The Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce once again gave the stage to over 150 vendors at the 2019 annual Trade and Lifestyle Show last weekend.
“The show was sold out this year, so that’s always good to see a lot of interest in businesses in the area,” said Jayme Hall, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. “Overall, thumbs up.”
The show ran April 12 and 13 at the Okotoks Recreation Centre, offered local and regional businesses the opportunity to be seen in the community and create relationships with the people who stop by.
Sasha Arnold from Arnold Masonry was at the show to do exactly that. He does mainly residential masonry work in Okotoks, Calgary and the Foothills region.
“We’ve been around as a company for about nine years now, I myself have been in the industry for about 25,” said Arnold. “We mainly hire local guys, mostly local young guys who want to get into a trade, and hope they stick around for many years to come and do some cool projects with them.”
While in the past Arnold Masonry has done the larger home and garden shows in Calgary, they prefer the smaller, more local shows such as the Trade and Lifestyle Show for connecting with their community.
“It’s our fourth year here,” he said. “We come here to show face, so people see us and know that we are around. Some people might just see the trucks drive by and don’t know who we are or what we do, so this is why we’re here.”
While speaking with Arnold, an example of both his work and the effectiveness of the trade show walked right up. Two existing customers were walking past and saw the booth, and stopped to both thank him personally for the work he had done on their home, and enquire about another project they wanted to tackle next.
Other vendors there ranged from the Town of Okotoks with informative waste disposal displays to veterinarian clinics and energy services.
Belle Scaglione was at the show with her dog Whiskey to represent the Foothills Animal Hospital.
“It definitely works, we meet lots of people here. As a vet [office] you don’t necessarily see the people right away, you see the people when their pet needs us,” said Scaglione. “It’s a good way to kind of get yourself known so people actually know where to bring their animal when there is a problem, which is hopefully never.”
Within an hour of the trade show opening on Friday night it was already bustling.
“It’s a fun time out here,” said Scaglione. “There’s lots of good businesses and lots of local support, so it’s always nice to get out and meet vendors.”
Also at the show was the Okotoks Food Bank, with volunteer Don Cottrell.
“We’re always looking for donations, to keep us out there so people are aware of what we do and all of that stuff,” said Cottrell.
A spotlight was also given to the Dewdney Players Group Theatre, who were at the show to both advertise their shows and to recruit talent.
“We were here last year and it was great fun, and we got lots of people coming and saying they wanted to see our shows or get involved,” said Nicola Payton, president of the Dewdney Players Group Theatre.
“So that’s what we’re looking for while we’re here is both audience and cast and crew, so this is the perfect place to get local people.”
