ATTENTION BEA (and any other "event" planners)...HOT off the PRESS.

[GordonJ]

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.

Thanks Gordon...

Here's just one Quick Idea... of twisting and turning this into an Untapped Biz Expo concept...

Virtual Niche tradeshows...

Build it into Categories Showcasing multiple Specialty businesses including a Luxury division...

Getting Local businesses Exposure & Leads Online is Unlimited only to your Imagination...

Virtual tradeshows...
http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14500

One Example...

Trade Shows, Web 2.0 Style
http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/...13virtual.html

Phil

Oh, thank you Gordon and Phil, too!

Those were neat articles!

A quick update: I finally settled on a major city within a bit over an hour from my home. I met with the chamber guy & he is very enthusiastic about it, too. (That was one of the things that drew me to this particular city, too, was his enthusiasm!) One of the cities I called was already doing this & I was able to get a brochure from them, which was helpful.

We are thinking to do the event in April of this next year, but he said HE didn't think it was too early to start getting deposits on tables, seeing that the building AND insurance will total out to just under $1,000. (They require 2 million $$ worth of insurance.) I'd be interested in both of your opinions: Do you think it is too early to have the businesses put down deposits? (That of course is still 6-7 months away & I'm thinking like a $50 deposit down to reserve their spot.)

Thanks for thinking of me. Were you able to get down to the event you mentioned, Gordon?

Thanks,
Bea