BlissdomCA 2013 and Brands/Sponsors come to meet great bloggers.

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Blissdom Canada

Thank you for being a sponsor. That is really what this post is all about… Saying thanks for making my conference experience fun (and affordable).

No conference, social media or otherwise, is possible without the help of sponsors.  Whether they are gifting swag bags; hosting suites, parties or meals; providing transportation or a relaxing place to kick your feet up and charge your phone, sponsoring companies provide the opportunity for attendees to meet them up close and personal.  Many smaller conferences could not do run if it weren’t for the sponsors. 

As part of DownshiftingPRO blog and Linkedmoms twitter party host, working with brands and sponsors is what I do.  I get to work with some great companies that really understand what it is to work with freelance writers, bloggers, social media consultants and brand ambassadors (a nod to you @ChickenFarmers).

As professional bloggers, one of our jobs is to highlight social causes, community interests, as well as services, products or companies that we feel would be of interest to our readers.  We review products, host giveaways and write about some of our favourite things and how they impact our family, our home, our lives. We sometime get to go on site visits (GM Canada gave us a tour of their Oshawa plant last year), test drive products or visit company test kitchens.  Sometime we get the inside track on new products and upcoming promotions.

When I attended Blissdom Canada this month, I met with some wonderful brands in Canada and I just wanted to let you know a little bit about what they brought to my conference experience:

Chevrolet Canada provided me and my blogging buddies a ride to the conference.  They dropped off a 2014 Chevrolet Impala at my house so we could drive in style and comfort from London to Toronto.  They also provided a free shuttle service for those arriving at Pearson Airport or at Kipling subway station. Oh, the recharge lounge is always a big hit & the candies were a nice touch…

Chevrolet_Impala_2014_BlissdomCA_DownshiftingPRO

Maple Leaf Foods provided dinner for Friday night’s party.  Yummy chicken, turkey, hot dogs, salads & smores! They always have some great swag bags (that are insulated) and really fun t-shirts that are all about BACON… really, need I say more?

Earth & Sky from the Bosc Family. Wine grown just for you.Wine Country Ontario rocked it by offering taste test from different wineries.  Attendees absolutely love it when we get great food and great wines! Bosc Family Wines was there I was so happy to meet Michelle (@MBosc) in person. She graciously supplied wine for a dinner party I hosted last year.  It is always a pleasure to work with Chateau des Charmes winery.

BlissdomCanada_All Rights Reserved_PhilosophyPhilosophy provided great skin consults, refreshing drinks, fresh fruit plates and wonderful skin care products. You were great to send a full size sample in our ‘welcome’ to Blissdom box and for the special sample bag… Got to love that baby blue bag!  Daughter confiscated it as soon as she saw it!

Evenflo provided the cutest cake pops and demos on how to install your car seat correctly and safely. My kids are all grown up but there were plenty of moms with kidlets in tow at the conference that took advantage of this demo.

Sponsors

Sleep Country provided travel pillows or soft cushy bears and one attendee won a bed! Your generosity is always greatly appreciate Christine Magee!

Cold Stone Creamery provided the best ice cream snacks…Trend Trunk -  had yummy cupcakes. 19 Crimes Wines… thanks for the multiple prizes (even thought I didn’t win one)… you rocked!

BlissdomCanada_All Rights Reserved_HallmarkHallmark Canada got us into the Christmas spirit with seasonal swag bags providing Christmas frames and plush toys.  We also loved being able to send our fellow bloggers cards… I loved sending my hubby an anniversary card. I loved this touch… well done!I have to say, I would love to get one of those Christmas Pic ‘n Props that you had *wink.

McDonald`s Canada hit it out of the ball park with their sponsored lunch. Signature wraps, fresh salads, yoghurt parfait and apple slices with caramel sauce.  Tasty, nutritious and really, really, yummy… We were lovin` it!

BlissdomCanada_All Rights Reserved_LentilsLentils provided another extra-ordinary meal on Saturday.  I love, love, love lentils and it was so nice to see all the great things that you can make with Lentils: salad, main meals, side dishes and dessert.  All made with lentils.  I know a lot of the bloggers were looking for the soup recipe. I hope to write a post about that alone…it was so good!

20131014_105324-1Tim Horton’s provided a great cup of coffee and donut every morning. Nothing like getting off the elevator and picking up a double-double.  They also provided the entertainment for Friday’s Party. I just loved listening to the talented Tenille and Jully Black.  Great Show!

Thank you to: Tetley Teas for the large box of tea… its nice to be able to bring something back for my hubby. Pure Via for the lovely tea cup & stevia – I have been wanting to try it out for some time.  A nod to TheLoop.ca for the canvas swag bag.

Thanks to Purdy’s Chocolate for the two chocolates… when we got to the hotel, we desperately needed a hit of chocolates & those salted caramels hit the spot.

Have to say I am sad that I missed the Cottonelle Spa Retreat on Saturday night but they had the best macrons…ever!

BlissdomCanada_All Rights Reserved_Cottonelle

Last but not least, Unicef Canada I’m looking forward to your #MeaningFulMeals twitter party with MapleLeaf Foods on Wed. Oct. 16 at 8 pm.

Its hard to cover all the brands that were at Blissdom Canada but I hope you got a glimpse of what they brought to the conference. Every brand brought something valuable to BlissdomCA. It was a time for us to ask questions and for them to ‘court’ us to blog about them.  Many of us are happy to write about what we love but as professional bloggers, we are looking to build long-lasting relationships with brands that know and understand what value we bring to the table.  I look forward to working in conjunctions with many of these brands in the next year to bring interesting content and information to my readers.

Which one of these brands do you want to hear about more?


BlissdomCA 2013 is a social media conference held in Toronto, Ontario. It brought together bloggers, brands and communities to discuss, learn and expand our businesses as bloggers.  We are all social media specialists that bring interesting content to our readership.  Please go to the BlissdomCA website for more information.  All brand sponsors logos were secured from the BlissdomCA website.  All Rights Reserved for Blissdom Canada photographs.  This is not a sponsored post but a thank you for those sponsors that made my experience at BlissdomCA possible. 

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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.

7 thoughts on “BlissdomCA 2013 and Brands/Sponsors come to meet great bloggers.”

  1. The sponsors were amazing. Totally made my first Blissdom experience worthwhile. I loved test driving the vehicles with Chevrolet. The Tim Horton’s suit was fabulous. And now I am a Philosophy convert. Totally a great conference and it couldn’t be done without all of the fantastic sponsors!

  2. Ooh how fun, it looks like an amazing time with tons of fabulous sponsors! The Cottonelle Spa Retreat sounds like it would have been completely wonderful!

  3. Excellent post Margarita! it’s so true, conferences like this would either not happen, or would cost upwards of $1,000 / person easy. So thank you so much for such a wonderful shout out to the sponsors!!

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