Small Business Expo - April 17, 2012

Small and home-based businesses in and around Orillia will have a chance to promote their goods and services to the public during the second annual Small Business Expo later this month.

The April 17 event will be held at the Highwayman Inn and is being co-sponsored by four local organizations in an effort to shine the spotlight on local small businesses.

The Orillia Business Association (OBA), the City of Orillia's Economic Development Committee (EDC), the Orillia and Area Community Development Corporation (CDC) and the Orillia Business Enterprise Resource Network (BERN) have joined forces to give the public a glimpse at some of the unique enterprises in our area.

 "Small businesses are the heartbeat of a small town," said Ken Forbes, vice-president of the OBA. "The cost of traditional advertising, for many small businesses, may be out of reach. This event gives them an opportunity to showcase themselves to other businesses and gives the public a chance to get to know them."

And the cost, Forbes says, is minimal, allowing local small businesses to maximize their bang for a buck. The cost to have a six-foot table is $40; the cost of an eight-foot table is $50. Each booth will be supplied with a table, table cloth, two chairs and electricity.

Interested businesses should contact Forbes for more information or to book a table at the event at 705-329-1084 or email him: info@orilliatrim.com

"This is a way to get up close and personal with other business people in Orillia and a chance for the public to meet the people who do the majority of hiring in this town," said Forbes. "We're doing the work necessary to get as many people out as possible, giving small business owners a chance to get in front of potential new customers at a low cost. It makes good business sense."

The first annual Small Business Expo was held last October, attracting almost 20 small businesses.

"The first one was very good," said Forbes, who hopes there will be 40 businesses on hand this time around. "Now that we’ve partnered with these other great organizations, we're hoping to take it to the next level. I think most people will be surprised at the range and diversity of the small businesses that operate in Orillia," said Forbes.

That's a sentiment echoed by Betsy Gross, the OBA's past-president. The business expo was her brainchild.

"The key to success these days is partnerships, so it's wonderful to have these four community organizations working together to make this happen," said Gross.

"The whole point is to encourage people to support our small businesses," she said. "It's a great opportunity for the public to come see what's available and what you can actually get locally, whether it's goods or services. For small businesses that are the backbone of our economy, networking is huge and this provides a great opportunity for networking."

As a former small business owner, Dan Landry, Orillia's economic development manager, says the city's involvement in the event, and with small business promotion in general, makes sense.

"The success of small business is about connecting with customers, generating sales and revenues so those businesses can thrive and grow," said Landry. "If a small business starts with one employee and grows to two employees, that represents 100 per cent growth. If we have 10 small businesses grow, that has the same potential impact on our local economy as a new small or medium enterprise moving to the city."

Landry added recent surveys the city has been involved in reinforce that marketing and promotion for small business is one of the key challenges.

"The general public will be pleasantly surprised to learn about all of the unique goods and services available to them through local small and home-based businesses. This event is a great opportunity to make those connections."

Members of the public are invited to drop in – at no cost – to get a glimpse into Orillia's thriving small business community.

A number of guest speakers will also be on hand to talk about entrepreneurship.

In addition, expo visitors can drop in and talk to local officials from the EDC, BERN or the CDC about starting a new business and to learn about the resources available locally. The Small Business Expo will be open between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on April 17 at the Highwayman Inn.

For more information, or to book a table at the Small Business Expo, call Ken Forbes at 705-329-1084 or email him: info@orilliatrim.com.  You must register for a booth by April 13.