– Deb McClelland is the executive director of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached email at deb@kamloopschamber.ca.
KAMLOOPS – September is ubiquitous with backpacks, fresh notebooks, full schedules and the common phrase, “getting back to the grind”. And it’s not just moms and dads who are gearing up for the beginning of fall. For many businesses, the long lazy days of summer can have them taking a step back from their busy days to enjoy a bit of extra rest, leaving September as the time to “get back into the swing of things.”
Here at the Kamloops Chamber, that is definitely true for us. The summer months bring quieter phone lines, cleaner inboxes and fewer events as many of our members enjoy the summer sun. But come September, we are geared up and ready to go. In fact, our calendar is jam packed with events from now until the end of December, which you can check out on our online events calendar at www.kamloopschamber.ca/events.
One of those many events, back by popular demand, is our annual CONNECT Tradeshow – the only business tradeshow of its kind in Kamloops. This year we are expecting over 400 attendees at this 19+ event, which is open to the public and free to attend. We have over 60 exhibitors, a cash bar and over 70 prizes to be won, including a $500 gift card to Aberdeen Mall!
Make sure you come and visit us at the Coast Kamloops Hotel, from 4PM – 7PM on Wednesday September 21st, to connect to some local businesses and enter to win some great prizes.
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Speaking of tradeshows – as a business person there is a good chance you have either attended at least one tradeshow during your career or have been an exhibitor at one. As an exhibitor, this type of event provides a fantastic opportunity to build your client base with new or potential customers, and to build important connections with other businesses that you could partner with in the future.
However, if not done properly, they can be frustrating and seem like a waste of time – leaving you idly sitting at your booth hoping someone might take interest in one of your many flyers, and dreaming of lying on a beach somewhere.
If that sounds familiar, or if you have found your exhibiting experience frustrating in the past, we have created a video to help. Tradeshow Suck-cess is a condensed version of our Tradeshow Success seminar, providing you with all that useful information in a fun and engaging five-minute video that is sure to leave you with some great tips for your next exhibiting experience. Check it out day at www.kamloopschamber.ca!
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In other exciting news, we are currently hiring! The Kamloops Chamber is looking for a Member Relations Coordinator to join our fun and dynamic team. If you are a motivated team- player who loves good conversation and selling in a friendly manner, check out the job posting at www.kamloopschamber.ca and submit your resume and cover letter to Deb McClelland (contact information listed below). The deadline to apply is September 16th 2016.