EAT Communications

2nd Annual Gingerbread Competition and Charity Auction

Vancouver, Canada - Creative Room is pleased to announce the second annual Gingerbread Competition and Charity Auction.

Last year we challenged some of Vancouver’s top Architects and Designers to re-envision the traditional typology of the gingerbread house. We asked the entrants to do away with ubiquitous veneer of jujubes and smarties in an effort to re-interpret the gingerbread house within a modern context. The results were outstanding!

Ten delicious submissions from some of Vancouver’s finest Architecture and Design firms, along with a week-long bidding battle, and a gala event (complete with studio critique, music, and drinks) allowed us to exceed our fundraising expectations. This holiday season we are back, challenging the creative class to put their aprons on, get out their poured in place gingerbread panels, and attempt to redefine the gingerbread typology once again.

Houses are to be judged by a celebrity panel consisting of last year’s competition and auction winner Architect D’Arcy Jones, Architect Bill Pechet, Conceptual Artist Ken Lum, and Contemporary Art Gallery Director Christina Ritchie. Entries will be auctioned off such that they may grace the living rooms of a select few Vancouver homes this holiday season. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Architecture for Humanity (Vancouver Chapter).

WHEN:    The Gala opening and auction is December 10th from 7-10 pm.

WHAT:    Tickets are $20 and available online at the Creative Room website.   

WHERE:   Museum of Vancouver

BIDDING: Online as well as on the evening of the gala.

PARTICIPANTS:
The modern Gingerbread houses are being constructed by 10 of Vancouver’s leading architects and designers:

McFarlane Green Biggar Architecture+Design
Romses Architects
Clash Collective
Designers at Large Design Consultants
Mallen Architecture Inc.
Eastside Design & Solus Decor Inc.
Measured Architecture
Busby Perkins and Will Architects
IBI Group (Richmond)
UBC SALA
Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.

It's Gingerbread Time Once Again!

I am so excited to be sponsoring this yummy Gingerbread event again! I want to get as much coverage from this as I can as this event is going to a great cause as well as it is a very cool event for the design community!

Last year Vancouver’s top Architects and Designers re-envision the traditional typology of the gingerbread house. The competition was a candy-filled homage to The Case Study House Program organized by Arts and Architecture Magazine from 1945 to 1964. The results were outstanding, fun and very creative!

Ten delicious submissions from some of Vancouver’s finest Architecture and Design firms, a week-long bidding battle, and a gala event. A really exciting way to celebrate the holiday season.

Houses will be judged by a panel from Vancouver’s pre-eminent Architects, Designers, and Artists community and displayed at Museum of Vancouver. An online auction featuring each team’s entries and background information will be available from December 3rd to December 10th. Check here for updates.

The winning entry will be celebrated at the Gingerbread Gala held on the evening of December 10th at the Museum of Vancouver. Entries will be auctioned off such that they may grace the living rooms of a select few Vancouver homes this holiday season. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Architecture for Humanity.

'Tis the Season for Effective Marketing

The holiday season is almost around the corner, so how will you generate business at this time of year? Here are 4 affordable but effective marketing tips to find customers and generate sales quickly.

Try Different Marketing Methods; 
Look for some unusual marketing methods your competitors aren’t doing. You may discover some highly profitable ways to generate sales and avoid competition. Why not serve hot cider in a cup with your logo on it? Or give-away candy canes with your business information on the wrapping?

Partner Up on Promotions with Other Businesses; Contact a few non-competing small businesses serving customers in your market. Offer to publicize their products or services to your customers in exchange for their publicizing your services to their customers. Why not share a group advertisement?

Focus on Your Customers; Your customers already know and trust you. It's easier to get more business from them than to get any business from somebody who never bought from you. Take advantage of this by creating some special deals for the Holiday Season just for your existing customers. You could announce new products and services to them before you announce them to the general market.

Try Social Media Tools; Get your business out there by using tools like Twitter, Facebook or a company blog. Why not throw a promotion on Twitter that if they mention ‘Twitter’ or a funny word when they come into the store that they receive a special discount. It’s amazing what relationships you can build on-line.