Riordan Hall's ballroom proved difficult to navigate while packed with tables and business fair attendees Thursday.
The Bella Vista Business Association packed 60 booths into Riordan Hall to showcase a wide array of Bella Vista businesses, including contractors, masseuses, real estate agents, travel agents, senior care providers, taxi companies and jewelers.
Kelly Dostart, the association's treasurer, said she was primarily responsible for setting up the event, which is to say she got 60 association members signed up for booths, set up a slide show to play and promote area businesses during the event and organized food for the event, to name a few things.
She was happy, she said, with the crowd that showed up, and there was a steady flow of people entering and leaving.
The association also gave away a dozen $25 gift cards, she said, to promote local shopping.
Bev Longnecker stood behind one table showcasing her employer, Linden's Jewelry, glad to talk with anyone passing by.
This event, she said, was helpful for a business like Linden's because they're relatively out of the way, sitting in a plaza alongside Arkansas 340, and it gives them a chance to be more visible.
"It's just a good way to get exposure," she said.
Another booth was manned by David Dalton, finance advisor with Edward Jones. Dalton said his focus was on meeting people who are serious about making investments, but also on educating people about the value of investment.
Someone placing $5,500 into an IRA annually for 30 years, he said, would wind up with just under $600,000 in their retirement fund.
"It's life changing if you do it early enough," he said.
Another large, colorful booth for Making Memories Tours was headed by one of the company's owners, Jerry Varner. Varner was expressive and excited as he spoke with guests.
The company, he said, provides group travel, including a handful of international tours. While his firm is based in Washburn, Mo., roughly 60 percent of his business comes from Bella Vista, he said, and Bella Vista is also a starting point for some of the tours his company offers.
"It's great to come out and see people we traveled with," he said.
There were also booths set up for the Back 40 Trails, the Library Foundation and Bella Vista Historical Museum.
Steve Morrow, general manager of Allen's Food Market, said he didn't feel the need to get a booth for the grocery store, so he instead showed up with the historical society.
He's attended every business fair since 1999, he said, and while the 2017 fair wasn't the biggest crowd he's seen, it was no slouch.
"It looks to me they've done a good job," he said.
It was especially nice, he said, to see kids at the event. He was glad, he said, to get a chance to talk with them and encourage them to visit the museum.
Attendees piled in and filled goodie bags with a combination of candy, pamphlets and various trinkets as they milled through the ballroom.
Bella Vista resident Ann Coghlan showed up, she said, to find out about what's in Bella Vista.
What really stood out, she said, is how pleasant everyone was.
"I'm a little overwhelmed right now," she said. "I didn't really realize how many businesses were in Bella Vista."
Business on 03/22/2017