4th Annual Business Expo and Taste of Boyne

Presenting Sponsor: Northwestern Bank

Pictures of 2011 Expo

Business contacts, food and fun on tap for annual Expo

Date for 2012: Thursday, April 26, 3 to 7 p.m.

Tentative Location: Former Carter's Store, 1315 Boyne Ave. (M-75 South)

$5 admission includes all Taste of Boyne booths

Video 1 * Video 2 * Video 3 * Booth info (last year) * Exhibitor tips

One of the largest business networking events in Northern Michigan is held on the fourth Thursday of April in Boyne City. In 2011, the third annual Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Taste of Boyne attracted a crowd of 1,000 people to visit 85 exhibitor booths. This exciting Expo is presented by Northwestern Bank and includes great food, networking, music and business exhibits from 3 to 7 p.m. It all happens at the former Carter's Store on M-75 South.

The 2011 expo featured:

• 85 booths from area businesses and non-profits, including...
• 13 Taste of Boyne food booths, including wine tasting
• Admission price of $5 includes tickets to sample each of the Taste of Boyne participants.
• Cash bar with soft drinks, Michigan wines and Short's Brewery beer on draft.
• Free parking shuttle from St. Matthew Church and the Road Commission (details below)
• Unveiling and distribution of the Chamber's new Visitors Guide.
• Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings from Charleboix Area Hospital, 3 to 6 p.m.
• Free wi-fi for exhibitors, courtesy of the Boyne City Radio Shack and AT&T.
• Music and announcements from A+ Digital DJ's.
• A new Chevy Volt on display from Dave Kring Chevrolet.

PARKING SHUTTLE – Because the Expo draws a large crowed, we offer a free parking shuttle service, courtesy of Charlevoix County Transit. If the Carter's lot is full, you can park next door at St. Matthew Catholic Church or the Road Commission and ride a shuttle to and from the Expo. Thanks to St. Matthew Church and Charlevoix County Transit System for making this possible.

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Northwestern Bank and our Gold Sponsors:

Petoskey News-Review * 9 & 10 News * Boyne City Gazette * Taylor Rental * A+ Digital DJ's

Charlevoix Area Hospital, Boyne Area Medical Clinic and Boyne Rehab Center

TASTE OF BOYNE - $5 admission includes Taste Card to try all 13 (last year's participants listed):

Alpine Chocolat Haus

BC Pizza

BCHS Team Hospitality

Boyne Country Provisions/ Wine Emporium

Cooper's Pub and Grill

Glen's Market

Green Plate Catering

The Jordan Inn

Lake Street Market

Mackinaw Trail Winery (wine tasting)

Spicy Bob's Italian Express

Subway

The B.B.Q.

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EXHIBITORS (2011)

9 & 10 News

A+ Digital DJ's

AlphaGeek Web Design

American Waste

Bay Winds Credit Union

BCHS School Store

Bergmann Center

Boyne City Ace Hardware

Boyne City Gazette

Boyne City Main Street/Farmers Market

Boyne City Public Schools

Boyne City Shopping Guide

Boyne Co-op True Value

Boyne Country Community Center

Boyne District Library

Boyne Valley Catholic Community

Boyne Valley Lion Club

Boyne Valley Lion Club

BOYNE/Solace Spa

Camp Daggett

Century 21

Char-Em Pink Ribbon Ride

Charlevoix Area Hospital

Boyne Area Medical Center

Boyne Rehab Center

Charlevoix County Transit

Charlevoix Screen Masters

Chef's Challenge

City of Boyne City

Classic Instruments

Concord Academy Boyne

Dave Kring Chevrolet Cadillac

Eagles-Veterans

Edward Jones

Fifth-Third Bank

Four Lakes Landscape

Genesis Church

Glen's Pharmacy

Great Lakes Energy

Harbor House Publishers

Huntington Bank

Jeffre Kelts Carpet/Upholstery Cleaning

JT & Associates - Rainbow Dealer

Korthase Flinn Insurance & Financial Serevices

Lake Louise Christian Community

Lastime Roofing

LE Design

Lynda's Real Estate Service

Michigan Lake Products

Northern Community Mediation

Northern Michigan Cancer Crusaders

Northern Pet Salon

Northern Quarters Management

Northwestern Bank

Odawa Casino Resort

Pat O'Brien & Associates

Pathways to Health Up North

Petoskey News Review

Phone Guide

Points North Printing

Quality of Life Family Chiropractic

Radio Shack

Re/Max Resort Properties

Resort Maps

Rieth-Riley Construction

Schraw & Associates

Sealwize

Servicemaster

Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club

Sunnybank Assisted Living

The Brook Retirement Communities

TruAir Solution

Walloon Balloon Adventures

Wildwood Rush Zipline Canopy Tour

What did you like about the Expo? Unedited comments from attendees and vendors (from our online survey):

• Good food, cash bar, good music, nice turnout!
• The way the community participated - they LOVED it!
• It was good to see so many participants, it was nice to be involved with something so 'positive.'
• The whole thing - I felt like I was in Grand Rapids or Detroit at a conference! Well done!
• Opportunities to interact with businesses I didn't even know existed.
• The large space inside and out. It reminded us of the Home Show in Petoskey, only better because lots of food.
• Visiting with people and finding out the different products that businesses have - knowing that Boyne carries it and I don't have to drive out of town to get the product.
• The turnout! I thought the combination of the Expo And Taste Of Boyne was a great idea. Also, there was enough space for people to move around freely.
• I was amazed that the former Carter's could look like a small convention center. It was full and fun. Having food vendors spread out is a great idea! It encouraged people to walk and mingle....
• The promotion was excellent, the appearance of the booths were outstanding. It was a big-time expo.
• Number of booths and number of people attending. It was very well marketed.
• The opportunity to feature our goods to prospective customers who might not otherwise visit us.
• The combination of the business expo and food tasting was terrific - it drew a wide variety of people, and made for a great social/networking event. Well done.
• The huge number of people it attracted. We had at least 4 customers show up that night at our restaurant. They liked our samplers and wanted more.
• Great networking opportunity and chance to expose our business.