MONROE - The first Business Expo sponsored by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry drew mixed reviews by participants last weekend.
More than 40 area businesses and nonprofit organizations set up exhibits in the SLICE arena. Exhibitors extended prizes, giveaways, candy and cheese along with information about their business or products.
The public was slow, though steady, in coming.
Procellular store manager, Diane Hall, said the flow of people past the booth was "a fair amount." Procellular had a a bluetooth headset and $10 gift certificates for prizes at its booth.
But Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson, at the next booth, said the Expo had a "relaxed atmosphere." MMS was offering Dove chocolates to its booth visitors.
"(The Expo) is well-put together and set up," Nelson said. "The seminars are an added value; the Senior Center brought in a lot of people for the seminars. And there's a nice variety of vendors."
Some booths were obviously busy. Family Chiropractic Clinic of Monroe was located at the front end of the arena with the new Proadjuster machine. Dr. Tom Thompson and his staff had four people accept a free exam of their neck within one 20-minute period.
Rick Terrien of Business Diligence, LLC, Middleton, showed his product for the first time in Monroe, to other business owners at the Expo Friday night. His business management system is especially designed for new entrepreneurs and small business owners in mind, making the Expo a good place to launch it.
But Home Craft Construction owners Jay and Jon Pfarr did not see many people stopping by their booth.
"For us, getting one lead is good. It's worth the effort to be here," Jay Pfarr said. "But if you're selling garage door openers, you need more than one."
He questioned whether the name "Business Expo" really told the public what the event was about - or if it gave the impression it was a convention only for businesses owners.
"Business Expo. Nobody knows what it is," he said.
Andrew Kranig, of Kutter Harley-Davidson/Buell, said the flow of people was "steady," but the turnout was not what he wanted to see.
He believes separating the businesses from the Home Show, now sponsored by the Wisconsin Builders Association, "took away from both ends."
"I don't think people want to spend two separate weekends on shows," he said.
Kranig did, however, take advantage of the Expo opportunity to work together with other businesses and had a music DVD playing on Radio Shack's large screen TV atop a van in the arena. Commercial interruptions played, of course, Harley-Davidson ads. Still, the action-packed music and ads caught the attention of most people coming in.
In the past, the Home Show in Monroe included not only builders but also businesses. But when a separate Wisconsin Builders' Association Home Show debuted in February, many business were not part of it, because they are not members of the association.
"For the Builders Association contractors, it made sense for them to do their own show. But a lot of our exhibitors came to us and said they still would like the exposure to the public," said Patty James, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The businesses came, but after five hours on Saturday, only 120 people came to see them.
But Nelson was pleased to see people from Freeport, Galena and Brodhead showing interest in the double booth displaying the future plans for downtown Monroe, and its scheduled events for the coming year.
"They were really asking a lot of questions," she said.
More than 40 area businesses and nonprofit organizations set up exhibits in the SLICE arena. Exhibitors extended prizes, giveaways, candy and cheese along with information about their business or products.
The public was slow, though steady, in coming.
Procellular store manager, Diane Hall, said the flow of people past the booth was "a fair amount." Procellular had a a bluetooth headset and $10 gift certificates for prizes at its booth.
But Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson, at the next booth, said the Expo had a "relaxed atmosphere." MMS was offering Dove chocolates to its booth visitors.
"(The Expo) is well-put together and set up," Nelson said. "The seminars are an added value; the Senior Center brought in a lot of people for the seminars. And there's a nice variety of vendors."
Some booths were obviously busy. Family Chiropractic Clinic of Monroe was located at the front end of the arena with the new Proadjuster machine. Dr. Tom Thompson and his staff had four people accept a free exam of their neck within one 20-minute period.
Rick Terrien of Business Diligence, LLC, Middleton, showed his product for the first time in Monroe, to other business owners at the Expo Friday night. His business management system is especially designed for new entrepreneurs and small business owners in mind, making the Expo a good place to launch it.
But Home Craft Construction owners Jay and Jon Pfarr did not see many people stopping by their booth.
"For us, getting one lead is good. It's worth the effort to be here," Jay Pfarr said. "But if you're selling garage door openers, you need more than one."
He questioned whether the name "Business Expo" really told the public what the event was about - or if it gave the impression it was a convention only for businesses owners.
"Business Expo. Nobody knows what it is," he said.
Andrew Kranig, of Kutter Harley-Davidson/Buell, said the flow of people was "steady," but the turnout was not what he wanted to see.
He believes separating the businesses from the Home Show, now sponsored by the Wisconsin Builders Association, "took away from both ends."
"I don't think people want to spend two separate weekends on shows," he said.
Kranig did, however, take advantage of the Expo opportunity to work together with other businesses and had a music DVD playing on Radio Shack's large screen TV atop a van in the arena. Commercial interruptions played, of course, Harley-Davidson ads. Still, the action-packed music and ads caught the attention of most people coming in.
In the past, the Home Show in Monroe included not only builders but also businesses. But when a separate Wisconsin Builders' Association Home Show debuted in February, many business were not part of it, because they are not members of the association.
"For the Builders Association contractors, it made sense for them to do their own show. But a lot of our exhibitors came to us and said they still would like the exposure to the public," said Patty James, executive director of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The businesses came, but after five hours on Saturday, only 120 people came to see them.
But Nelson was pleased to see people from Freeport, Galena and Brodhead showing interest in the double booth displaying the future plans for downtown Monroe, and its scheduled events for the coming year.
"They were really asking a lot of questions," she said.