Virginia Evergreen Winter 2018

Focus Area: Marketing & Brand- ing : Laura Wolfe Justification : Association members expect to have access to marketing materials, new sales markets, and other resources that will improve sales and demonstrate a return on their investment in the association.  Authentic: updating materials with diversities and current (print and web)  Blog posts online at VCTGA website  Simplify message in material by adding video and Google links to find growers by Apps easer  Contests that only members can do  Value Added: press releases, web news, blog posts  Networking member-to-member benefits  Exclusive: Buying fresh cut ad- vantages, resourcing, etc  Value Added: have a member- to-member web link so members can post needs and questions an- ytime to be the first to know  Create an experience and who we are message Additional Marketing & Branding – John Houston  Grown in Virginia, Sold in Vir- ginia, Christmas in Virginia, Real Trees in Virginia  Update what it means to buy or grow a Virginia Christmas tree, folklore, Virginia Traditions  Define what is special about Virginia Christmas trees: local, small farm  Propose anyone can grow, can sell trees, VCTGA will help  Viable, Eco-system, benefit statement revised Focus Area: Education & Research - Jeff Gregson, Ryan Clouse Justification: Association members benefit from on-going educational

training on best management prac- tices for tree production, marketing, enterprise expansion, business devel- opment, labor systems, and other tools that bring value to the Christ- mas tree operations.  Survey Membership  Mini-Workshops  Annual Meeting  Webinars, Message Board, Blogs  Industry Networking Please help the VCTGA grow to help enhance your business. Contact President Jeff Gregson, 540-423-9020, jeffgregson@gmail.com

Trees for Troops Delivers 200,000 th Tree! Trees for Troops wrapped up its 13 th season with a total delivery of 17,470 trees to US military bases and four International bases. The program donated its 200,000 th Tree to the Vidal family at Fort Drum. 208,470 real Christmas trees have been delivered! Christmas Tree Promotion Board Getting Engaged  To receive the CTPB electronic  newsletter, please email your  request  to:  info@christ‐ mastreepromotionboard.org .   Please check your inbox, spam  or junk folders first to see if  you are already receiving our  newsletter.  You will see:  “Christmas Tree Promotion  Board” in the FROM column.   To engage in our Facebook  Campaign, login into your Fa‐ cebook page and type “Its  Christmas Keep it Real” in the  search box.  Click on our page  (it has the campaign logo) and  LIKE and FOLLOW the cam‐ paign page.   To use the SPROUT program to  have CTPB post all campaign  Facebook messages on your  Facebook page, please email a  request for the SPROUT ser‐ vice  to:  CTPB‐ sprout@gmail.com .  You will  receive set‐up instructions  from our team.

Screenshot: Twice-monthly newsletters pro- vide information and updates to the industry

ItsChristmasKeepItReal.com

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VCTGA News Journal ‒ Winter 2018 VCTGA News Journal – Winter 2018