Business Expo is Networking Success
Upstate Business Journal
Held at the Redding Convention Center on Sept. 20, the expo’s 107 booths ranged from Arvon International (healthy botanically-based products) and Torty’s Zen Party (in-home fitness and massage) to OREXCO (Old Republic Exchange Company).
“This was our best expo ever,” said Valerie Washburn, the chamber’s operations manager. With impressively high attendance, this Expo had some new features this year, including live entertainment and a live radio broadcast.
Participants were upbeat about the expo’s benefits. “[It’s] a great way to get up close and personal,” said Colette Lovelle, Lake College’s placement coordinator. Sarah Meyer, marketing consultant to Result Radio’s Smooth Jazz (96.5 FM) said the station got positive feedback from listeners and was able to market their customer advertising.
Many vendors use the expo to keep visible, such as businesses like River Romance and Home Helpers. Although both are well-established, the expo helps them remind potential customers that they’re out there. Participating also generates good word-of-mouth, an essential ingredient to small business success.
This event also introduced several new businesses, such as the soon-to-be Gaia Anderson Hotel and Five Minute Networking software.
Gaia Anderson Hotel, said Yuan Sing Chang of the family-owned Attman Hospitality Group, will be an environmentally sustainable 122-hotel. Addressing concerns about the environment, this hotel – set to open in spring 2008 – will have the feel of a high quality hotel while using solar panels and recycled materials. A first-timer to the expo, Chang said he appreciated the fact that the event gives people the chance to see a lot of different businesses.
“Five Minute Networking,” conducted with a full turnout, “takes the work out of networking,” said Tasha King-Hepburn, who facilitated the demonstration event made possible by King and Associates. Kind of like speed-dating, the five-minute networking model lets business people make useful contacts while optimizing their time.
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