” she said.

She said it was a difficult decision on who to crown the winner.

“It is a really big struggle for us to actually choose the recipient because there’s so many great applicants and there’s so many great existing busineses downtown,” said Kelly.

The group deciding the winner is comprised of a couple of members from Red Bicycle Communications and members of DARC. 

Read more: Downtown marketing contest returns