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Biz Expo a ‘huge success’

Richard Hunter from All Things Catered talks about the catering options available as Brenda Reynolds helps herself to the sample potato bar during the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Badin High School in Hamilton.

Staff photo by Nick Graham Richard Hunter from All Things Catered talks about the catering options available as Brenda Reynolds helps herself to the sample potato bar during the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Business Expo Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Badin High School in Hamilton.

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Photos: Hamilton Business Expo

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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 6:58 AM Friday, July 17, 2009

HAMILTON — Local businesses got to meet, mingle and move merchandise during the 2009 Business Expo.

The 19th annual Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce event, held Thursday, July 16, at Badin High School, featured about 77 booths run by a variety of local merchants, retailers and other institutions.

While Walt’s Barbecue offered up slow-cooked pork and chicken sandwiches, many were getting massages from WorkWell Solutions representatives and facials at Trish’s Skin Care.

For the first time, businesses were able to sell their products and services during the expo, said Kenny Craig, GHCC president.

“We’re very encouraged to have both the number of vendors this year and the response from the general public,” Craig said. “Given the state of the economy, I think it was a huge success.”

For Mark Finfrock, who organizes the Music Cafe each month at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, the expo exposed him to new people and old friends.

“I’m really enjoying it,” he said. “There’s folks here that I am reconnecting with.”

There were seven new vendors this year. Among them — Commercial and Home Energy Check Up located at the Biz Tech Center. The company provides energy audits for homes and commercial buildings and installs solar systems that can lead to significant savings, especially when combined with federal and state tax credits.

Owner Gerry Brauckmann said he’s looking forward to when the economy rebounds, because people are worried about spending money.

“We’re a fairly new business in a new industry,” Brauckmann said. “A lot of it is getting the word out and educating consumers.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

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