Neonjade

I was there on the 29th of October. I gathered pamphlets. I left. I was rather disappointed. As much as you will be in my pictures: I promise that I’m going to go download a stabilizer for my iPhone camera right after I post this!

Traffic at the Expo, held at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama, seemed low. I’m pretty sure there were more presenters than visitors, and, other than a few notable exceptions, most of the presenters seemed disappointed as well. They certainly weren’t energetic. In a couple of cases, I had to weave my way through a cluster of participants talking to one another to get to their pamphlets!

Then again, the commercial presents the Expo as “business to business” and I’m sure I didn’t look like a business wandering through with oxford shirt tails out over my jeans and boots.

My Experience?

Most just watched or raised eyebrows as I collected my documentation. Several said, “Hi, how are you today?” Another three cheerfully talked to me and provided information when I initiated conversation. Four presenters made the effort to actively engage me in conversation with a leading statement about their business. (That’s 4 out of 200+.)

The four stars in my journal went to:

• RJ Young – I didn’t stay and talk to him but the man deserves his kudos for stepping up, offering his hand and asking if I had ever heard of RJ Young before.
• Redstone Arsenal MWR – This is another booth that I didn’t have much business in. I said I was just collecting event info, but she directly inquired if I was interesting in learning more about the services available through MWR and helped me collect some of the flyers she had available.
• Cumulusradio.com – Representing 104.3 WZYP, 92.5 WVNN, 93.3 The Wolf, 103.9 ESPN, and 94.1 WHRP, the Cumulusradio.com table was right next to Monaco Pictures. Monaco was one of the booths where reps were clumped in front of the brochure table talking to one another. I almost missed Cumulusradio.com totally when making my escape with secured Monaco brochure in hand.

  Brenton Sheppard made sure that didn’t happen. I received a handshake, a business card and an earnest greeting that had me smiling. Brenton can be reached at 256/374-9191 or brenton[dot]Sheppard[at]cumulus[dot]com, if you are looking for a media account manager.

• Maid Brigade – Calvin Browne of Maid Brigade was outstanding. He was professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to share his business’s story. After getting hooked into standing and speaking with him for a moment, I decided to hear it. I told him that I was considering starting a series of articles on my blog dealing with a cost-benefit analysis of various services.

  I am, really, so I wasn’t just egging him on to hear him speak, but I might have. What did I learn? I’ll keep my notes for that article, but I will share that freeing people from chores so that they can use the time for their priorities wasn’t his only pitch. Think green and you’ll know what I’m talking about. Calvin can be reached at 256/519-3642 or cbrowne[at]maidbrigade[dot]com.

Why No Numbers or Chamber Feedback?

I would like to present you guys with numbers and report actual value added to our local community but I seemed to have sent the wrong representative at the Chamber of Commerce my information request. He responded almost immediately that he had forwarded my request to the appropriate people. No follow up contacts, no names, just that he had forwarded the request.

I waited a day and then politely requested the contacts. It took most of the day for him to respond that time with name only (no contact link or cc to the responsible person so that they would see the communication.)

So, overall, I’m rather discouraged with this attempt to share the local goings-on for this article. Next time I would like to obtain and share Chamber of Commerce feedback, I’ll try starting with the communications director and see if that doesn’t go a bit smoother. For now, I would just as soon share my disappointment and request feedback from others who attended before they forget it ever happened!

Are you a business owner or representative that attended the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in Huntsville, Alabama? How would you describe it? Productive or not so much? Did you attend last year? Was it better then or now, and why? What would you do, or suggest the Chamber do, better?