Local businesses show off, give away wares at expo

Event helps get word out about company services

Spherion is a recruiting and staffing company that came to Huntsville in March.

Because of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce 2007 Business Expo on Thursday, dozens more potential clients know about what the company offers than they did the day before.

"It's working," Spherion Managing Partner Mark Templeton said. "People are really stopping by."

So was it Templeton's dynamic personality that got attention? He was certainly pleasant, but the big basket of Halloween candy and the drawing for a free iPod were probably the bigger attractions.

"Candy," he said, "never hurts."

It's a philosophy that many of the nearly 200 vendors at the expo in the Von Braun Center South Hall employed. Cake, fortune cookies and shrimp were also favorites.

Nesin Therapy Services in Madison scored big with its free mini-massages.

"We're here to increase awareness of posture and body mechanics," said Dr. Janine Nesin, owner of the physical therapy clinic. "A lot of people slump. That can make you hurt."

Besides giving massages, the therapists there had expo-goers sit in chairs so they could analyze their posture and recommend alternatives.

At other booths, people could learn about banks, karate classes, water gardens, pest control, restaurants and photography studios.

"We do this expo to show our local businesses and residents what products and services are available here," said Loren Traylor, vice president of the chamber. "We want people to keep our dollars here.

"As you can see, everything you need, we've got it right here local. And if you prefer to shop on the Internet, most everyone here does business on the Internet, too."

Traylor said many expo participants were giving away their products in drawings throughout the six-hour event, which doubled in size over last year. She then mentioned the presence of some of Huntsville's largest corporations represented: "Adtran, Boeing ..."

Boeing? Were they giving away airplanes?

"No," Traylor said, "but Huntsville International Airport and Sterling Travel are giving away some plane tickets."