by Kirby Lindsay, posted 14 February 2014
On Wednesday, February 19th, the annual ‘Cheers To Chambers’ will appear at Fremont Studios, from 4:30p – 7:30p. This business exposition gives the public free access to dozens of small, and locally based, businesses, non-profits and governmental agencies. It also gives everyone a chance to step inside the stunning Studios for a selection of free samples, helpful information and networking opportunities.
“It’s a way for the businesses to showcase themselves and their products,” Debbi Larson, ‘Cheers’ founder, explained. “I want the outside to come in and see them,” she said about the expo, “having people face-to-face. I want businesses that don’t have a chance otherwise to meet customers,” to get a chance with the 2014 ‘Cheers To Chambers.’
This is only the second year for this multi-Chamber exhibition, once exclusively a Wallingford Chamber of Commerce exposition called ‘Cheers To Wallingford.’ In 2013, Larson and Wallingford opened the expo to the organizations of its neighboring business districts and the Queen Anne, Ballard, Green Lake, and Fremont Chambers, plus the Phinney Neighborhood Association Business Program, joined the fun!
How Your Expo Began
Larson, a Community Banker with Seattle Bank, served as the Wallingford Chamber Treasurer when the idea of a business expo came up. She enthusiastically volunteered, “I’ve done that!” based on her previous experience with the West Seattle Chamber.
While the idea began as a membership boost, it quickly evolved. ‘Cheers To Wallingford’ allowed non-members to display, but registration for members costs less, which encouraged sign-ups. Overall, the expo – held at Wine World & Spirits both years it took place – really gave businesses exposure they wanted. “I am very passionate about getting our businesses what they need,” Larson said, and Wallingford businesses, like most, want customers.
Connor Haffey echoed that sentiment when speaking about the Queen Anne business districts, and the QA Chamber, of which he is President. “It’s going to help a lot of the local businesses that don’t have a nationally known brand,” he explained, “The businesses love the idea. It’s getting their name out there!” As a sales representative for Paychex Payroll Co, Haffey doesn’t maintain a storefront business, but in his work – and now his volunteer – time, he walks into many businesses, meets the owners, and finds out first-hand what they need to be the Chambers top priorities.
“It was huge,” Haffey observed about last year’s event – the first multi-Chamber ‘Cheers.’ In its first two years, in Wallingford, Larson registered about 40 vendors, including the generous host. “The first year, we just did our thing,” Larson said, “the second year, Wine World set up everything,” creating an elegant atmosphere, and a way to circulate around the room that got people to visit more tables.
When she invited in other Chambers last year, she accepted that they would need a larger space. The committee agreed on the gymnasium of Emmanuel Bible Church, which introduced many to the facility. The Church couldn’t allow alcoholic beverages, but the expo now had plenty of space to expand…the organizers thought.
“We packed it out,” Larson agreed about last year. Vendors filled every table with interesting goodies or valuable information, while the wide aisles were crowded with attendees anxious to see everything, while they feasted on the food samples – all for free.
How Your Expo Grows
The ‘Cheers’ committee, which includes the hard-working Executive Directors of Wallingford (Victoria Dzenis,) Queen Anne (Charley Shore,) and Fremont (Jessica Vets,) decided to move again this year. “Jessica has a great relationship with Fremont Studios,” Larson observed, “We don’t know how many people are going to show up. We hope it’s a lot!”
The choice of the Studios means that the crowd from last year – plus adult beverage vendors/consumers – can be completely accommodated, along with providing a state-of-the-art public address system (one of the big problems last year.) If, however, turnout exceeds expectations, again, the tremendous studio space can also expand nicely. “We want to grow,” Larson observed, “this is going to give us space to grow.”
“Jenny Frankl recommended we apply for PACE assistance,” Larson said. Before having to give up her post at the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Frankl directed the group to apply – and the PACE students (of which Haffey is one) chose this event as one of its projects. PACE (People’s Academy for Community Engagement) is a Department of Neighborhoods leadership development program, with participants learning community organizing, community building, neighborhood planning, and outreach specifically to underrepresented communities. The PACE students will deliberately encourage attendance from people all over Seattle, so everyone gains from the experience.
How Your Chambers Work
Neither Haffey nor Larson saw any problem with their businesses having to travel to Fremont for the expo. “It’s not that far,” Larson observed. And Haffey acknowledged, “I don’t know of any other space that large in any of the other neighborhoods.”
Both Presidents (like Haffey, Larson accepted the position last year,) really just want to find ways for their businesses – and Chambers – to grow.
Larson has been able to get students from the University of Washington to survey Wallingford businesses to identify their needs. The Chamber has already identified the ‘Four Pillars Of The Wallingford Family’: Organizations. Neighbors. Businesses. Schools. And, Larson has decided, “my goal for my term [as President] is to make us sustainable,” so that the Wallingford Chamber can move forward as an organization, without the need for one volunteer to work, and steer, it alone.
Haffey similarly related how he, and others in the QA Chamber are, “getting systems in place so that if one person steps down, everything doesn’t crumble.” The QA Chamber covers two very distinct areas – the very urban, younger Uptown, with its greater number of national chains, and the more historic, residential and upscale top of the hill retail district. Haffey has focused on questions about building community among the different businesses, and how the Chamber can support the existing business organizations already working well for the area, including the Queen Anne Merchants Association and the Uptown Alliance.
How Could We Not?
“I don’t think we’ve lost anything,” Larson said about adding other Chambers, and moving the event out of Wallingford, “It’s still serving Wallingford businesses. I still plan to get up and make the welcoming speech!”
Everyone is encouraged to stop at the Fremont Studios on Wednesday, February 19th, between 4:30p – 7:30p, and check out the businesses on display – all for free! “It’s a great way to get your name out there,” Haffey said, as someone with trade show experience, but if the public doesn’t go, we won’t know what we’ve missed!
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©2014 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.