Chamber scraps trade show

After 36 years, the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce’s annual trade show is no more.

Instead the organization will host an invitation-only business-to-business exhibition known as Prosperity Northwest, a one-day show starting April 28 at the Valhalla Inn. 

The Chamber's show manager Nancy Milani said careful canvassing of member businesses made it clear the time for change was at hand.

"They will be coming to do business with each other," Milani said. "We look at the way business is being done and 36 years ago it was done very differently. The trade show, over the years that we have had, has been a lot of retail and service sector. We felt there was a need in this community to get people developing relationships, buying from each other and stimulating money within the business industry here."

Neither the number of businesses taking part at the trade show, nor consumer interest in it played much of a factor in the decision, she added.

"Over the years, actually attendance, considering the times, has maintained pretty well. It has been pretty consistent with all our shows. I know across the region that there has been a decline in most of the shows in Canada and the States. However we have held our own pretty well for last year in particular."

Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson said there were a number of different things that factored into the decision to revamp the traditional trade show format. First and foremost was the toll it took on exhibitors, who still had to maintain storefront presence, but also find staff to work their booth.

But the main reason, he said, was customer demand.

"There’s a big group that was no longer being serviced. This gives them a chance to do something and be part of something that is much better for the business focus," said Wilson, adding they will give the new format a few years to catch on.

The public won’t be completely shutout of the event. Milani said doors will open, for a small fee, for the final few hours of the show. And she reminded there are plenty of other opportunities throughout the year for the general public to get involved.

"We do offer three other consumer shows, and by changing the health and wellness expo that’s being held in September now, it’s incorporating leisure and lifestyle."
Prosperity Northwest has been geared to create business leads, and will also feature marketing and sales seminars and feature representatives from manufacturing and service sectors, mining technology, energy, First Nations and the field of health.