EXPO 2007 Seeks Early Birds to Exhibit at Annual Trade Show

Organizers of EXPO 2007 are offering a good deal to businesses and agencies who sign up early to exhibit their products and services at the annual trade show, which will be held in Vance-Granville Community College’s Civic Center on Tuesday, Oct. 9.An “Early Bird” discount is being offered to those who register for EXPO prior to July 20. Members of the chambers of commerce of Vance, Granville and Warren counties will get spots in the Civic Center for $200, which is a $25 savings off the cost of registration after that date.At either cost, area businesses have decided that participating in EXPO is a worthwhile investment. “EXPO has given us a chance to publicize our station and to let the community know what we have to offer,” said Ann Alston, manager of WARR 1520 AM in Warrenton, which this year will be exhibiting at EXPO for the third time. “We even found a future employee there once,” she added. WARR is one of several media sponsors for EXPO 2007.“EXPO has absolutely been a very positive experience,” said Britt Sams of Sams Furniture, Inc. in Henderson. By participating in EXPO in 2005 and 2006, Sams generated new sales from EXPO visitors, whom he would not have otherwise met. Because of the exposure beyond Henderson that EXPO offers his business, Sams will be returning in October 2007.John Barnes of Embarq, based in Wake Forest, also is looking forward to EXPO in October. The company, formerly known as Sprint, has participated in the event for many years. “We have found it to be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our products and services, and a chance to meet our customers face-to-face,” Barnes said. “In 2006, there was a great turnout, as always, and we were particularly successful at spreading the word about our retail store in Wake Forest, which many people weren’t aware of.”Eddie Dickerson, manager of the School of Graphic Arts at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, said his company participated in EXPO for the first time in 2004, 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 2007, and it has even signed on as a Silver Sponsor for the event.The VGCC Small Business Center, Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, Granville County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County are the organizers of the 18th annual event.Each year, EXPO provides an opportunity for organizations that do business in Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties to set up exhibits and show off their products and services to the public and to other businesses. About 1,000 area residents are expected to visit the six-hour-long event. The last two hours of the trade show are designated as a “Business After Hours,” which brings even more business operators 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.Members of area chambers of commerce should have recently received registration brochures for EXPO 2007. Organizers urge recipients to participate and to send in registration forms early. Businesses do not have to be chamber members, however, to exhibit at EXPO.Forms and information are available from the chambers of commerce in Vance, Granville and Warren counties and from the VGCC Small Business Center at (252) 738-3240 or (252) 738-3239.