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Expo educates public on Brandon business offerings
By By Jill Meier
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EmailNovember 18. 2009 6:00AM
Sharon Meile estimates her family will save about $20 a month after attending the Brandon Expo, a free event put on the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 15.
“I was telling a friend about how I was so happy about going to the Expo yesterday,” Meile said, “because I figure we’re saving $20 a month now by just going there and making a few changes.”
Simply by visiting with the 60-plus vendors on hand at the inaugural event, Meile signed on with a new garbage service that is offering half off her garbage service for a year. She also discovered by signing up for a bundle package offered by Alliance Communications – cable, Internet and telephone – the family will save another $8 each month.
Meile was one of about 300 who attended the first ever Brandon Expo held at the local high school.
“I thought it went well,” said Kim Cerwick, the chamber’s executive director. “Expos are something you have to grow year by year, and even though the attendance was not huge, it was still acceptable.”
Karen Smook, a Brandon stay-at-home mom of three, took advantage of the Brandon EDGE’s pancake feed, to nourish her two youngest, while her oldest son jumped to his heart’s content in the inflatables.
Smook said it was her curiosity that brought her to the Expo.
“I came just to see what new businesses are in the community. As a stay-at-home mom, I’m in Brandon a lot more,” she said.
Smook said she did discover some surprises while checking out the vendors.
“There were a few of the smaller at-home businesses that I wasn’t aware of,” she said.
Erik Burkman and a few members of his staff from True Value manned the store’s booth at the Expo. Burkman said the event provided him the opportunity to grow his business clientele.
“There’s always potential for a new customer,” Burkman said. “The whole reason for being in the Expo is to let everyone know what you have and to keep them in town, keep them buying Brandon.”
Although Burkman’s store, the anchor business in the Splitrock Square building, is one of the most visible in the community, Burkman said people aren’t always aware of the services his business offers.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I heard people comment, ‘I didn’t know you did that.’ ”
Kris Haase, who owns and operates Express Copy and Printing with husband, Brad, said the Expo was an opportunity to catch up with folks she hadn’t seen a long time and to promote their business.
“I’ve seen more people today that I haven’t seen in a long time, so it’s good to reconnect and let them know about our services,” she said. “I’ve been doing a lot of visiting and a lot of people have been telling me they’ve been in our store, so I’m pretty happy with it.”
“I was telling a friend about how I was so happy about going to the Expo yesterday,” Meile said, “because I figure we’re saving $20 a month now by just going there and making a few changes.”
Simply by visiting with the 60-plus vendors on hand at the inaugural event, Meile signed on with a new garbage service that is offering half off her garbage service for a year. She also discovered by signing up for a bundle package offered by Alliance Communications – cable, Internet and telephone – the family will save another $8 each month.
Meile was one of about 300 who attended the first ever Brandon Expo held at the local high school.
“I thought it went well,” said Kim Cerwick, the chamber’s executive director. “Expos are something you have to grow year by year, and even though the attendance was not huge, it was still acceptable.”
Karen Smook, a Brandon stay-at-home mom of three, took advantage of the Brandon EDGE’s pancake feed, to nourish her two youngest, while her oldest son jumped to his heart’s content in the inflatables.
Smook said it was her curiosity that brought her to the Expo.
“I came just to see what new businesses are in the community. As a stay-at-home mom, I’m in Brandon a lot more,” she said.
Smook said she did discover some surprises while checking out the vendors.
“There were a few of the smaller at-home businesses that I wasn’t aware of,” she said.
Erik Burkman and a few members of his staff from True Value manned the store’s booth at the Expo. Burkman said the event provided him the opportunity to grow his business clientele.
“There’s always potential for a new customer,” Burkman said. “The whole reason for being in the Expo is to let everyone know what you have and to keep them in town, keep them buying Brandon.”
Although Burkman’s store, the anchor business in the Splitrock Square building, is one of the most visible in the community, Burkman said people aren’t always aware of the services his business offers.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “I heard people comment, ‘I didn’t know you did that.’ ”
Kris Haase, who owns and operates Express Copy and Printing with husband, Brad, said the Expo was an opportunity to catch up with folks she hadn’t seen a long time and to promote their business.
“I’ve seen more people today that I haven’t seen in a long time, so it’s good to reconnect and let them know about our services,” she said. “I’ve been doing a lot of visiting and a lot of people have been telling me they’ve been in our store, so I’m pretty happy with it.”
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The Brandon Expo held Sunday at the high school drew a crowd of about 300. Organizers say the event went well. Photo by Jill Meier |  |
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