AT THE SHOW — Last year, Sharon and Blaine Jackett, left, visited with Mark Chapman, right, in the John Deere line. This year, JEI Sports, owned by Blaine Jackett, will have a booth at the Trade Show, along with Theriault Equipment.
Spring is in the air …
A sure sign of spring is the annual Southern Aroostook Trade Show that will take place this weekend at the Millar Civic Center in Houlton.
With many new exhibitors and a full schedule of events throughout the weekend, the 2011 Trade Show promises to have something for everyone.
The doors open Saturday at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.
The Southern Aroostook Trade Show is a wealth of information on a variety of topics from local banking, dish network plans, programs for special needs children, alternative heat sources, real estate, modular homes and website and professional office folks to help you with your business.
COOKIES — The Girl Scouts will be on hand at the Southern Aroostook Trade Show with their trademarked Girl Scout cookes.
For outdoors, booths will have information on spring planting ideas, garden equipment, farming equipment, garage doors, along with home improvement ideas.
On the recreational side, there will be several campers, 4-wheelers and motorcycles on display.
Other booths include County Clownz, piñata designs, as well as the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum items that will take you back to different time, printing resources, County information and project graduation raffles.
“The value of exhibiting in and attending a trade show are of enormous benefit to everyone,” said Lori Weston, Houlton Chamber of Commerce executive director. “It would be rare to have over 1,500 customers come through a place of business in a two-day span of time. But, the Trade Show offers the perfect opportunity to showcase and sell product to customers on a one on one basis. It’s a face-to-face interaction that often doesn’t happen in a store setting, offering a chance to see the product and ask questions of the professionals who sell it.”
LIKING THIS ONE — Youth and adults alike get a chance to see the newest recreational vehicle models and try them out for the right fit.
Also available will be Veteran screenings on site.
“We are extremely pleased to have a major focus of the show for the Veterans of our area this year,” said Weston.
The Mobile Vet Center will be set up outside and opened to Veterans and their families for both days of the show. Their mission is to serve combat veterans and their families with readjustment issues as well as to assist all veterans with benefit issues and questions. Screenings for all Veterans for high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol will take place inside the Civic Center.
“The atmosphere of the Trade Show is always fun and exciting,” Weston said.
Stroll through the show, enjoy some music, visit a favorite exhibitor, dream about a summer vacation in a new camper or an easier way to mow your lawn or heat your home.
Displays of all kinds can be found at the trade show.
Oakfield Railroad Museum booth.
PRODUCT — The Cushmans talk to Matt Oliver about his wood furnances during last year’s trade show. Oliver owns Haynesville Wood Heating.
ON HAND — PDQ Door will be on hand again at the Southern Aroostook Trade Show. Pat Crowley of PDQ Door and Roland Stairs pose for a snapshot during last year’s event.
TALKING IT OVER — Mike Harris, right, owner of Aroostook Milling Company chats with a potential customer at last year’s Trade Show.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS — There are plenty of questions answered by business staff during the Southern Aroostook Trade Show. Doug London of MPG fields a question on equipment displayed at the annual event.
