Cottager

The

Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario

mission statement

Lake country living & lifestyle

Since 1992, The Cottager magazine has covered a lot of ground – and lakes – with a glossy, beautifully crafted magazine aimed at enriching the lives of current and future cottage owners in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The Cottager knows what kind of stories and information readers want because the publisher and editor are also cottagers and share their passion. We ensure readers are part of our editorial content and that’s why many tell us they read the magazine from “cover-to-cover ” and pass it along to family and friends. We are a trusted source in cottage country. Lineup 2014 The Cottager is marking its 23rd year with stories that include favourites such as features about cottages, their owners and the history of their special summer homes. We’ll start the year off getting readers thinking about melted lakes with an article of tips for fishing bait. Readers always like to know the market trends in real estate so we’ll tap our experts to find out how sales are in areas across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, and what type of cottages many buyers are seeking. Our readers love to spend time outdoors and we’ll showcase a rock pond with fountains, as well as the newest designs and materials for docks.

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Our Cottage Cuisine regular department is popular with its easy-to-make recipes, which will help cottagers with their summer entertaining, including a story on a group that hosts a unique dinner inside a boathouse. We’re also continuing our My Cottage Life series, which features some well-known people who love to cottage in our neck of the woods. Other story topics include pontoon boats, motorized lifts to move people from their docks to their cottages, mosquitoes and a DIY kitchen countertop. From fun reads to practical information, the 2014 lineup should have our subscribers reading from cover-to-cover.

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications

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circulation

Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario

Lake country living & lifestyle

Distribution

50,000 issues printed per year for stores, advertisers’ promotions, trade and craft shows, farmers’ markets, cottage associations and door-to-door drop off in cottage country areas.

2014 Newsstand Locations

Distribution of The Cottager is concentrated in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, with additional availability at select newsstands across Canada, including Chapters and Indigo stores from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island. Some of our year-round and seasonal newsstand locations: Eastern Beaches • Grand Marais Village Store • Hillside Resort Store • Saffie’s General Store • Traverse Bay Corner Store • Victoria Beach General Store Interlake • Blue Rooster (Winnipeg Beach) • Ford’s Groceries (Winnipeg Beach) • Grindstone General Store • Pharmasave (Gimli) • Sobey’s (Gimli) • Taylor Pharmacy (Gimli) • Tip Top Foods (Gimli) Kenora/Keewatin • Arsenaults Bigway (Keewatin) • Howard Johnson (Kenora) • Husky (Keewatin) • Johnson’s Pharmacy (Kenora) • Keewatin Place • Lake-Vu Motel Co-op (Kenora) • Luby’s Food Store (Kenora) • Redden’s Camp (Longbow Lake) • Tilley’s Pharmasave (Kenora) • Wharf Marina (Kenora)

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Lac du Bonnet • Drifter’s • Petro Canada • Trapper’s Northwestern Ontario Towns/Cities • Atikokan Foodland • Bobby’s Corner (Vermillion Bay) • Chapters (Thunder Bay) • Clearwater Market (Clearwater Bay) • Cloverleaf Grocery (Emo) • Dalseg’s Trading Post (Nestor Falls) • Dutchies General Store (Perrault Falls) • Emo Drugs (Emo) • Gramma’s Supermarket (Ignace) • Luby’s Food Store (Thunder Bay) • Mitchel’s Midtown Grocery (Red Lake) • Oliver Road Can-Op (Thunder Bay) • Pharmasave (Dryden) • Pharmasave (Fort Frances) • Rainy Lake store (Fort Frances) • Red Lake Pharmacy • The Narrows Limited (Sioux Narrows) • Tower Hill Truck Stop (Ignace) National • Select Chapters and Indigo stores in every province, as well as newsstands and stores. West • Russell Inn Whiteshell • Barrier Bay Resort • Betula Lake Resort

• • • • • • •

Brereton Lake Resort Falcon Lake Shell Service Falcon Lake Grocery Store Keystone Resort (Westhawk Lake) Nutimik Lake Resort Pinewood Resort White Lake Resort

Winnipeg • Dominion News & Gifts • Chapters • Indigo, Kenaston Blvd. • Lacoste Garden Centre • Lake Life • McNally Robinson • Shelmerdine’s Garden Centre • University of Manitoba book store Winnipeg – East • Deacon’s Corner • Prawda Shell • Clearwater Market

“We have advertised with The Cottager since 2000 and have found it very beneficial to our business. When people tell us where they have seen our ad, The Cottager magazine is frequently mentioned. We are happy to be a part of The Cottager family! Janet Robinson Robinson Residential Design Inc. Regina, Sask.

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications

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AT YOUR SERVICE

Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario

Lake country living & lifestyle

The Cottager magazine knows cottagers and what they are looking for. We are the only publication dedicated to present and future cottage owners in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Our readers often own a cottage and another permanent residence, and are committed to maintaining both dwellings. Seventy per cent of our readers say they visit advertisers in The Cottager when they are planning a purchase or starting a project.

If you want to reach cottagers or those who enjoy outdoor living, let us help you tailor your campaign to reach that audience.

Custom Campaigns

The Cottager can research and design advertising to complement the magazine’s editorial environment.

Websites

Support your print campaign with sponsorships, banners, hot links and more! www.thecottager.com

Speciality printing

We can provide bind-ins and a host of other services.

Polybags

Brochures, catalogues, product samples, CDs … what have you got?

Contests

Annual photo and book contests and subscription draws.

Surveys

We conduct readers’ surveys to keep up to date with what our readers are thinking and wanting. We always welcome feedback.

“I have been involved with advertising in The Cottager with Linwood Homes and TF Leisure Marketing since 2000. The advertisements have given me business, with the never-the-same floor plans generating the most business. I like the fact that people read the magazine with local issues and keep it for some period of time and then pass it along to their friends.”

“This magazine covers it all. Outhouses, signs, summertime wine and BBQ recipes. Opening up a new issue of The Cottager is like opening the cottage at the beginning of the season, it’s welcoming and familiar. It reminds me of why I am a cottager.”

Ted Finlay TF Leisure Marketing, Winnipeg

Bonnie J. Winnipeg

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications

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Product News

Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario

Lake country living & lifestyle

ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! The Cottager magazine goes directly into the hands of current and future cottage owners, as well as those who enjoy outdoor living. We are always looking for new products that may interest our readers. If you have a new or unique product you’d like cottagers to know about, please send a news release or product information, as well as a high-resolution photo, to: [email protected] or talk to your sales representative. Questions?

Email: [email protected] visit www.thecottager.com

Example The M12 Sub-compact Band Saw At less than half the weight and size of traditional band saws, the M12 is ideal for one-handed cutting. It is also “the only band saw on the market with a fully integrated lower guard that covers the blade outside the active cutting area,” according to manufacturer Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. This guard meets safety requirements by the American Occupational and Safety Health and Administration to make the tool suitable for single-handed use. The saw delivers more than 150 cuts per charge with the included Redlithium XC High Capacity battery and has a motor powerful enough to cut through 1.9-cm (3/4-inch) electrical metal tubing in three seconds. The M12 has low vibration and an LED light that highlights the cut line and adjustable blade tracking and tension.

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications

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subscribers’ survey

Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario

Lake country living & lifestyle

WHAT OUR READERS TELL US • 72% plan to renovate their home or cottage • 70% visited an advertiser or made/will make a purchase

• 65% own recreational vehicles (boats, ATVs,



snowmobiles, etc.)

• 88% have subscribed for 1-8 years • 80% save or pass on their issues • 78% read or skim the entire magazine

• 92% are 35 to 65+ years old • 79% own their own cottage • 73% live in Winnipeg/have cottages in Manitoba

or Northwestern Ontario

• 69% have

household incomes $75,000+

• 90% enjoy



walking/ hiking

• 88% entertain • 79% boat or fish • 76% garden “Having this magazine published in Manitoba really does mean that the information provided is especially relevant to cottagers in Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario. With the first winter issue being published (in 2012), the magazine will now also be providing those of us who enjoy winter activities with information/tips for that cottager season as well.” Val J. Winnipeg

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications

THE COTTAGER IS EXPOSING ITSELF Over the past year, The Cottager has embarked on a strategic plan to expand its distribution and exposure to gain more readership for its editorial and advertising content. Here are some of the ways The Cottager is enhancing its presence locally and nationally.

➧ READ WHILE YOU WAIT

The Cottager will have distributed 5,000 complimentary issues to the following waiting rooms and businesses in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario by the end of 2013. • • • • • •

Doctor, dentist, optician and physiotherapist offices Fishing lodges, realtors’ offices Hair salons, veterinary offices Financial institutions and architect offices Accounting, lawyer and insurance companies Car dealerships and political offices

➧ HITTING THE TARGET MARKETS

The Cottager has given complimentary issues and oneyear subscription prizes to cottage owners’ associations for their annual general meetings. Complimentary issues have also been delivered door-to-door in a number of cottage areas.

➧ FUNDRAISING PARTNERSHIPS

The Cottager is partnering with various organizations to have subscription sales of the magazine added to their fundraising campaigns. Initial partners include the Lake Winnipeg Foundation and the Kevin Howie Memorial Search and Rescue Fund.

➧ IN THE COMMUNITY

The Cottager has donated one-year subscriptions or complimentary issues at the following community events. • • • • • • • •

Travis Price Classic Golf Tournament Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame dinner Cottage owners’ association AGMs Fishing with Gussy TV show Victoria Beach Fishing Derby and VB Ladies Cancer Care Golf Tournament Lac du Bonnet fundraising fashion show Canadian Cancer Society Gimli Relay for Life Habitat for Humanity Springfield chapter fundraiser

➧ BOOSTING DISTRIBUTION

The Cottager is travelling to more stores in lake country and beyond. •

Staff driver hired to target more stores and businesses in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. • Distribution in chain retailers continues with Chapters and McNally Robinson in Winnipeg. Plans are underway to add major retailers throughout our coverage area. • The Cottager continues to be available across Canada in select Chapters and Indigo stores in every province.

The Cottager thanks its advertisers for their continued support as we work to bring our high-quality, popular magazine to more readers.

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P.O. Box 40 Victoria Beach, MB Canada R0E 2C0 Website: www.thecottager.com © 2013 by Cottager Publications