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At long last, spring has arrived once again. And much like the weather, action on Academy Road is heating up. Academy Road Live! on June 4th is expected to be one of the hottest events of the summer; with carnival games, summer sales, special offers, treats and prizes... the fun may indeed be endless! Due to popular demand, AR Live! will see the return of the Prairie Wildlife Rehab Birds, as well as the debut of the Prairie Exotic Reptiles and the Six Pines Pets-on-Wheels. Animal lovers simply cannot afford to miss this event! Cyclists can enjoy Winnipeg’s Bicycle Valet service so they may be fully enraptured in all the excitement AR Live! brings, especially if they attend the return of Academy Road Bingo! (More about Bingo! below.)

The Academy Road BIZ Facebook and Twitter pages are full-steam ahead, so follow them both for all the latest details on our great Academy Road merchants.

We are always open to your feedback. Drop me a line at info@academyroadbiz.com.
Can’t wait to see everyone enjoying all that Academy Road has to offer this summer!

Academy Road BIZ is always alive with activity, especially when it comes to new businesses opening up in the area. Here's what's new to check out.

Shop Southeast Asia without Leaving Academy

The new kid on the block is looking good: Island Imports, Winnipeg’s premier source for designs and creations from Southeast Asia. Ever since moving to Academy Road from Winnipeg Beach late last year, Island Imports has been steadily building an intense, dedicated following. And with good reason. Not only are many of the exotic products they carry exclusive to Winnipeg, but much of it is incredibly affordable. Regular customers marvel with excitement at how exceptional and alluring the décor they pick up from Island Imports looks in their living area.

All of Island Imports’ inventory originates from Southeast Asia, with much of it coming from Bali, Thailand and India. From fence and wall decorations, to solid-teak benches and tables, to bamboo chairs, the décor options they provide is endless. And after stocking up on some cultured accoutrements for your abode, have your wardrobe resemble the well-traveled look of your house with Island Imports’ array of silver and beaded jewelry.

You must see it to believe it. Island Imports, located at 416 Academy Road. Store hours: 11 - 6, Tuesday through Saturday, 12 - 5 on Sunday.

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ATTENTION RESIDENTS:

It's Time Again for Live! 

The volunteer board members of Academy Road BIZ are gearing up once again for the 12th annual Academy Road Live! street festival on Saturday, June 4th from noon till 4:00 p.m.  

All of your family favorites will be there; street performers, face painting, live entertainment, carnival games, cotton candy, draws and sales throughout the BIZ. Coming back again this year by popular demand are the Prairie Wildlife Rehab Birds. New this year we have Prairie Exotic Reptiles and Six Pines Pets-on-Wheels. Many shops also offer their own creative components to the event. 

Bike down to the festival this year and park it with Winnipeg's Bicycle Valet so you can walk and enjoy the festival or get on a horse-drawn wagon ride to the other end of the street.

BINGO was so successful last year that we’re bringing it back! Download your BINGO card from academyroadbiz.com or pick one up at the following BIZ members: Bonaventure Travel (428 Academy), Woodlands Gallery (535 Academy) or Sharron's Linen's & Gifts (580 Academy). Complete the card by getting stamps at participating businesses and enter to win a $100 gift certificate at a BIZ business of your choice!

Bring Some Spring Bloom Inside

During their 60 years on Academy Road, the passionate professionals at Villa Flora have prided themselves in providing customers with creations that are both professional and unique in appearance.

Villa Flora creates floral arrangements for any event under the sun; no event is too big or too small. For instance, Villa Flora can transform your wedding into the stuff dreams are made of; exotic flowers from all corners of the globe for every facet of your big day, from bouquets, to corsages, to boutonnieres, to table centerpieces. Villa Flora metamorphose your wedding into a lush moment of unrequited romance.

Space decorations are extremely important to the overall presentation of any special event, as they provide that critical ambiance. Villa Flora boasts a long-standing tradition of creating the best floral space décor in Winnipeg, providing pre-made, ready-to-go items on your way home from the office, or custom-made, one-of-a-kind creations, perfectly tailored to your space.

I want you to think to yourself about the last corporate event you attended. Now, I want you to assign a colour to that memory. Let me take a wild guess that the colour you assigned to this memory was grey. If so, then that is tragic. But it shall never have to happen again thanks to Villa Flora’s corporate services. Villa Flora has all the flower power necessary to fully blossom your corporate event, conference room, reception area and lobby.

So, come take a stroll down to 419 Academy Road and smell the roses, daisies and the myriad of other floral wonder Villa Flora can add to your life. Or, you can call them at 204-488-4566 or visit them at villaflora.ca.

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Social Media for all Generations

There has recently been a rash of nostalgia concerning the 1990s. I mean, sure, there were some great things that happened in that decade; grunge, and, uhh, Goodfellas came out in the 90s, right? Well, I’m of the belief that in the twelve years since the ‘90s have graced us with its presence, things have undoubtedly changed for the better, especially with regard to the advent of social media.

Social media is in the process of changing everything, especially with the way we shop. Personally, it helps me shop smarter and shop faster. I can check live Twitter feeds for the absolute latest in new arrivals and deals at my favourite Academy businesses. The information is instantaneous, and vibes with the speed of my life. Facebook is great because of the rich multimedia experience it provides. Pictures of the latest styles co-mix with videos. The information is instant, and is available whenever I choose to view it. Personally, I wouldn’t be without either service.

The shops on Academy Road are absolutely the coolest in all of Winnipeg; however, I just don’t have the time these days to take a stroll and poke my head into my favorite stores. But now with Academy Road BIZ’s social media features, I can window shop from home. Even better, I can ask questions about products I’m interested in, and the shops will personally reply to me. If you haven’t yet, see how social media can change your (shopping) life.

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The Academy Road BIZ website contains a complete business directory including contact information and descriptions for many businesses. Click here to go to the directory.

In each issue of the Insight newsletter, you can enter to win a $25 gift certificate from an Academy Road BIZ business of your choice!

This issue's trivia question is:
Sandal season is upon us. And who doesn’t like to receive a gift?! To get both, where do you need to go?
HINT: check out the local events.

Know the answer? Click here for a chance to win. Include the answer and your full name.

Last issue's trivia contest winner was Sandy Allen. She chose a gift certificate from Saucers Café.