Business expo a great show

YOUR Business Expo 2011 at the West County Hotel, Ennis last week proved to be a real winner.

Almost 100 stands took over the conference centre with businesses ranging from IT development, marketing and printing to retail supplies, financial planning, corporate solutions and hospitality. Over 200 additional business people arrived over the course of the day to view all that was on offer.
Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon spoke about how the Government is there to create the environment to assist businesses like those attending in creating jobs. He also talked about Solas, the new Government body involved in helping businesses.
Minister Cannon praised the work of AIB, ACIST Skillnet, Ennis Chamber and Clare FM on their partnership to make the event such a success. The minister then visited several stands and spoke to many of the businesses attending.
Exclusive business offers on the day from the stands included free mentor sessions with tax consultants and accountants, 5* hotel breaks, iPods, iPhones, corporate hampers, advertising on Clare FM and much more. Clare FM also broadcast live from the event with further giveaways.
The free workshops, which took place in the afternoon, included Planning your Growth in Challenging Times by Frank Lohan Accounting, Business and Financial Services and Brian McNally of McNally Growth Partners; Recruiting and SME Support Products by John Doyle and Kieran Considine from AIB; Marketing on a Shoestring by Bernie Browne from Market IT/One Stop Marketing and Retailing in the Current Environment by David Fitzsimons, Retail Excellence.
Thanks to the enthusiastic involvement and participation of those who showcased their businesses and attended, the business-to-business expo was a huge success with businesses from all sectors promoting what services they could provide to other businesses. The wide range of sectors, as well as State agencies, made it a very unique and informative day.
The availability of offers and promotions for businesses were abundant and everyone who attended, as well as showcased, found it very worthwhile. It is hoped the initiative will be run again as the benefits for companies, especially local businesses, is incomparable.