Business

Business Expo Showcases Top Local Products and Services

The fall Business Expo showcases companies’ products and services.

When Karen Shore speaks of the annual fall Business Expo sponsored by the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce‚ she can’t help but express both excitement and pride.

The expo showcases products and services offered by local businesses and organizations – from manufacturing to retail to nonprofit‚ in areas ranging from agriculture to advertising and recreation.

“Participation in the expo increases a little each year‚” says Shore‚ who took over as the chamber’s executive director in August 2006. “It has grown some from my last year’s experience‚ and we may have to consider changing venues in the future if it keeps growing. That’s how popular it is.”

The Charles Mack Citizen Center has two exhibit halls that provide room for up to 100 exhibitors‚ and those accommodations have been pushed to the limit in recent years‚ Shore says. Increased participation by local businesses also indicates that the chamber has been successful at promoting the expo as part of its overall mission.

“We do market it widely through normal channels and resources‚ television and radio‚” Shore says. “I do think the business community is strongly aware of it and relies on it each year‚ not only as a means of exhibiting services but as an important means of networking and establishing relationships.”

The event‚ free and open to the public‚ attracted 100 exhibitors in October 2007. The high level of participation mirrors the energy and broad-based enthusiasm of the local business community‚ Shore says.

During the event‚ Shore spends much of her time greeting and directing visitors and exhibitors at two halls.

“It is eye-opening‚” Shore says. “The diversity of the businesses and their products and services is amazing. We want people to be aware of what’s done here and of the potential of what can be available to them.”

Another highlight of the expo is the Taste of the Town‚ a two-hour social event that wraps up the expo and showcases the expertise of local restaurants and caterers.

“There is always a lot of excitement over Taste of the Town‚” Shore says. “During this time‚ the exhibitors are really able to socialize. Some of them have not been able to really see much of what the others have to offer because they’ve been at their booths most of the time.

“So this part of the expo has become very important in itself and allows an after-hours networking and a sampling of some of the great food provided in our area.”

Of course‚ the bottom line with this type of event is its impact on business‚ and Shore believes the effect is major.

“Everything we do aims for an impact by producing more revenue for the businesses and more jobs created within the community‚” Shore says.

“The expo brings into focus everything we do as ‘the chamber.’ We are all about the promotion of doing business locally. This event highlights the diversity of the products and services available here.”

Story by Warren Denney
Photo by Keeli Kelly

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