Trade Expo attracts new businesses, thousands attend
Statistics released last week show that consumers are feeling the pain of a high cost of living, but that the economy may be on the rebound as the wholesale and retail trade and manufacturing sectors grew by more than ten percent. And over the weekend, the Belize Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual trade expo which provided an opportunity to the private sector to promote its goods and services and there was no shortage of consumers taking advantage of the deals. Jose Sanchez reports.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
But despite the kinks and concerns over security, the trade expo drew a large crowd and Chamber’s Manager of Business Development, Omar Ortiz, says that they expected thousands to stop in at the Saint John’s College campus in the two-day event.
Omar Ortiz, Manager, Business Development
“This year we’ve been very happy with the Expo. Expo has been fantastic. This year we’ve had a record number of boots sold; in excess of a hundred and thirty-five. On our just single day, yesterday, Saturday, we had over eight thousand people entering the grounds. That is aside from over a thousand people that work along with each of these different groups. We started promoting expo very early this year, I think we started back in June. So expo has been well received this year by both the executives and I think everybody attending. I must say a special thank you to the government and the security forces; the Police Department, the B.D.F., Anti-Drug Unit, the Canine Unit, etcetera. They’ve all come out, they’ve supported us and I think yesterday was representative of what we can do if we work together as a team.”
Over a hundred booths were on display over the weekend. Atlantic Bank was one of many businesses who had discounts, deals and freebies for Belizeans who attended the expo.
Shamira Williams, Marketing Officer, Atlantic Bank
“If you sign up for any savings account you get a free piggy bank and to qualify all you need is a valid I.D. which can be social security or passport and twenty dollars. For a super Junior Savings account it’s only ten dollars.”
Rebecca Cawich, Brodies
“Showcasing our different products and they’re all at discounted prices. For example, we have our detergents going for thirty percent off. So we have it here for thirty-dollars only and it goes in addition to two disinfectants; and we also have our antibacterial bath soaps, we have our dishwashing liquid, we have shampoos, conditioners, even chocolates.”
Vicky Thathani, Owner, Gowireless Direct
“We import at wholesale; we sell Digicell and Smart phones. What we sell is wholesale but we are allowing the public to benefit from our low prices today.”
Jose Sanchez
“What kind of deals do you have?”
Vicky Thathani
“Well, we have Smart phones from ninety-nine dollars with ten dollars credit already activated. We have Digicell pones from seventy-nine dollars; good brands Motorola, LG, Samsung.”
Earl Clare, Technical Director, Mybelize.net
“We decided to have a website that will showcase everything Belizean, you can find news on it, you can still search Google, you could still go to yahoo, Gmail, hotmail. On top of that you can get the lotto, boledo, lottery, general information about Belize, real estate, autos, weather, horoscope and up-to-date information about the September celebrations, photo gallery and lots of other features for the website itself.”
The booth that was constantly packed with consumers was Telemedia’s.
Anjali Vasquez, Marketing Executive, Telemedia
“We’re giving away a lot of different things, Telemedia bottles, cups, writing pads so people look forward to that too. We also have a display of very nice phones. We have a lot to offer today, for instance, we’re doing free calls on webtalk to anywhere in the world. We’re also doing a special home phone promotion where we are offering customers thirty dollars prepaid card if they sign up for the service and if they’re a new customer and they’ve never had a fixed line before then we also offer them free installation”
If you weren’t looking for gadgets and home supplies, but were looking to improve your mind, Galen University had its own booth showcasing its educational services.
Colin Young, Professor, Galen University
“We are offering undergraduate programmes. There are seven of them accredited by U.S. institution and in addition we also have four masters degree programmes that we’re offering today. If students stop by we’re offering a fifty percent discount on applications to Galen University, we’re also raffling a free course in both the undergraduate and the masters degree programmes and we’re also showcasing our two newest programmes in entrepreneurship and education.”
All the way from Plaza Del Rio in San Ignacio Town was Tovar’s Jewelry. They brought temporary tattoos and all sorts of jewelry. If you didn’t have a piercing, they had a technician on site to pierce ears and even a nose.
Jose Sanchez
“Did it hurt?”
Tovar’s Jewelry Customer
“No.”
Jose Sancehz
“Are you happy with it?”
Tovar’s Jewelry Customer
“Yea.”
Jose Sanchez
“Why did you pierce your nose?
Tovar’s Jewelry Customer
“Because I wanted one in my nose.”
Madisco also earned some new customers by taking their advertisements directly to the bellies of expo patrons.
Stuart Tucker, Hospitality Service Manager, Madisco
“Today we have on display some German products; high quality dressings and sauces and white cabbage, red cabbage, and green kale. Green kale is a nutritious vegetable like spinach. We also add some sausages to that and some potatoes. This is for the Belizean public to try these things and to appreciate what they are and to add other food to their menu.”
Vince Parks, Visitor, Expo.
“This my first expo. It’s real nice. They have a lot to offer and me I’m into the gadgets and electronics and technology and so on. That was my first stop. I came over here to taste test some of this food over here because it’s I’m used to.”
Arnoldo Santos, Visitor, Expo.
“Well, it’s kinda hot today but we’re having fun and we see a lot of improvement from last year. Right now my wife is trying to hook up a phone line. They have a free option today for three types of agreement that you can do monthly payments and I think we’re getting a better deal this time from Telemedia.”
Rebecca Cawich
“So if you did not come this year at the expo you’re missing out big time because you won’t get these prices on a regular basis and especially since we know that prices are escalating and all that so if you didn’t come this time, today is the last day expo, you’re gonna have to wait till next year.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
According to the Chamber, seventeen thousand persons trekked to the Expo and eighty-eight businesses put up one hundred and thirty-five different displays. Winners were the Belize Bank for the Best Appearance, Travelers for Best in Teamwork and Grace Kennedy for the Best Overall Booth.
