After a brief hiatus, the region is welcoming back the Athabasca Trade Show, set for April 21-22.
Preparations are underway for the two-day event, set to bring local businesses and citizens under one roof at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
The Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce has put a call out for local exhibitors, who sell products from automotive and RV products to lawn and garden, tourism, retail – anything, according to the information package that the organization has put together.
“We’re trying to make it bigger and better than the past years,” said chamber president Todd Dutchak. “Right now, we’re still looking for vendors, because we want to make this the biggest and best trade show we’ve ever had.”
He noted that a planned change of management from the radio station to the chamber has taken place, and this year would be the first time the chamber is running the trade fair on its own.
“We’re taking a different approach, because the radio station is no longer involved with it,” he said. “The Chamber of Commerce is taking it on as a solo project.”
Last year, the trade fair was cancelled after a lack of interest from local exhibitors.
Trade show co-ordinator Frank Ponto said the number of exhibitors who have booked so far this year is a little lower than expected, but there is still a good number of them.
“It’s been a little tough, with the economy,” he said. “It’s still a good deal … Where else can you get 2,000 people in your store?”
Ponto said the event usually pulls people not only from Athabasca, but from around the region to some extent.
“We’ve got to open up some different avenues, and try to step out of the box, to attract more people to jump in,” Dutchak said. “We’re really encouraging the local people to be involved in this as well, because again, this the spotlight for the community to shine.”
