KCRG, Hoopla launch this year's A-List contest

KCRG-TV9 and Hoopla are excited to announce the 2012 KCRG A-List Contest power by Hoopla.

The KCRG A-List powered by Hoopla is an online contest where eastern Iowa businesses compete for first place and top five ranking in lifestyle and entertainment categories. Last year 3,300 local businesses competed in the contest and over 90,000 votes were counted.

Business owners who want to participate in this year's contest must claim their business online. The process for claiming your business to enter the KCRG A-List contest is easy and free.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, go to www.hooplanow.com/business to begin the claim process. If a business owner has questions about the claim process contact alist@hooplanow.com or call 319-368-8599 and ask for an A-List team member.

What local businesses are saying

For 25-years Kathy's Pies in Cedar Rapids has tantalized the taste buds of local customers. In the past four years of the KCRG A-List contest, Kathy's Pies has ranked in the top five, taking two first place finishes in 2008 and 2011 as Best Bakery. Owner Kathy McCauley uses her success in the A-List contest as a way to promote her business, “It is a badge of honor for us to be a KCRG A-List winner because it is voted by the people,” said McCauley.

The KCRG A-List is a free way for small businesses to boost word of mouth advertising. Jill Carpenter and her sister Jamie Schulte purchased Brides & Weddings, a bridal boutique in Manchester three years ago. As a new business in the Wedding Dress category, a tough category to compete in with 20 entrants last year, Brides & Weddings pulled off two first place finishes in 2010 and 2011. Carpenter said the first place finish was a moral boost for her new business, “We were new owners in the store and winning got us excited for all of the positive changes we made.”

Owners of Kathy's Pies and Brides & Weddings both agree participating in the KCRG A-List has had a positive impact on their business.

“People have come into Brides & Weddings and said they found us on KCRG's A-List” said Carpenter. For Kathy's pies, the ability to enter multiple categories has helped her business, “We have entered into categories for products customers did not know we made,” said McCauley. The KCRG A-List allows business owners to compete in up to three categories. Kathy's Pies opted to enter the cake category last year, “we did well in the cake category but this year we are going to get tougher,” said McCauley.

KCRG A-List gives a boost for local owners

Winning the KCRG A-List or even placing in the Top Five category is an honor worth talking about. In fact, local businesses are encouraged to use the KCRG A-List as part of their marketing message. Kathy's Pies uses its first place standing in radio advertising and Brides & Weddings utilizes the comments posted on their KCRG A-List business profile. When so many people are voting and writing awesome reviews, people get excited about our business,” said Carpenter. “We will print off reviews posted on the A-List and hang them in dressing rooms.”

Participating in the KCRG A-List is a great way to boost your local business and community. If you are interested in participating in the upcoming 2012 contest this March, here are the details to get involved.

New partnership with Hoopla, the entertainment source for Eastern Iowans

This year the KCRG A-List will partner with Hoopla, the entertainment source for finding and sharing fun things to do in Eastern Iowa. Jason Kristufek helps manage the Hoopla brand. He said the partnership and changes to the contest will enhance the experience for business owners and visitors. “By making the KCRG A-List a part of Hoopla, we can create a single place for people to find the best of local businesses, food, drink, shopping and music in Eastern Iowa and the Corridor,” said Kristufek. He reminds business owners that it is important to claim your business to enter the 2012 KCRG A-List contest regardless if your business participated in the past.

It's free

Participating in the KCRG A-List is free and open to all businesses in eastern Iowa. The business claim process begins on Wednesday, January 18th online at www.hooplanow.com/business. Voting will begin on March 19th and winners will be announced the week of May 21st. Participating businesses can register to compete in up to three categories. Each category will feature a top five and a first place winner.

For more information about the KCRG A-List powered by Hoopla, contact Travis Bockenstedt at alist@hooplanow.com.

ABOUT

The KCRG A-List powered by Hoopla is an online contest where eastern Iowa businesses compete for First Place and Top Five ranking in lifestyle and entertainment categories. Last year 3,300 local businesses competed in the contest and over 90,000 votes were counted.