Business Expo a success
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on March 5, 2004 2:01 PM
A maze of people, products and prizes lined the dining room of Goldsboro Country Club on Thursday, and very few visitors left without having a bag filled to the brim with free stuff.
The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo gave 80 businesses an opportunity to showcase their products and services and allowed business people to meet with other business representatives. This number was up from 57 booths last year, said Patty Graham, the chamber's director of membership and marketing. The event was also sponsored by the Goldsboro News-Argus.
"It was a great success," she said.
The vendors were inside and outside so they would have more room. They began to set up their booths on Wednesday and finished at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The event was free and open to the public. It ended at 6 p.m. and door prizes were given away each hour.
Steve Hicks, chamber president, said the event provides a great opportunity for people from inside and outside the county to see what the community has to offer. It is also a chance for businesses to get in touch with other businesses.
He said it should be done more than once a year, and it helps show the chamber's vision, which is to improve the economic climate in Wayne County.
A steady flow of people made their way to the various booths throughout the day.
Lucille Ramsauer from Goldsboro, attending her first Business Expo, said it was fun and educational, and she enjoyed meeting all of the friendly people.
"I think it is very well handled and has a lot of good information," she said.
Wayde Black with the 4th Contracting Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was also attending for the first time. Although he was mainly looking to find representatives from printing companies to talk to, he said he enjoyed all of the booths and seeing the different products that the companies offer.
Those manning the booths agreed that it was a good time for everyone to come out to see what businesses are in the area.
"It's real good when we all come together and get to know each other," said Mike Wilson, program director with WFMC, which had a booth. He said a good crowd came by throughout the day.
When he had a chance, Wilson visited other business booths. "Every year I learn something new about what the area has to offer," he added.
The exposition will remain an annual event, and the chamber is exploring the possibility of having other business trade shows throughout the year, said Ms. Graham.