Business & Tech

Coming Soon: Winchester Chamber Business Expo

The second annual Winchester Chamber Business Expo is slated for Feb. 12.

The 2nd annual Winchester Chamber of Commerce Business Expo is slated for mid-February, according to a press statement.

The expo, which is free to attend, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Feb 12 at the Winchester Sons of Italy, 117 Swanton St.

Due to the growing popularity of the first event, the expo will be held at a bigger venue to accommodate more vendors and attendees, according to the statement.

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There's a new philanthropic wrinkle to the expo this year, according to the statement.

"This year, as attendees enter the event, they’ll each get one complementary ‘nonprofit drawing’ ticket. On the ticket, there will be a list of nonprofit groups. (This will be a list of groups which have registered with the Chamber to participate in our Expo ‘nonprofit drawing’ event)," reads the statement. "People will check off the nonprofit group of their choice. At three points during the two-hour event, the Chamber will give away $250, $250, and $500, respectively, to be given to whichever nonprofit is ‘checked off’ on that winning ticket."

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"We believe this will be a fun and mutually-beneficial way to foster even more community participation in this popular, but still new, Winchester Chamber of Commerce event," said Patrick Fortin, president of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce, in the statement. "It helps us encourage attendance and gives back to nonprofit groups—a win-win!"

The chamber developed the expo, held at the Griffin Museum in 2012, to provide a venue for chamber members who do not have a store front or a business located in downtown Winchester to showcase their businesses to other visitors, according to the statement. Last year's event sold out of table space, the statement notes.

The Winchester chamber membership has grown to more than 300 members, many of which are home-based businesses or businesses without a traditional storefront in the town center, according to the statement.

"The products and services these folks offer are quite diverse and terrific, and we want to help them gain exposure," said Cathy Alexander, executive director of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce, in the statement.

"You will enjoy a local night out, connect with a dynamic group of people, and perhaps enjoy a cocktail while you browse the wide variety of exhibits,"Alexander said in the statement. "The added bonus this year, is that by coming, you will help support the charitable aspect of this year's event—and your favorite nonprofit may get a meaningful financial gift at the end of the night!"

The chamber is currently seeking nonprofit organization sign-ups for the nonprofit drawing, according to the statement. If you would like to register your local non-profit group, contact the chamber at 781-729-8870 or email info@winchesterchamber.com. Your nonprofit group must be registered in advance of the event to take part in this opportunity, reads the statement.

How Nonprofit Organizations Can Register

  • Step 2: Promote the event among your nonprofit’s network and membership: "Remember, the more people who come representing your group, the better chance your group has of winning the drawing. The chamber will provide you with email text to send to your network as well as a pdf flyer which you can send to your membership (Please announce the event and your group's participation to your group members within (five) business days of registering your participation.)," reads the statement. "The chamber will also create an e-mail blast message which you can send to your network closer to the (Feb. 12) event. Please talk up the event and how the drawing works to help us build event buzz! Include it in your organization's newsletter, message board, and be sure to share and invite your networks via facebook, etc. This event will be a win-win if we work together! Imagine what $250 or $500 could do for your group!"
  • Step 3: Attend the expo on Feb. 12: Check off your nonprofit organizations’s name on the drawing ticket to participate in the drawing, according to the statement.


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