Chamber expo draws hundreds
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on June 12, 2007 1:45 PM
Almost 80 booths sponsored by local businesses and organizations filled the Goldsboro Country Club Monday during the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo.
With everything from buying a new car at Chevrolet-Cadillac of Goldsboro to finding a job with Mega Force Staffing Services, local residents got to see the entire spectrum of businesses available in Goldsboro and Wayne County.
And each business was there for the same purpose -- to see themselves continue to succeed in the community.
Victoria Bedwell and Qwantago Thompson, crew leaders with Cold Stone Creamery on Berkeley Boulevard, said this is the second year Cold Stone has attended the expo, giving out samples to the public.
"This helps out tremendously. We always seem to see more customers and sales after events like this," Miss Bedwell said.
And the numbers didn't lie.
Within the first hour of the expo, Miss Bedwell and Miss Thompson had already given away 100 samples ranging from chocolate to Birthday Cake Remix. The company had given away 500 samples throughout the day last year.
Around the corner from the Cold Stone booth, some people put their name in the drawing for a free massage or got their nails painted at Naomi's Total Image booth.
Naomi's, a full service salon located at 306 N. Taylor St., has been in business since 1966. Co-managers Mary Ann Willaford and Carla Griffin said they decided to sponsor a booth for the first time so they could let residents know they are still in business and provided more new services than ever.
Some of Naomi's giveaways included a 30-minute massage, a spa manicure, pedicure, facial, highlights, haircuts and a spa gift package.
Many other booths were also having giveaways, but some were providing information rather than gifts to the public.
At the Anderson's Interiors booth, design assistant Jamie Jones was letting people know how Anderson's Interiors, which is located at 1705 E. Ash St., has been providing local residents with custom bedding, window treatments, window blinds, furniture and flooring for the past 22 years.
Started in 1985 by Ray and Bobbie Anderson, Ms. Jones said Anderson's has developed into a store where people can enter with a vision and leave with the reality of a custom look for their home.
At the Wayne County American Red Cross booth, Executive Director Chuck Waller and blood director Samia Garner were letting people know how they can stay prepared for any type of disaster during the summer months and beyond.
As hurricanes and subsequent tornados become more possible throughout the next several months, Waller and Mrs. Garner said the Red Cross sponsored a booth for the second year in a row to let people know their blood and their time as a volunteer are needed to save fellow residents.
And just getting that information out to the public could help in saving lives, Waller said.
"Who knows how many we've helped with giving out tips and providing the Vial of Life," he said. "That's why we're here."
The Vial of Life is a cylinder containing pertinent medical information that can be placed in a person's refrigerator. When an emergency medical technician arrives at that person's home and sees a Vial of Life magnet on his or her refrigerator, that technician will know where to find that person's information if the patient is unable to respond to questions.
The expo, which was held for several years at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, has been held at the Goldsboro Country Club for the past three years.