Chamber gears up for Oct. 6 expo

“For businesses, it’s a great way to network with 200 businesses, and then at the same time, you’ve got at least 5,000 attendees also coming through. It’s a great way to … promote your business,” said Kristin Lochner, project coordinator for community and development and special events at the chamber.

Businesses that registered before Aug. 19 also received additional promotion in the Expo program, the chamber newsletter and in advertising materials. Exhibitor businesses are listed on the chamber’s Web site.

Lochner said that there are still a few exhibitor booths available, and all told, there will be about 220 at the event.

For chamber members, the regular price for a standard empty booth is $510. For a loaded booth – with table, two chairs, a wastebasket and electricity – the price is $630. End booths cost $100 more, Lochner said, reiterating that those prices are for chamber member businesses.

“We do allow nonmembers in, but there’s an extra $200 fee,” Lochner said.

Booths for nonprofit organizations are available for a discounted fee of $210, Lochner said, and there are 40 included.

Also, Lochner said, the expo isn’t limited to certain sectors of business.

“It’s not specific. There are a lot of just technology shows. There are just food shows. This is for every type of business,” Lochner said. “We have a lot of accountants, the technology firms, even some restaurants and hotels, along with insurance agencies and some banks.”

On the agenda

The expo will be open 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at Springfield Exposition Center, but the festivities will begin at 7:30 a.m. with Good Morning, Springfield! at Jordan Valley Ice Park. The cost for Good Morning, Springfield! is $12 per person, and registration is available online.

At noon, in upstairs rooms C through E at the Expo Center, a business-to-business luncheon program will provide attendees with the chance to network and promote their companies. Business-to-Business Connection is $20 per person and registration is available online.

While the order of the day is business promotion, not all opportunities associated with the expo come with an additional price tag.

Leadership Springfield is presenting “Learn from Leaders,” a series of six seminars, throughout the day and free of charge to expo attendees.

The seminars will address human resources issues, management and supervisor training, employee and customer fraud and theft, health care coverage, small-business development and developing leadership among staff.

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