Trade Show opens April 2-3

By Lori Weston
    A sure sign of spring is the annual Southern Aroostook Trade Show that will take place on April 2nd and 3rd at the Millar Civic Center in Houlton. With many new exhibitors and a full schedule of events throughout the weekend, the 2011 Trade Show promises to have something for everyone.
    The doors open Saturday at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.
    If you are looking for information on local banking, dish network plans, programs for special needs children, alternative heat sources, real estate, modular homes, spring planting ideas, garden equipment, farming equipment, camping, garage doors, home improvement ideas, campers, 4-wheelers, motorcycles, museum items that will take to back to different time, printing resources, County information, website and professional office folks to help you with your business, county clownz, piñata designs, project graduation raffles, storage, Veteran screenings on site … and the list goes on, then the Southern Aroostook Trade Show is the place for you!
    The value of exhibiting in and attending a trade show are of enormous benefit to everyone. It would be rare to have over 1,500 customers come through a place of business in a two-day span of time. The Trade Show offers the perfect opportunity to showcase and sell product to customers on a one on one basis. It’s a face-to-face interaction that often doesn’t happen in a store setting, offering a chance to see the product and ask questions of the professionals who sell it.
    This year, the stage area of the Trade Show will be bustling with activity with Fireman Fred providing music, introducing our exhibitors and specials that they will have throughout the weekend. Put into the mix an opportunity to sing karaoke, a “Best Pizza in Around Houlton Contest,” a prom and formal show featuring gowns, tuxes, and caterers, cake tasting and you will find plenty of reasons to come to the show. We are extremely pleased to have a major focus of the show for the Veterans of our area this year, stated Weston. The Mobile Vet Center will be set up outside and opened to Veterans and their families for both days of the show. Their mission is to serve combat veterans and their families with readjustment issues as well as to assist all veterans with benefit issues and questions. Screenings for all Veterans for high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol will take place inside the Civic Center.
    The atmosphere of the Trade Show is always fun and exciting.  Make your plans now to come and stroll through the show, enjoy some great music, visit your favorite exhibitor, dream about your summer vacation in your new camper or an easier way to mow your lawn or heat your home while to talk to the experts. We’ll see you there!
    Lori Weston is the executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commere.