Thursday, March 27, 1997

Biz Expo '97: a carnival-like atmosphere

By BOB BRUCE

Senior Staff Writer

It was like going to a carnival with coats and ties.

No, the carnival didn't come to town but a midway atmosphere was evident Wednesday up and down the aisles of Business Expo '97 at the Abilene Civic Center.

Balloons floated, basketballs bounced, golf balls rolled and Frisbees flew through the air.

Meanwhile, popcorn, candy, peanuts and soft drinks disappeared as the multitudes poured in from a crowded parking lot.

"It's great! This year we didn't have to deal with the snow," exclaimed Expo chairman Dan Huggins, recalling last year's snow storm.

"I've talked to a lot of booth people and everyone seems pleased," Huggins said.

This year's trade fair produced a record 214 booths filled by 175 businesses, sponsored by the Abilene Chamber of Commerce and the Abilene Business Council.

Chamber officials say that the steadily growing Expo, begun in 1984, now draws about 10,000 visitors for the one-day event.

Booth rental is expected to produce $20,000 to $25,000 in chamber revenue. That doesn't include a new feature this year, a silent auction.

Business representatives agreed with Huggins' appraisal.

"It's really a good opportunity to get out and meet new companies," said Lauren Porter, an LVN with Abilene Minor Emergency Clinics. At mid-afternoon, Porter estimated she'd already greeted 150 to 200 visitors.

Raymond Hall of Neon by Ray said, "We've got some good prospects that should show up later on."

Jim Ream of Abilene Business Equipment said he had four or five "good solid leads" that had materialized during the day.

"This is the first step in the sales process," Ream said.

Joe Crowder of Travel Agents International sized response up this way: "It's more than we can say grace over."

Everywhere, business was the name of the game. But some exhibitors took the light approach.

Like at Abilene Clean and Proud, where Shari Cleghorn and Michelle Morris operated a basketball hoop game, using empty plastic bottles for basketballs and giving away green ash and red oak trees for environmental prizes.

"We try to be amusing," Cleghorn said.

The red oak seemed to be the more popular choice, she said.

David Thornton, a fitness consultant for Gold's Gym, used a stick-on dart board, offering a choice of 20 prizes.

"It's an excellent opportunity to get your name out in the community," he said.

Golf putting was a popular draw with several companies, including UniFirst, an industrial uniform business. Winners got a cap, losers a crying towel, said branch manager Ivan Martinez.

Dozens of visitors stopped at Barnhill Office Equipment to have their photographs taken, sitting in a giant novelty chair.

"It's tremendous. We've been looking for a lull but haven't found one yet," said Cindy Barnhill.

Sunshine Advertising was sailing Frisbee-like plastic discs and and Concho Business Solutions was giving away basketballs.

The pace was more sedate at H.V. Chapman & Sons, a longtime Abilene bookbinding firm.

"We opted for the homey look," Stan Chapman said with a smile, pointing to an array of stocked bookshelves. For gifts, he had bookmarks.

While most folks were giving Business Expo high marks, Jesse Brooks was a bit more conservative.

Asked about business, he said it was "running slow."

Brooks, 77, was operating a shoe shine stand in the Exhibit Hall.

He laid the blame on tennis shoes.

"These cotton-pickin' tennis shoes are killin' the shoe shine business," Brooks said.