I think I need a PUSH over the EDGE...Can you help???

Ok, thanks, Gordon.

This is what I needed - is for someone to look objectively at this thing with me. I'll admit, yes, I had so much fun (and saw so much money, lol!) that I did "fall in love" with the idea!! The tables start at $300 & go up, depending on how much exposure each business wants.

what you are doing?
It is formally (I have learned now after calling several chambers) called a Business Showcase.

How do you make money from this thing?

I would collect the money from each business as they signed up to become involved. I figure even if I got 10-20 businesses in at $300, that's $3-6,000. I could handle that & it would grow with time as it's repeated.

When you say "sign up businesses" does that mean they PAY to be there?
Yes, they pay to show off their wares to the consumers/potential customers there.

When you say "loads of advertisements", what do you mean? Who is paying for it and are you targeting NEWCOMERS?

I would pay (out of the profit) for newspaper ads, maybe trade out a radio station (in exchange for being there..just a thought...??) but radio station ads, fliers we could put up ourselves - I've done a flier delivery biz before, so we're set up for that.

What about the door prizes, balloons and pop? Who's paying for it?

I would also be paying for that...better count on this being a bit bigger than 10 booths... I see that now. At least 15 -20 or we don't do it.

You like it. Have you fallen in love with a bad idea? I don't know.

It sounds very messy to me. RENT a big hall...have you gotten estimates? Do you know when they are available? What are the liability issues?

The rent is $400 + insurance (call in, not returned yet) Not bad so far.

The local Chambers of Commerce have these things every year, for FREE...what are you offering?

I called the chamber here & although she is not very helpful, no one here or at the convention center knows about any type of business showcase for the city, pop of 113,000 people in the city, county of over 200,000. They do have a job fair coming up that I had to find out about thru the tourist center! lol, hard to believe the chamber said they didn't have info of any events in the area! I think the girl there is new.

Maybe I didn't get the first post or what the purpose of this is...now Bea, I could be wrong...I just don't see what you are trying to do.

Ok, well I hope I've helped to explain it here. Thank you for your help, Gordon!

The problem with JUST DO IT... is your time and expense... WHO are you asking permission of? The CoC of that city? Again, what reason do they have to work with you and HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY From this venture.

I don't have to ask permission, just to make sure it's not a duplication. That & I want to be a chamber member in order to have a better "in". That can come by a fee that I pay.

Please provide a more fleshed out idea, or I'll have to take hubby's side on this one. Thanks,
Oh, no, Thank YOU, Gordon!