The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce wants to “grow with the times” with a revamped business-to-business networking show. The inaugural Prosperity Northwest, Business Building Business, is slated for April 28 at the Valhalla Inn.
The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce wants to “grow with the times” with a revamped business-to-business networking show.
The inaugural Prosperity Northwest, Business Building Business, is slated for April 28 at the Valhalla Inn.
The one-day event is designed to be a networking opportunity within a trade show environment to showcase new products and services, as well as help participants get some business leads.
Show manager Nancy Milani said after 36 years the chamber members agreed it was time to ditch the old trade show format.
Attendance hadn't been sagging but the show's demographics had gotten older – 55 and up – and the membership wanted to breathe new life into the event.
The booth exhibitors themselves had become more retail and service-oriented companies.
“It was mish-mash of everything and didn't really have much direction. So I took a big risk and said let's look at another option."
Milani hopes the new format will be more reflective of what's happening in the city's and the region's economy with exhibitors in manufacturing, mining, e-commerce, technology, economic development, health care, government services and First Nations.
The event agenda is more conference-style with educational seminars running throughout the day and breaks in between to professionals to meet and greet.
Milani hopes it proves fruitful for small business owners who can't afford a booth but can take in the various seminars and trade show.
In February, organizers were lining up speakers for topics such as quality management and productivity, marketing and advertising to Aboriginal people, social marketing, the Harmonized Sales Tax, Ontario Bill 168 (workplace violence and harassment) along with arranging panelists to talk about local success stories and how to sell to the public sector.
“It's going to be an incredibly full day but it should be a good day," said Milani.
In mid-February about 30 per cent of their 90 booths were sold.
Under new chamber president Harold Wilson, there is a renewed focus on boosting membership and increasing business networking opportunities.
Milani said the chamber needed to organize niche shows that reach a targeted audience. The chamber has an outdoor sports show in February, a health and wellness expo for September and a weddings fair in November.
The idea is to keep dollars home to stoke Thunder Bay's and northwestern Ontario's economy.
But it's not restricted to a limited regional audience, Milani is inviting exhibitors and participants from "Sudbury to the Manitoba border" to sign up for the event.
The event runs from 8:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. Doors are open to the general public at 4 p.m.
Participant day passes are $100 including breakfast, coffee breaks and the seminars.
Admission for general public is $10 for chamber members, $15 for non-members.
www.tb-chamber.on.ca
