by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Expo featured everything from massages to cold beer to bread baked in the shape of a rabbit. Banks offered games for prizes while the University of North Florida held a drawing for $100 towards a continuing education class. Everyone, all 150-plus vendors, it seemed, was giving something away — all in an effort to drum up business.
“This is an opportunity for business-to-business transactions,” said Bob Baldwin, the vice president of member services for the Chamber.
Baldwin said the event is open to any of its members, but most of those that participated Thursday were small businesses looking to market themselves in an environment conducive to drumming up new business and contacts. The Expo featured several area restaurants — big-name chains as well as local specialties — staffing agencies, area colleges and universities and even a funeral home.
“Our members can showcase their goods and services while getting maximum exposure at a minimal cost,” said Baldwin, adding the event has grown ever since it started four years ago. “Every year it gets bigger either in consistency or growth. We had it here (the 7th floor of the BellSouth Tower) because this space can handle more individuals than the previous location (the Morroco Shrine Auditorium). It’s a great location because it’s Downtown and we are able to provide parking. We will have over 1,000 people here and that includes exhibitors and individuals here just for the trade show.”
One of those vendors was Stephanie Kellum representing AMS Staff Leasing. Based out of Dallas with several offices in Florida, Kellum said the Expo is a good chance to market her company to businesses that need her services. AMS Staffing Leasing provides temporary employees complete with workman’s compensation insurance and payroll production. The company also handles all tax filings and W-2 preparation. Her company doesn’t advertise much, so business trade shows like the Expo present the opportunity to come face-to-face with potential clients.
Trina Agustin is an account manager with National Premium, a Wisconsin-based promotional company with an office in Neptune Beach. National Premium specializes in promotional items and virtually every exhibitor was giving something away.
“You name it, we can put your name on it,” said Agustin, standing in front of a display and behind a table both covered with everything from golf balls to mirrors to chocolates. “This is good for networking and showing what we can do.”
Attendees were given bags to carry all the giveaway items. And, who provided the bags? National Premium.
Baldwin and the rest of the Chamber’s communications staff may have wrapped up this year’s Expo late last night, but that doesn’t mean the 2008 Expo isn’t on their minds.
“The planning for next year’s Expo starts immediately, the day after,” he said. “We do a follow-up presentation to see where we can improve. We do a vendor survey and walk around and ask how things are going.”