GILROY
– The South Valley Business Showcase will feature 55 local
businesses under one roof to display the latest in products and
services for the public Wednesday.
GILROY – The South Valley Business Showcase will feature 55 local businesses under one roof to display the latest in products and services for the public Wednesday.
Gilroy’s Historic Strand Theater will serve as the location of the 13th annual showcase. The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event, was forced to postpone it during the last few years because it was unable to find a location.
Businesses will set up booths inside the theater, with outdoor vendors located in the empty lot next to the building.
Designed to allow businesses to reach out to customers as well as each other, the showcase includes businesses ranging from banks to cellular phone companies to restaurants and wineries.
“The purpose is to let people know what businesses are here in Gilroy and what they have to offer,” said Marsha Becht, director of membership and programs with the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce.
The public can roam around the booths from 1 to 7 p.m. and sample food and wine from eight local food vendors during the mixer from 5 to 7 p.m.
Local businesses can offer more information during the showcase than possible through advertising, Becht said.
To make the event a little more entertaining for exhibitor and visitors, there will be a Hollywood theme, “It’s Showtime.” Businesses will compete in a booth decorating contests and even dress in glitz and glamour. Participants can even try for the first, second or third-place ribbons for the celebrity look-alike contest. The winners’ photographs will be printed in the Chamber’s Focus newsletter.
The Chamber organized the event with support from seven major sponsors, Charter Communications, South Valley National Bank, The Dispatch, Gilroy’s Historic Strand Theater, Parrotworks, Saint Louise Regional Hospital and Articulate Solutions.
The event is free to the public. The Strand Theater is located at 7588 Monterey St. For a list of exhibitors, visit www.gilroytradeshow.com.
