I thought of you Bea, when I read this today in the Akron Beacon Journal.
Read it carefully for some good ideas and as Phil would say, twist and turn this and maybe fold it into your Biz Expo...
http://www.ohio.com/business/9825407.html (The Story)
TIPS for putting together a "Vendor Blender" event:
http://www.ohio.com/business/9825417.html
Maybe by charging a smaller fee for HOME based businesses, and getting more from the big biz guys in town...you might attract a more diverse crowd.
If I can make it down there on Thursday, I will and give you a report.
And I'll talk to all the home business people too...see who's "making" it.
Vendor Blender...check it out.
Gordon
PS. A great lesson in PUBLICITY too. The picture covers the page left to right and takes up almost a 1/3 of the page and the story takes up about a 1/3 of a page....YOU couldn't buy that kind of advertising. It is NEWSworthy, local and deserving of the space it takes...hey, THEY (the media) need you as much as you need them.
Also, the sign guy got a nice little FREE ad too, complete with name and toll free phone number showing. He's probably doing cartwheels.