FAQs

Will my competitor be on this card?

Maybe, and we will tell you before you commit. This is a food card, so every kitchen on it is competing for the same holiday dollar in one way or another. What we will not do is sell two slots doing the same job. One full holiday dinner package, one pie order, one roast. A bakery, a butcher, a restaurant and a caterer can all be on the card because the neighbor reading it needs all three. Two caterers selling the identical Thanksgiving dinner for ten would just split the phone calls.

What if the slot i want is already sold?

We will tell you what is still open and what is already spoken for, and we will hold your place for the next issue with the date it mails.

I do not have an ad. Is that a problem?

No. Most businesses send us a logo and a few details and we design the space for them. That is included in the price, and you approve a proof before anything prints.

Can I run an offer?

You can, but on this card a date usually does more work than a discount. Every slot gets one line for it, and the strongest use of that line is a price and an order-by deadline. Dinner for ten at $XYZ, order by the 22nd. Holiday buyers are not hunting for a bargain. They are trying to get the food handled and know it will be ready when they come pick it up. If you want an incentive, order early beats percent off. This is not a coupon book, and we design that line to sit inside your brand rather than shout over it.

How do I know it was actually delivered?

After the drop, we send you a confirmation showing the carrier routes covered and the number of pieces mailed.

Do I have to commit to a full year?

No. You can reserve a single issue. Most businesses hold their category for several issues because repetition is what makes a neighborhood remember you, but that is your call, not a requirement.

Who is behind this?

Cultivation Companies, a marketing firm that has spent years building campaigns for independent, service-based businesses. Founded by Joan Dyer, lives in Oak Park, and Kim Runner, lives in Chicago.