By Steve Lathrop
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Thursday, September 25, 2008 12:00 am
Tradeshow lets businesses interact with the public and each other
About a half hour into the Business On Display Tradeshow on Wednesday, there was a steady stream of visitors making their way through the entrance.
It was the kind of response the Albany Chamber of Commerce was hoping for. About 105 local businesses took part in the event, held at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, providing information booths and taking advantage of a chance to interact with each other and the public.
"I stopped to see what it was all about," said Sig Mickelsen of Halsey. "It seems like a good opportunity to find out about businesses. It looks very nice. There are a lot of good displays."
The event typically draws between 800 and 1,000 people. While there is some selling, much of the value is in networking, said many of the participating businesspeople.
Sharon Noll, owner of Go Figure, a fitness facility in Two Rivers Mall, liked the chance to spread the word.
"It's an opportunity to get exposure and maybe some new members," she said.
For Berlee McEuen of Berlee's Fancies, it is almost a perfect venue.
"Most of what I do is with businesses," she said. "That's the emphasis here and it works perfectly for me. I have so much fun at this event."
McEuen has been at the tradeshow for the last five years. Since her work is done from her home the chance for the personal connection gives her business a boost going into the holidays.
Many of the businesses on hand had been participating for most of the 14 years the show has been held.
"Once people get involved they usually come back," said Jennifer Stanaway with Citizen's Bank, an eight-year participant. "It's about getting out and communicating business to business. We always get great responses."
Gotcha Covered Catering of Lebanon, displaying for the first time, was equally impressed.
"We're meeting people and giving them a chance to taste a plate of food," said owner Kendra Knebel. "It's a good chance for a new business like ours."