YOUR AD HERE: Canada's Top Marketers Partner to Share Best Practices withSmall Businesses

Rogers Communications, MasterCard Canada and The UPS Store empower entrepreneurs with the tools to promote their businesses

TORONTO, Oct. 13 /CNW/ - While many entrepreneurs understand marketing tools and the impact they can have when building a successful business, many do not have the in-house expertise, time or budget to launch national campaigns to advertise their brands.  This October, in celebration of Small Business Month and to help owners self-promote, Rogers Communications Inc., MasterCard and The UPS Store, announced they are providing entrepreneurs free access to promotional tools, insight into best practices and the chance for one lucky owner to win $35,000 in free advertising with the launch of the second annual Celebrate Small Business campaign.

Throughout October, small business owners across the country can visit www.celebratesmallbusiness.ca for an opportunity to access a variety of resources including success stories and articles from Canadian Business, PROFIT, Advisors Edge and Benefits Canada, plus have the ability to advertise their businesses free of charge.  Companies can upload online banner ads or create them using the site's simple banner ad development tool.  The ads will rotate online throughout the month and will also appear across a variety of other Rogers' web sites including Flare.com, 680news.com and Macleans.ca - thousands of dollars worth of exposure. Owners can also enter for the chance to win $35,000 in advertising through a variety of Rogers' print and online publications including fashion, family, business and trade magazines.

"The Canadian economy is fuelled by small businesses and Rogers not only recognizes the significant role they play, but is also a proud supporter of the hard work that they do," said Gordon Stein, Vice President, Rogers Business Segment.   "We have come together with some of Canada's leading companies to applaud and celebrate the courage, passion and entrepreneurial spirit of the small business owner."

This year, MasterCard joined as a title sponsor of the small business month campaign aimed at empowering and promoting successful small business owners across Canada.  As part of the initiative, which runs throughout October, 20 successful small business owners, including MasterCard cardholders, will be profiled on the website and asked to share their business challenges and triumphs and highlighting why they love what they do. 

"We are very pleased to be partnering with Rogers to bring small businesses in Canada opportunities to further grow and develop their businesses," said Lili Tomovich, Vice President, Brand Marketing, MasterCard Canada. "MasterCard believes in helping small businesses manage their business through innovative financial tools and now through our partnership with Rogers, we hope to make many more small business owners aware of the MasterCard products available to them."

Last year's Celebrate Small Business contest winner, Ariane Griffiths, is the owner of marketing and promotions company, Foundation Studio.  As a self-described "Mompreneur" with two children, Griffiths' company, which she launched in 2006, provides professional services including web design, graphic design and social media training to other small businesses.  Upon winning the 2009 Celebrate Small Business contest, an ad campaign for Foundation Studio has appeared in Today's Parent and Sweetspot.ca, giving her exposure to thousands of potential new customers.

"When I came across the Celebrate Small Business resources online and entered the contest, I didn't think it would have made such an impact on my business," said Ariane Griffiths, Executive Director, of Foundation Studio. "The exposure and support I received has given Foundation Studio a tremendous boost. After years of hard work to build my clientele, this profile and experience has helped to truly legitimize my business."

Not only will this year's grand prize winner be eligible for $35,000 in free advertising courtesy of Rogers and MasterCard, but The UPS Store will also be awarding $5,000 in products and services to the lucky winner.

"As a network of small businesses, we've learned that in order for any business to succeed, it needs a strong support system," said David Druker, President, The UPS Store, Canada. "We are as excited to help show our support for small businesses during Small Business Month, together with Rogers and Mastercard, as we are to support small businesses in their efforts every day, 365 days per year."

Business owners can enter the Celebrate Small Business contest today. The contest closes October 29, 2010. The grand prize winner will be selected via random draw and odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. A mathematical skill testing question must be answered correctly to win. No purchase necessary. For full contest rules and regulations, visit www.celebratesmallbusiness.ca

About Rogers Communications Inc

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Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are engaged in wireless voice and data communications services through Wireless, Canada's largest wireless provider. Through Cable, we are one of Canada's leading providers of cable television services as well as high-speed Internet access and telephony services. Through Media, we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, and sports entertainment. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please visit www.rogers.com

About MasterCard Worldwide

As a leading global payments company, MasterCard Worldwide prides itself on being at the heart of commerce, helping to make life easier and more efficient for everyone, everywhere. MasterCard serves as a franchisor, processor and advisor to the payments industry, and makes commerce happen by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, governments, businesses, merchants, and cardholders worldwide. In 2009, $2.5 trillion in gross dollar volume was generated on its products by consumers around the world. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network - the fastest payment processing network in the world - MasterCard processes over 22 billion transactions each year, has the capacity to handle 140 million transactions per hour, with an average network response time of 140 milliseconds and with 99.99 percent reliability. MasterCard advances global commerce through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro®, and Cirrus®; its suite of core products such as credit, debit, and prepaid; and its innovative platforms and functionalities, such as MasterCard PayPass™ and MasterCard inControl™. MasterCard serves consumers, governments, and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information, please visit us at www.mastercard.com. Follow us on Twitter: @mastercardnews.

About The UPS Store:

With over 340 locations, The UPS Store is Canada's largest network of print and copy centres, as well as being Canada's largest franchised chain of business service centres. The UPS Store offers complete business support services such as digital colour and black and white printing , full document finishing, worldwide shipping and packaging services, mailbox rentals with 24 hour access, mail forwarding, package/mail and fax receiving, and mail fulfillment. The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. operations in Canada are owned and managed by Oakville, Ontario- based MBEC Communications L.P. and licensed franchisees. The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. names are used in Canada under a master license by Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS company. For more information, please visit www.theupsstore.ca.

For further information:

Media Contact:
Carolyn Hurley
Rogers Communications Inc.
416-935-8860
[email protected]

Jill Anzarut
Environics Communications on behalf of MasterCard Canada
416-969-2708
[email protected]