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Upcoming Fort Smith Chamber Expo Offers E-Commerce Education [Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark. :: ](Times Record (Fort Smith, AR) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 20--The 2014 Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Expo will be open to the public during lunch break this year in hopes of increasing public attendance. The Expo will be 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2 at the Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 S. Seventh St., with the chamber's monthly First Friday Breakfast kicking off the event at 7:30 a.m. in exhibit hall A. The Expo will be in halls B and C. Breakout sessions for online sales, marketing and website building will follow a morning presentation on e-commerce from Quinn Frazier, director of sales and business development for UPS. Quinn works out of St. Louis. The theme of the Expo is "Shop Local, Sell Global." Sam T. Sicard, president of First National Bank of Fort Smith, also will speak about the importance of shopping local and supporting the local economy. About 50 local businesses have so far signed up to take part in the Expo. "The chamber hopes to add more value to this Expo by providing an educational opportunity to our members and booth exhibitors," Chamber President Tim Allen stated. "It is always our goal to help our members be more successful in their business and thrive in a global marketplace. The Expo is an outstanding opportunity for us to give our members and local businesses a chance to shine." UPS will provide two breakout sessions. A beginners session will be available for those who have never had online sales/e-commerce. Another session will be targeted for businesses that have a website and can sell products online, but need guidance to take it to the next level. The Southwest Times Record also will host a breakout session on the available website services intended to help businesses get started, or upgrade an existing business web page. The chamber will host a session spotlighting local businesses that have had success selling products online. This will provide some "how-to" advice and suggestions, said Susan Krafft, chamber director of event management. "The goal of the Expo is to learn more about local busiensses and the products and services that are available right here in Fort Smith," Krafft said. "But this will be an educational opportunity for local businesses to learn how to better market themselves, too." In past Expos a guest speaker made a presentation to chamber members during the lunch hour, cutting into a valuable time window for public browsing of the booths. Local businesses can use the Expo to get in front of people with their products, and sell them. The event is billed as "the only Expo held in our area that allows any business to showcase their products and services." While the convention center's regulations only allow restaurants to sell pre-packaged foods, some vendors will offer samples as well. Golden Corral, for example, served samples at the 2013 Expo, Donna Ross of the convention center said. Kelly Smith of Dixie Digital, a Xerox machine supplier, said he has been to every Expo since 2004. He sees value in it, but he said he wished more people would come to check it out. Kevin Dickinson, director of business development for Preferred Office Products, a Canon copier supplier, is trying something a little different this year. He's using one of their logo-wrapped box trucks as a booth this year. Dickinson said even if they don't sell any office equipment at the event, the Expos are a good way to get their name out there. "We hope to have a great turnout from both our members and the public at this event," Allen stated. Booths that are 10-by-10 feet are still up for grabs, complete with drapes, two chairs and a table. Wi-Fi is also available. The "early bird" prices have expired. Businesses do not have to be chamber members to take part in the Expo. Expo information and a registration form is available online at www.fortsmithchamber.com. People may call (479) 783-3111 or email Krafft at [email protected] for booth pricing and option information. ___ (c)2014 Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) Visit Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) at www.swtimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |