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Expo visitors get back to business

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By PAUL CATALA THE SUN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 25, 2009

For the third consecutive year, Tony Espino of Sun City Center has made it a point to visit and each year, he comes away with contacts to make his life a little simpler.

This year was no different for Espino, who attended the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce 2009 Business Expo.

Held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 10, in Community Hall, the ninth-annual, free expo had more than 100 businesses showcasing products and services, including everything from hearing aids and computer upgrades to restaurant menus and travel planning.

Espino, who's lived for four years in Sun City Center with his wife, Sigi, said he looks forward to the event as a way to find "everything in one place." He said he has several home projects he hoped to have finished by tomorrow's Thanksgiving celebrations.

"I think this is very helpful, especially for people who just arrived here," he said. "I've contracted people here in the past. You see what they have and can talk. It's great."

As Espino left the expo, Chamber president Elaine Brad greeted folks coming in. She said the chamber didn't judge the success of the event by the amount of people attending but by business leads that were created.

Brad, along with Chamber ambassadors J. R. Del Castillo of Keller Williams, Chelsea Veeneman of Sun Towers and Lynn Conlan of the Tampa Tribune, made only a few minor changes in this year's showcase. She said "premier booths" were available for businesses, set up towards the hall entrance. Also, another room was opened for flu shots, taking them out of the front lobby.

"I'm very pleased with it," said Brad. "When I look out, I see a lot of interacting going on. There are a lot of conversations between the businesses and the public and that's what we want to see."

During the expo, business owners also got the chance to demonstrate their goods and services.

"How do I reorganize it to take up less space?" visitor Ilene Hemingway asked David Revord, franchise owner of Shelf Genie shelf installers from Sarasota.

"We'd work on a design to put sliding shelves," Revord replied, demonstrating how the drawers would work.

Some businesses owners were making their first appearance at the event, such as Cindy Baker, who began Cindy's Bucket of Bubbles Cleaning Service. Based in Riverview, Baker said she has clients in Riverview, Sarasota, Ruskin, Brandon and is expanding to Sun City Center.

"This is a good way to meet a lot of people in one place," said Baker, a member of the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce. "It's been pretty good so far; they're asking about my services. I want to get involved with this community and promote the business, all at the same time."

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 731-1970 or pcatala@mediageneral.com.

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