29 Sep 2014 Conway chamber plans expo, Taste of Conway next week

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce invites area businesses to participate in the 2014 Business Expo on Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds. Southwestern Energy is the presenting sponsor.

This year’s theme is “The Greatest Expo on Earth.”

The expo includes a breakfast, a business-to-business trade show, lunch presentations and Taste of Conway. Mary Margaret Satterfield, director of Toad Suck Daze and events at the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, said 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 multifaceted approach sets it apart from other expos in the central Arkansas area,” Satterfield 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 the Expo Center for Business Expo throughout the day.”

Business Expo kicks off at 8 a.m. with the Business Expo Breakfast, sponsored by Conway Corporation. The breakfast has been a part of Business Expo since 2010 and traditionally has served as an occasion for the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce to announce substantial economic development and community initiatives, including Conway2025, the design of the Interstate 40 corridor, a partnership with local nonprofit Arkansas Preschool Plus and the Central Landing development.

This year, breakfast attendees will hear an update on the Conway2025 strategic plan, which launched five years ago. Tickets are required to attend the breakfast and can be purchased online for $10.

The Business Expo and Retail Showcase, a business-to-business trade show, begins at 9 a.m. and lasts until 7 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. The public can attend the trade show at no cost. For $5, Expo attendees can take advantage of an on-site lunch and sit in on one of two informative presentations.

Taste of Conway gives the community the chance to sample some of the best food Conway has to offer. The event takes place from 5 to 7 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. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.

Sponsorships and booth space are available for the 2014 Business Expo and Taste of Conway. Booth space begins at $300 for Chamber-member businesses and $500 for nonmembers. Contact the Chamber at 501.327.7788 or visit ConwayChamber.org to learn more about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities.