Trusted Saskatoon Celebrates Our 10th Anniversary In Style With a MEGA Giveaway! 

" Time definitely flies when you are having fun. On June 1st 2021, it will 10 years since I took the leap of faith and launched TrustedSaskatoon.com to the world! Over the last decade our service has helped 10'000's of local consumers, just like you, find trustworthy local businesses in and around Saskatoon. Over that time, we have promoted and supported 100's of wonderful family, small and locally owned business operated with integrity. I call them our Trusted Saskatoon Partners because they are so much more to our team than 'just clients.' Many of the Partners have been with me for the full 10 years,  and I am eternally grateful to everyone who has been part of this amazing journey! " - Sara Wheelwright 

Two Trusted Announcements 

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we are launching our Trusted Troops program AND our 10th-anniversary contest, where we are giving away $10,000 in prizes over 10 weeks!

Q: WHY Enlist As Trusted Troop? 

A: More chances to WIN & support local! 

By enlisting in our new Trusted Troop program, you will be subscribing to our quarterly newsletter. In our newsletter, we will be sharing exclusive offers and opportunities with our Trusted Troops. This includes Trusted Partner News, exclusive giveaways, Trusted insider information, and offers.  You will also be automatically entered into every contest from now on; no need ever to enter again! If you choose to also enter contests on Facebook and other social media channels, then you DOUBLE your chance of winning! 

CONSIDERING ENLISTING AS A TRUSTED TROOP? 

S & E TRUSTED ONLINE DIRECTORIES INC & FIX IT UP -JOINT  MEDIA RELEASE

For Release - January 26th, 2021 at 10 am SASKATOON, SK  

TRUSTED DIRECTORIES ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FIX IT UP! 

S & E Trusted Online Directories is a multi-award-winning Saskatchewan marketing company headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 2011 by local award-winning entrepreneur Sara Wheelwright, it has a local online directory division, that includes Trustedsaskatoon.com and Trustedregina.com. In addition, there is a full-service marketing agency, Our company focus is supporting local businesses operated with integrity as a priority. 

FIX IT UP is owned by Brad Fekula and Dwayne Melcher. Brad has over a decade of marketing expertise at Cubbon Advertising, primarily dealing with Saskatchewan businesses. Dwayne is the owner of Melcher Media, a previously Trusted Regina website company and a highly respected Saskatchewan tech agency specializing in software and virtual reality (VR) development.  The Fix-It Up software allows consumers a convenient and reliable way to save time and money when looking for a local quote. The FIX IT UP quote software was created by the developers at Melcher Media to revolutionize the way quotes are provided. 

SASKATCHEWAN TECH COLLABORATING TO CREATE ADDITIONAL VALUE FOR SMALL SASK BUSINESSES
 

In 2020 Trusted and FIX IT Up entered into a mutually beneficial legal partnership agreement with the view to providing more support to local businesses in Saskatchewan.  On the surface the 2 companies may seem to be in competition as local web-based directories; but in fact, on closer inspection, it became obvious that they instead complement each other's activities. They share a common goal, to provide the best solutions and advertising value to their clients in the Saskatchewan services industry. 

The Trusted Directories partner with a select and restricted number of locally owned businesses. These businesses fall into 40 specific categories and most are based in and around  Saskatoon and Regina. These businesses are mostly service providers, and to become partners they must meet a unique set of standards, pass a Trusted qualification process, and sign a contract to commit to upholding specific standards of service ‘ The Trusted Guarantees’.  Trusted then promotes the partners individually and as part of the ‘Trusted Community’. Essentially, we sell the Trusted Partners as our only ‘product‘ to the local marketplace via a comprehensive marketing campaign - including, but not limited to,  billboards, radio, social media, CPC campaigns, event marketing, sponsorship, and more. This gives the partners significant exposure in their local marketplace, drives quality leads, and helps their SEO. Trusted also contributes time and money to help the partner's community support efforts, and the Trusted community holds each other accountable as a group of like-minded, quality-driven, locally owned businesses. 

FIX IT UP directories on the other hand, primarily provides a comprehensive quoting platform for local service providers in over 220+ categories. A detailed and industry-specific online quoting system saves service providers significant time. In addition, to build such a platform/feature on their own websites would be a significant cost that most service providers would not invest in. FIX IT UP businesses pay a very small lead fee, which they only pay if they are selected for a job they quote. The benefits for consumers and corporations is that they can provide all their information in one easy-to-use platform and await quotes from local service providers.  This is a managed process and also saves consumers time shopping around and the frustration of businesses not getting back to enquiries in a timely manner. 

The Trusted/FIX IT UP partnership involves the following elements:

1. Integration of the FIX IT UP quote software into the Trusted Directories clouded database platform. 

This means that Trusted Partners will be able to receive detailed quotes from local consumers who want a Trusted local service provider. This saves the consumer time and as the partners have to respond in a timely fashion customers are not left ‘ hanging ‘ waiting for a reply. In addition, they can request a quote at their convenience as our platform is open for business 24/ 7!

A bonus for the Trusted partners, is that the quote link and landing page is unique to each business. This means they will not be competing with other businesses in their category that are signed up as a FIX IT UP provider.

See a listing example here: https://www.trustedsaskatoon.com/listing.aspx?lid=334 

2. Trusted Saskatoon & Regina Partners who are listed on Fix It Up will be highlighted as Trusted on Fix It Up.

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This differentiates Trusted Partners and recognizes the steps they have taken to invest in their integrity.
It also shines a spotlight on their consistently high standards of quality work and customer service and gives them an advantage in the selection process.

3. FIX IT UP operates on a ‘ typical online directory model’.
They aim to sign up as many businesses as possible and charge a very small fee per lead.  After staffing and development costs this does not allow for much capital to invest in local marketing to drive consumers to use the platform, especially when it comes to mass media like print, broadcast or billboard.  

The Trusted Directories model is different, they charge more for an annual fee and severely restrict the number of businesses in each category to offer much more individual promotion, marketing value, and personalized service for their partners. They appreciate the quality of the FIX IT UP quoting software and in return for integration they are committed to promoting the feature and their FIX IT UP Partnership as part of their ongoing marketing strategy in the cities they serve. 

The owners of Trusted and FIX IT UP believe that local businesses like themselves should actively seek out collaboration opportunities in order to become more successful. We appreciate each other’s strengths, and we are proud to enter into a partnership as two established and recognized leaders in the Saskatchewan marketing industry. A community whose tech sector collaborates is a valuable asset to the province and we believe is crucial for the success of Sask tech as a whole. 

Support local and we all win!

Behind The Brand is a Trusted Saskatoon video series where we meet the partners and get to know who they are as people. Sara Wheelwright, the founder of Trusted, interviews them in a relaxed atmosphere and we get to know who they are, what motivates them and why they can be trusted!   

When I started Trusted Saskatoon back in 2011, my aim was to create a website where consumers could find TRUSTWORTHY locally owned businesses who operate with integrity. I had suffered a few times from negative experiences and felt that there was something missing that prevented people being ripped off. I recently experienced first-hand ( again) the exact reason why I was driven to create www.trustedsaskatoon.com, as a real resource to protect and help YOU the consumer who is choosing where to spend your hard earned money!

Sara Shares A Real Life Roofing Story

Not long ago I returned home to find that a local 'cedar shake expert' roofing company had stopped by. They spoke to a family member in my absence and delivered a flyer, product brochure, business card and a detailed $12,500 quote for a new roof. I had not requested a quote, however the company representative said they wanted to provide it to us as a courtesy as they were concerned for us. They noted that this was their recommendation based on the many issues they could see whilst working on our neighbours roof. The company had been next door for a few days repairing and re-roofing the roof and they said that had given them an excellent opportunity to see the issues on our roof. Even better,  because they were in the area, they would do it for a special reduced price – how kind of them! 

Unfortunately for this roofing company, they pitched their quote to the wrong homeowners... 

Being the owner of Trusted for nearly 9 years, means that I have learnt a lot of best practices when it comes to quoting. In addition to that, I have lots of people sharing with me who NOT to trust in Saskatoon. This company has been mentioned to me at least a dozen times over the years, so I was bound to be suspicious of the quote and the motivations behind it.

A Roof Inspection 

Trusted Saskatoon owner and founder Sara Wheelwright recently accepted a fitness challenge from the excellent team at Trusted Saskatoon gym Fitness Focus. Over the next few months, you can follow along on her fitness journey as she blogs and video journals her motivations, successes, failures, frustration and her pain as she struggles to get fit and fabulous in her forties!  

WEEK 7 - GETTING INTO A STRIDE &  SEEING RESULTS

I am back - eating better, seeing Denise and I am starting to see ( and feel ) the results. I have more energy overall and even spent time last week organizing my closet and drawers ( If my Mother in the UK reads that she will be shaking her head in disbelief!). I am finding the cardio easier and, I must admit, I am starting to enjoy myself. 

In the last 7 weeks, I have had to navigate many many many temptations.   Mothers Day, events with girlfriends, Grad parties, my 44th Birthday, time at the lake and even multiple shows at Jazz Fest. I have spent time in hotels, on the road, eating in restaurants with clients.  May, June and the beginning of July this year has brought hot temps and it has been perfect for sipping cocktails on a deck.    I cannot hand on heart say I have not lost my way a few times and overindulged, but what I can say is for the first time I haven't let that get in the way of me moving forward. 

The team at Fitness Focus have not judged my slips, and that is why I love the gym ( Also the coffee protein shakes!! GENUIUS!)  - such a supportive, relaxed atmosphere. 

Denise is the best trainer ever, and she really does inspire me with her dedication and the passion she has for fitness. You go, girl!! She is competing this week. 

As I count down the last 3 weeks to my UK trip, I pledge to be better, to be more focused and to get fully onboard with the drinks, eats, cardio and activity. I know it is working and I look forward to the final weigh-in ( of phase 1 )  at the end of July.  

You can see some of the results in the video and pic below - the rest you will have to wait and see.