Well over 250 residents attended the second annual Women in Business Expo in Brantford on Friday, March 8, 2023.
The expo was started in 2023 as a way to celebrate International Women’s Day, as well as local women in the ever-growing business world.
“When I thought of holding this on International Women’s Day, I thought it was perfect because the day itself is about celebrating, connecting, showcasing and learning from other women, and this is what the event is about too,” said Sam Gernhart, owner of Clarity Marketing and Design and organizer of the event. “We didn’t have an event specifically for women on International Women’s Day, or even a trade show specifically for women before this and it was needed. Originally, I had no plan of doing this every year, it was very much ‘okay, let’s see how year one goes,’ but from the attendance and the feedback from 2023, it was clear that there had to be a year two because there was a gap in the community. Even though it’s an event, it is community, it is support, and it is a resource.”
The Women in Business expo featured a photobooth area made of colourful balloons, prize give-aways, swag bags, six guest speakers and over 50 business and entrepreneur vendor booths.
“In the banquet hall we have 41 tables but some have doubled up with another business, and outside in the hall we have eight vendors, so all together we have well over 50 businesses, organizations and a couple of non-profit organizations,” said Gernhart.
During the event, many vendors gave away cookies, treats and tea samples, as well as stationary items and information about their services and products.
Some even managed to sell their products onsite too.
“We have a vendor who has a store front, and she said that she’s done more today in sales than she’s done in a month at her store front, so I’ll happily take stats like that,” chuckled Gernhart.
Attendees and vendors alike explored the tradeshow room and networked with others, while many signed up to watch one or all of the hand-picked guest speakers as they touched on topics such as marketing, imposter syndrome or the energy of money.
Jill Ferras and Rachel Strasser, co-owners of Up Yoga and Wellness in Paris, were two of the six-part speaker series held throughout the day, and Ferras noted that the event was a great chance to mingle with the local community.
“The event has been lovely,” said Ferras. “It’s been a busy day with a lot of conversations with both people who are newer to the community, as well as people who are local and so it’s been wonderful for us to get the word out and invite people to stop by the studio, even it’s just for a tour.”
Gernhart said that compared to last year’s turnout, from the businesses to the attendees and sponsors, the event has grown significantly.
“I’m very happy with the turn out, everything has just expanded,” said Gernhart. “It’s a lot of work and a lot of late nights but I’m so proud of the end result and of how it’s really exponentially grown since last year.”
For first time vendor, Veronica Webb, founder of Lunar Webb Candles, the Women in Business Expo was her very first event as a business owner, and she couldn’t have been more ecstatic to be a part of it.
“I was a little nervous, but it’s been so exciting to have people stop by and say hello,” she laughed. “It’s just been amazing and I love it here. So many people have come through and have been supportive of my business; it’s been kind of magical for me. It really just makes it easier to grow and succeed when you’re surrounded by people who can point you in the right direction.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
