What started out as a four-hour trade show in March 1987 is mushrooming into a 2 1/2-day extravaganza with booths, entertainment, seminars, breakfasts, luncheons, award ceremonies, refreshments, a fashion show and an auction.
The Business to Business Expo '90 will be held Wednesday, Jan. 24, through Friday, Jan. 26, at the Salt Palace, according to Deborah S. Bayle, vice president of administrative services for the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Margaret Hunt, industrial development specialist at Utah Power & Light Co., is the chairwoman.At the request of several chamber members who wanted some means to display their products and services, chamber officials organized a trade show in March 1987 in connection with a regular event, Business After Hours, Bayle said. They sold 150 booths and 1,200 people attended the four-hour event.
In March 1988, the trade show was expanded to 180 booths and 1,500 people attended. Because these two events were successful, chamber officials began thinking big when exhibitors said they needed more time to display their wares.
No trade show was held this year because of the tremendous amount of planning that has gone into holding next year's event, Bayle said. The amount of success at the coming event will depend on whether similar ones are held.
Sponsored by the chamber, the Deseret News, Morris/Ask Mr. Foster Travel, KSL-TV and Radio and the Salt Palace, the expo has space for 325 booths and 275 already have been sold. The price is $500 for chamber members and $650 for non-members.
The event will begin Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. with a Business After Hours session with entertainment, refreshments and an auction for items donated by exhibitors.
On Jan. 25, there will be a breakfast with a speaker, exhibits will open at 11 a.m. and a luncheon will feature presentation of the Athena Businesswoman of the Year Award. That evening, the Giant in Our City Award will be presented to S.C. Johnson, retired Sears, Roebuck and Co. executive.
On Jan. 25 there will be another breakfast with a speaker and during a luncheon the Business of the Year Award will be presented. There also will be a fashion show by ZCMI.
During the two days there will be several seminars on such subjects as motivating your work team, public speaking, telephone answering skills, hiring and firing practices, how to get the first sales appointment, business writing, how employees should dress for success, insurance and liability for business, stress management, how to advertise your business and sales practices and techniques. The cost for the seminars is $10 each.
Bayle said the expo is a good opportunity for exhibitors to tell people about their goods and services, a chance for those attending so see what goods and services are available and a chance to meet other businesspeople.