Mar. 1-Fast Track Trade Show in Martinsville has reported to have 139 Exhibitors on display for March 3 and 4, 2009. It will be held at the former VF/Bassett Walker factory on Walker Road.
This article is from the Martinsville Bulletin
Sunday, March 1, 2009
By MICKEY POWELL - Bulletin Staff Writer
Growth in the Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce’s annual trade show proves that local businesses are prospering despite economic problems nationwide, according to chamber President Amanda Witt.
Fast Track 2009 will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the former VF/Bassett Walker factory on Walker Road, off Rives Road south of Martinsville. The facility now houses Resurgence Properties LLC.
A record 139 businesses and organizations are participating this year, and 30 are first-time exhibitors, Witt said.
The trade show’s purpose is to provide area businesses and organizations with a way to showcase their products and services to the community.
Witt said people who participate in the trade show often tell her how much it helps their businesses.
When trade show visitors realize those businesses are doing well, and how many products and services are available locally, it boosts the community’s morale during tough economic times, she added.
All businesses participating in Fast Track 2009 are chamber members. If a business or organization that is not a chamber member wants to participate, the firm has to become a member, and its membership dues will be added to the cost of renting an exhibition booth, Witt said.
Tuesday, the trade show will be open only to invited guests for VIP Night, which is designed to promote networking among area business people.
A special attraction at VIP Night is “A Taste of Martinsville-Henry County.� A dozen local restaurants and caterers will offer samples of their treats.
This year, the Charity League of Martinsville & Henry County will be among the food servers. The league will offer samples of baked goods prepared by its members, Witt said.
The trade show will be open to the public on Wednesday. Admission is $3.
Other attractions this year will include performances on Wednesday by the “Minds in Motion� children’s dance group and visits by animals from the local SPCA and Infinity Acres.
Fast Track 2009 will be much like last year’s trade show, which was held in the same location.
The chamber received so much positive feedback about last year’s event that “we’re trying not to vary too much from it� this year, Witt said.
“We’re trying to do what exhibitors like,� she emphasized.
She noted there was only one major complaint about last year’s trade show: a lack of outdoor lighting that made the parking lot too dark.
That problem has been solved. Witt said the chamber will install portable lights outside and the parking lot “will be very bright.�
Wednesday night, awards for booth design — including Exhibitors Choice and Best in Show — will be presented to exhibitors in the manufacturing, nonprofit and service sectors, according to Witt.
Sponsors of Fast Track 2009 are AmeriStaff/MEDRequest, Carter Bank & Trust, CPFilms, Embarq, EMI Imaging, The Lester Group, National Counseling Group, Norris Funeral Services & Crematory, S&K Office Products, StarTek, West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board and the law firm of Gardner Barrow Sharpe & Reynolds.
The Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., which receives both public and private funds, is sponsoring VIP Night on Tuesday.
In addition to recruiting new businesses and industries, the EDC’s mission includes supporting existing local firms and encouraging them to stay here, such as by making sure their needs from the community are being met, according to Marketing and Recruiting Director Leigh Cockram.
Along that line, Cockram said sponsoring VIP Night will help EDC officials maintain their contacts with local businesses and stay up-to-date on what support those firms need.
Witt and Cockram were reached away from their offices and neither knew right away how much the EDC paid to sponsor VIP Night. Witt said it was less than $2,000.
The chamber held its first trade show in 1992 at Patrick Henry Community College, then moved to the former J.C. Penney building at Patrick Henry Mall for six years. After that building no longer was available, the trade show was not held for two years because no suitable location could be found.
Fast Track was revived in 2000 and has been held in several locations. But it has been going strong ever since, said Witt.
