By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
More than 70 local businesses and organizations were eager to show their commitment to the community during the third annual BG Business Expo on Saturday.
Hundreds of people of all ages walked through the Wood County Fairgrounds’ Pratt Pavilion to learn about the businesses, talk with the experts, watch demonstrations and fill their complimentary bags with freebies from the participating businesses.
“We are here to let local residents know about the scope of services Wood County Hospital provides,” said Teri Laurer, director of wellness services at Wood County Hospital, which was the presenting sponsor for the BG Chamber of Commerce event. Free blood pressure screenings were offered, along with information about the Family Birthing Center, the Maurer Family Cancer Center and the Center for Weight Loss Surgery.
For Dusty and Doug Pendleton, co-owners of Retro Detailing, a live detailing demonstration that shined up like new a 2023 Corolla Cross from Thayer Family Dealerships helped passersby “understand this is what we do,” said Dusty. “Having a visual demonstration is more fun, and it gives us lots more to talk about.”
Participating in the event since it started three years ago, Dusty Pendleton said they enjoy getting to know people in the community and having the opportunity to get to know the people from the other smaller businesses. “We don’t often get a chance to get out of our own business to meet others in the business community, so it’s nice to be here and get to see what everyone is doing,” she said.
Michael Sennett, owner of PC Net Techs in Bowling Green, was on hand to spread the word that his business took over for Applied Imagination when they closed shop about a year ago.
“I’m here to let people know that we are here and want to continue Applied Imagination’s tradition of being community oriented,” he said. “We want to get our name out and for people to understand that we’re here in the community and willing to help” with their computer solutions, networking and telecommunication needs.
Events such as the business expo are ideal for boosting “word of mouth” promotions, said Charlotte Owen, manager of Lock It Up Storage on Route 25 near Ohio 582. “It’s that word of mouth that gets you recognized,” she said.
“I came to communicate with visitors and network with a few other businesses,” said Ken Nutter of Amplex Internet, a Pemberville area business that offers residential and business internet services.
“The more friends we make, the more customers we make, and the more customers we make, the more we can give back to other businesses we work with,” he said. The business provides free Wi-Fi for communities such as Haskins and Arcadia “to give back as much as we can while also taking care of our own.”
Education and entertainment were also part of the expo with various demonstrations and performances scheduled throughout the day.
“We tried something new this year with the Bowling Green Police Department’s drone demonstration,” said Mary Hinkelman, executive director for the BG Chamber of Commerce, which supports local businesses and investors. BGSU Dining offered “Jubilee Desserts,” the Bowling Green Christian Academy Singers performed patriotic songs, and COSI demonstrated some of the “biggest and messiest experiments.”
“These businesses contribute back to the community in so many ways, between employers and taxes and services,” Hinkelman said.
“We want healthy businesses. This is a way for us to bring as many as we can together in one place,” she said. “Some of these businesses have not had that person walk by their shop or thought if they need that shop, but now they see them and they’ve got that seed planted.”
