Area Businesses Urged Not To Miss EXPO 2002
Area businesses will get “more bang for their buck” when they sign up to be vendors at EXPO 2002.
That’s the opinion of Greg Griggs, president of the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, one of the co-sponsors of the annual business trade show. EXPO 2002 will be held Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center.
The Granville County Chamber of Commerce and the VGCC Small Business Center are also co-sponsors of the annual event.
“EXPO is a unique collaborative effort among multiple chambers of commerce and Vance-Granville,” Griggs said. “This gives us the ability to cover multiple counties and a larger area than any one agency could do alone.”
About 80 businesses, industries and agencies use EXPO each year to showcase their products and services and to come face-to-face with business people and potential customers from throughout Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties and even southside Virginia.
More than 1,000 people pass through the Civic Center annually during the trade show. “Where else in our four-county area can you have that many people visit your business and get an opportunity to talk to them and tell them about your products and services on any given day?” asked Diane Finch, Small Business Center director at Vance-Granville Community College.
In addition to showing their products and services to potential customers who might never visit their businesses, EXPO gives vendors a chance to meet other business operators in the region, to share ideas and learn more about what is going on in the business community, organizers point out.
“One of the great things about EXPO is that later, maybe even several months down the road, someone who attended the event will need a product or service and remember seeing it at EXPO,” said Ginny Currin, president of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce. “And they will remember having talked to a vendor face-to-face and will go to that person for what they need.”
“Now is the time to sign up to participate in EXPO 2002, while space is still available,” Currin added.
Members of sponsoring chambers may reserve an 8×8-foot space for $215, while non-chamber members may get a space for $380. Electrical hookups are an additional $10. In addition to the space, exhibitors get use of an 8-foot skirted table, two chairs, signage and up to four box lunches for employees. Those who register by Friday, Oct. 4, will have their company names appear in EXPO 2002 advertising.
Registration applications have been mailed to chamber members. Those who do not have them may contact the VGCC Small Business Center at 492-2061, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or the Granville Chamber of Commerce at 693-6125.
Gold Sponsors for EXPO 2002 are WIZS 1450 AM, The Daily Dispatch, WICE 98.3 FM, The Butner-Creedmoor News and Wake Electric. Silver Sponsors are Oxford Public-Ledger, McCracken Propane, Warren County Economic Development, Staples, ServPro, The Franklin Times and WHLQ 102.5 FM.
