The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce invites area businesses to participate in the 2012 Business Expo. The event will take place Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds. Southwestern Energy is the presenting sponsor.
Business Expo comprises a breakfast, a business-to-business trade show and Taste of Conway. Bart Shaw, vice president of operations at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, said that this setup provides businesses with varied opportunities to network with other professionals and exhibit their products and services to a diverse and captive audience.
“Business Expo’s three-pronged approach is what sets it apart from other expos in the central Arkansas area,” Shaw said. “First, the Business Expo Breakfast is attended by more than 150 representatives from Conway’s business community, including many decision makers. Second, the trade show provides exhibitors with both immediate and deferred sales opportunities and business-to-business networking. Finally, Taste of Conway attracts more than 500 potential customers to Business Expo.
“We anticipate approximately 1,000 people will come to Business Expo throughout the day.”
Business Expo kicks off at 8 a.m. with the Business Expo Breakfast, presented by Conway Corporation. The breakfast has been part of Business Expo for three years and traditionally has served as an occasion for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce to announce substantial economic development and community initiatives. In 2010, the Chamber unveiled Conway2025 at this event, and in 2011, the Chamber revealed the design of the Interstate 40 corridor.
This year, Brad Lacy, president and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, will introduce a new education program for Conway at the breakfast. Tickets are required to attend the breakfast and can be purchased for $10 at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce.
The Business Expo and Retail Showcase, a business-to-business trade show, begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. Product demonstrations, business-to-business networking, and the actual selling of products and services – all done on the Expo floor – can ultimately increase sales and sales leads for exhibitors, according to Shaw.
The Chamber has added a lunch presentation to this year’s Expo. Scott Bennett, director of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, will speak about an upcoming sales tax election and its potential impact on the Conway area. Admission to the Expo is free, but there is a cost to attend the lunch presentation.
Taste of Conway, presented by Arvest Bank, gives the community the chance to sample some of the best food Conway has to offer. The event takes place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on the floor of Business Expo, giving food service providers the opportunity to get in front of more than 500 company representatives and community members. Restaurants, caterers, food and drink distributors, and other food service providers that are members of the Chamber are eligible to participate in Taste of Conway at no cost.
Sponsorships and booth space are available for the 2012 Business Expo and Taste of Conway. Contact the Chamber at 501-327-7788 or visit ConwayArkansas.org to learn more about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.