The Lake Country Chamber of Commerce is stepping into unchartered territory, promoting local businesses with the first ever Business After Hours Tradeshow in Lake Country.
Featuring 40 booths and five different presentation and workshops, the inaugural Business After Hours Tradeshow in Lake Country is taking place today (Mar. 19) from 4 to 8 p.m. at Winfield Memorial hall.
"This has been done at other chambers quite successfully," said Lake Country chamber executive director Corrinne Cross. "We were looking at ways to promote the businesses in Lake Country and the chamber. The reaction was so positive that it was a huge success even before it started."
In fact the reaction amongst the business community in Lake Country was so swift, booths were sold out in no time and the chamber is now looking at a larger venue next year if it hosts a similar event.
"We put the word out on a Tuesday and I think by the Thursday we were 80 per cent sold out," said Cross. "It's been very well embraced. We're actually thinking next year to do it a little later in the year so that we can use the arena (after the ice is out)."
While it's the first time the chamber has organized and hosted a large tradeshow focussing on just Lake Country businesses, it certainly isn't the first time the group has taken part in similar events. A valley-wide business after hours event moves around between the eight different chambers in the region and Lake Country has also held events at UBCO, a small shop Saturday event in Lake County as well as business walks, getting input from businesses on how things are going and what can be improved upon.
However the tradeshow, bringing local businesses together under one roof in Lake Country is a new concept.
"The benefit to doing this is that our businesses get out there and get a chance to show off what they do best," said Cross. "We're looking at this for promotion and for marketing the chamber and the local businesses and helping them be successful."
Admission to the event is free and there are lots of door prizes as well as a concession hosted by the Rotary Club. The event goes tonight until 8 p.m.
Businesses taking part in the 1st Business After Hours Tradeshow in Lake Country
Andy's Tree and Chipping
Antler Creek K9
Aspen Landscaping
Beauty Ethics
Chamber of Commerce
Epicure Solutions
Grounds Guys/Lorwal Golf
Investors Group
JGN Accounting
Kahuna Cleaning
Kees Tae Kwon Do
Kepi's Creations Jewelry
LA Lifestyles Health & Fitness
Lake Country Optical
Lake Country Health Planning
Lake Country Lawn Care
Mary K - You Sendit Cards
Mona Vision
Nordixx Pole Walking
Odett's Skin Laser Wellness Clinic
Park Place Garage
Premier Tech Aqua
Profile Marketing
LC Rotary Club
Royal Window Cleaning
Second Wind Fitness
Shaklee Products
Sunscape
TD Benefits
The Juice FM
TrentchantOTC
Tri-Lake Animal Hospital
UBCO
Uprise Designs
Usana- Mona
Winfield IDA
Waste Management
Mary Kay - Dawn W
Worthy Inc.