EXPO 2005 Seeks ‘Early Birds’ To Exhibit At Annual Trade Show
Organizers of EXPO 2005 are offering a good deal to businesses and agencies who sign up early to exhibit their products and services at the annual trade show at Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center on Oct. 11.
An “Early Bird” discount is being offered to those who register for EXPO prior to July 22. Members of the chambers of commerce of Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties will get spots in the Civic Center for $195, which is a $20 savings off the cost after that date.
Participating in EXPO has proven to be a worthwhile experience at either cost.
Eddie Dickerson, manager of the School of Graphic Arts at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, said his company participated in EXPO 2004 for the first time, and he had high praise for the experience.
“We landed a really big printing account as a result of EXPO from a local company that had not been aware of what we are able to do,” Dickerson said. The School of Graphic Arts has primarily printed for the Masonic Home and for Masons statewide in the past, but has recently branched out to take more jobs from the community. “Basically, we print anything that involves ink on paper, including two books about Granville County,” he said.
The School of Graphic Arts plans to be at EXPO 2005, and it has even signed on as a Silver Sponsor for the event.
Nancy Smith said EXPO was “probably the most effective marketing” she has done since opening Lighthouse Entertainment in Henderson in 1998. “We found it a great way to introduce a new business to the community, and we are still getting referrals from last year’s EXPO.”
Lighthouse Entertainment was founded to provide children’s entertainment, including party packages for youth. Smith said they will definitely be back at EXPO 2005 where they will be telling people about their new facility that is scheduled to open before the end of the year at Northpark Development on Beckford Drive. “I highly recommend EXPO to any business looking for exposure for their company,” Smith said.
Franklin Regional Medical Center in Louisburg has participated in several EXPOs, and Bonnie Little, director of Public Relations and Marketing, said they, also, will be back this year. “It is a great opportunity to give out information on what services we offer,” she said.
“EXPO also gives us an opportunity to meet other business people in a different atmosphere and to cultivate relationships with them,” Little added.
About 1,000 people typically attend EXPO. Last year, the hours of the event were changed to 1 to 7 p.m. to allow more working people to attend, and that proved to be an excellent decision, organizers said. The last two hours of the trade show are designated as a Business After Hours, which brings even more business operators who are chamber members in the four counties to the event. The interaction among businesses is cited by many exhibitors as being among the greatest benefits they receive by participating.
Sheila Carver helped man a booth representing several Warrenton businesses, including Picket Fence Antiques and The Ivy bed-and-breakfast, at EXPO 2004. “We found it a good place to meet lots of people and let them know about some of the opportunities available in Warrenton,” she said.
Members of all area chambers of commerce should receive registration brochures for EXPO 2005. Organizers urge recipients to participate and to send registration forms in early. Businesses do not have to be chamber members, however, to exhibit at EXPO. Forms and information are available from any of the chambers of commerce in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties and from the VGCC Small Business Center at (252) 492-2061.
