MADAWASKA, Maine — Just half an hour after Madawaska’s Top O’ Maine Trade Show opened on Saturday morning, the multi-purpose center’s parking lot was filled up, with cars parking down the street.
This marks the 36th year that the show, which is the largest of its kind north of Bangor, was held. And while the show featured several local businesses, it also drew vendors from as far out as North Carolina.
Madawaska Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Director Jessica Blalock said she began reaching out to vendors back in November, and that posting about the event on social media helped them sell out all 120 booths.
Some vendors, such as American Sleep Therapy of Braintree, Massachusetts, took up several booths in order to demonstrate their products for customers.
On Thursday and Friday, the chamber and volunteers set up poles, curtains, tables and chairs, and had the help of St. John Valley Associates, Daigle Daycare and American Red Cross.
Blalock said on Saturday morning that the show was already seeing a steady influx of customers.
“There’s a lot of running around right now trying to make sure everything’s set up and going, but I think we’ve found our groove,” she said. “Now we’re just helping people come in and we’re helping vendors with questions.”
The show also featured a plethora of food vendors, from Gotta Coffee, Cou-yon’s Cajun Shack, the American Legion Auxiliary, Ruby Reds Cuisine and Valley Mustangs
Some vendors, such as Eko Nature Glamping, based in Lac Baker, New Brunswick, traveled across the border to attend the event. Business owner Scott Beaulieau said they are just a 25 minute drive away from Madawaska and offer year-round scenic camping options with four geodesic domes and two cottages.
“It’s a place that’s not only for the weekend,” he said, “but for people to come and relax. They come with families, rent a couple of domes and they mostly come to relax.”
He said the sites all have hot tubs, and give customers a beautiful view of Lac Baker and the surrounding mountains.
Beaulieu said it’s his first time coming out to the Madawaska trade show, and that he hopes to diversify their clientele.
“We’re looking to bring in clients from all over the place, because we have clients coming in from Europe, all over the United States, and even Mexico. It’s a nice, beautiful tourist spot and it’s very close to Madawaska.”
Shawn Trombley, who recently moved to Madawaska from Caribou, also made his first appearance at the trade show this year. Trombley’s business, Northern Softwash Plus, specializes in washing houses, windows and gutters.
Trombley, who has been in business for two years, said he decided to come out to the trade show as he is still working on breaking into the new market. Before starting this business, he ran Five Star Home Maintenance, a Caribou construction company, for 25 years.
He said he was approached about starting the softwash business and that it quickly took off.
“The demand was there,” he said, “And I’ve been putting more and more into the business over the last couple of years.”
He said that house washing can not only beautify a home, but will also get rid of mold, mildew, and help with general upkeep.
Another relatively new local business, Gypsy’s Jules and Treasures, made an appearance at the show. Garry Bouchard of Fort Kent runs the business with his wife and children, and they specialize in creating a myriad of different products, from shirts, license plates, bookmarks, socks and products made of resin.
He said the business was named after two family cats, Gypsy and Jules.
“Gypsy was a little kleptomaniac, so she would take things — anything she could grab onto — and hide them. And I said, ‘You know what? She’s a perfect candidate for what we’re doing.’”
Jules was Gypsy’s son, and Bouchard said his name was added since it sounds like “jewels.”
And while their business is new, the Bouchard family has been to the trade show many times and used to have a booth to promote their team in the Aroostook Relay For Life.
A Mars Hill-based business, Legacy Ranch & Event Center, made its second appearance at the trade show this year. The business provides a spot for not only weddings, but company events, training seminars, birthdays and large gatherings.
Business owner Miranda Bragan was hosting a wedding at the center during the trade show, and her parents Tricia and Spencer Bragan, who also help with the business, were hosting the booth on Saturday morning.
Spencer Bragan said the center includes a large property and can host up to 250 people.
“If you’re coming for a wedding, you can stay right on the property,” he said. “You don’t have to leave, so that makes it convenient.”
The facility offers year-round services, and has heat and air conditioning. It contains an outside pavilion for weddings, and a barn where receptions could be held. Bragan said that while weddings are among the most popular events held at the center, there are more company suppers, Christmas parties and educational events later in the year.
Overall, Blalock said that she and the chamber board worked hard to create an event with enough variety that it could appeal to just about anyone.
“It’s one place where everybody can congregate and one-stop shop on a fun weekend,” she said.
