BEDFORD – The 2022 Women’s Expo hosted by 105.5 WQRK, 102.5 LiteFM, and 1340 AM WBIW welcomed thousands of attendees and housed over 60 vendors that provided different products and services.
The line for the event wrapped around the game room and lobby of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County, as the first 100 people in attendance anxiously awaited their free Women’s Expo Swag Bags, and the opportunity for a free Women’s Expo T-Shirt. The first 300 attendees entered through the expo doors in approximately 20 minutes, 100 of them armed with their fee swag bag and ready to shop.
Amanda Childers of Hoovers Candy attended the Women’s Expo for the first time on Saturday and wasn’t quite sure what to anticipate from the event.
“We didn’t know what to expect from the event as it was our first time at the expo, but we had a lot of traffic,” said Childers. “We were busier than what we thought we were going to be and we had to put in a lot of work and effort to meet the needs of those who stopped by, but it was great. We had a great time, and are looking forward to being at more events in the future.”
Lindsey Gerkin with Jackie Lynn’s Handmade Jewelry, another first-time vendor at the Women’s Expo, felt the event was laid out well and better than expected.
“I had a great turnout at the expo. I have attended other events before and this was one of the best ones I have been a part of, ” Gerkin said. “The way that the venue was laid out, the help from the staff, and the fact that this event is tailored for women, which is right in my wheelhouse with jewelry, made this event better than I imagined at first. I am definitely looking forward to doing this and many other events again.”
Lady Luck Bucks were in full swing, offering customers who registered at the radio station tent a chance to win $50 to spend at any vendor on-site. Some of the winners of this year’s Lady Luck Bucks included Miranda Gordon, Tenia Pence, Amy Morris, and Casandra Wilson.
From boutiques and outdoor services to reception halls and food, there were plenty of vendors to satisfy the attendees while shopping around the gyms of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence County.
Holly Davis, President, and Owner of Ad-Venture Media (WQRK, WBIW, and WPHZ) loves putting on an event like these every year and knows it takes a lot of effort to make it happen.
“I simply love to host events of this magnitude. We have a small staff and it takes every one of us to ensure our events reach the expected results we desire for our vendors and attendees,” Davis said. “The team begins planning and orchestrating this event six months in advance and must layer the extra tasks required from this event into their existing full plates. It’s fulfilling to see all the hard work of our team pay off. This team rarely gets the public recognition they deserve for their dedication and their strong work ethic. There’s a saying that it “takes a village” and in this case, our village is comprised of only ten people.”
Having the opportunity to provide a space and location for vendors and attendees to come together and support local businesses is what this event is all about.
“This is a great way to offer our local brick and mortars and our home vendors an opportunity to showcase their products and services to a captivated crowd. I honestly can’t believe how many of our listeners and viewers came out in these freezing temperatures to support our stations and the vendors,” said Davis. “Being able to offer our free shuttle services to the attendees was such a blessing to many with these blustery winds and cold temperatures. I want to thank the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence County for the use of the bus and I want to thank the First Baptist Church for allowing us the use of their parking lot. I’m never surprised but always impressed with the willingness of our community to work together to achieve a common goal.”
