Organizers Promise ‘Biggest and Best Shop Putnam Expo Ever’
With the 2013 Shop Putnam Business and Home Expo a little more than a month away, key organizers of the 8th annual event told members of the County Legislature that they’re confident this year’s expo will be the largest and best attended.
The event is being hosted by the Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Putnam Hospital Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County and the Putnam Chambers of Commerce.
Jim Reilly, co-chair of the Business Expo Committee, explained that the local expo has always been Mahopac and Carmel based. “This year,” he said, “We are looking at it as an entire county. We’re working with the Putnam County Chambers of Commerce–all the chambers–and treating it like one unique organization bringing unique value to every single business and opening it up to exhibitors county-wide.”
“We launched the expo on January 15,” said Reilly,” Within 24 hours we had 17 registered exhibitors. That has never happened in the history of the expo, so it’s really catching the attention of businesses. Already we have 82 registered exhibitors. Our target is 150.”
The Shop Putnam Expo will be held on Saturday May 11 at Putnam Hospital Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Previous expos were held on a weekday at Villa Barone in Mahopac. Reilly says in addition to news releases, and a new website, there will also be radio advertising touting the expo and cross promotion tied to the Putnam Tourist Board in the hopes of attracting people from New York City.
Marjorie Keith, executive director of Cornell Cooperative, who is also on the committee, said “Villa Barone was good, but because it was held on a Wednesday it really became a business-to-business expo. By doing it on a Saturday, it will allow more of the general public to attend, including families.”
The organizers say the Putnam Hospital Center location will give them improved parking and plenty of outdoor space for exhibitors and tents, should there be inclement weather. Also, because it is being held out of doors this year, they say, it will allow them to provide amusements for children such as bouncy castles and rides. Reilly estimates that this year’s event could draw upwards of 5,000 attendees.
“Construction companies, window companies, boat companies are now able to come to the expo and have ample space to showcase their goods and services. Here we have the whole hospital parking lot that we can put to good use,” said Laurie Ford, chairwoman of the Mahopac Carmel Chamber of Commerce. Ford said she planned on bringing in local high school cheerleaders, dance and martial arts schools to highlight their activities and programs as well.
At Reilly’s request, members of the county legislature agreed to issue a proclamation at the meeting in April declaring May Shop Putnam Business and Home Expo Month.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
