A record number of exhibitors await patrons of the annual Spring Into Spring Lifestyle Expo, which runs this weekend at Servus Credit Union Place.
Organizers with the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce are squeezing in last minute vendors and turning others away as a surge in interest has sold out both Campbell Arena sheets and both indoor soccer pitches.
“Our economy has improved a little bit … exhibitors that may not have participated last year because of budgets might have been in a better position to do so this year,” said expo chair Joe Becigneul.
This year’s expo will have about 230 booths, which will include a wide range of businesses and public sector organizations.
Other events will include the St. Albert Idol singing competition, a fashion show, petting zoo, sports action centre and inflatable bouncers.
New items this year include a gardening presentation by Jim Hole and an “expo bazaar” featuring about 10 farmers’ market type vendors, said chamber of commerce CEO Lynda Moffat.
What remains to be seen is whether record exhibitor interest translates into foot traffic. The chamber rebranded the show as a lifestyle expo two years ago, in an effort to move it beyond the standard trade show format that was in place for years.
Some vendors last year were disappointed in the attendance but Becigneul feels the event is on solid ground.
“From the perspective of where we were several years ago, where we were known as a trade show, and made a conscious effort to convert it to a lifestyle show, I think we’re on the right track,” he said.
The show is happening about two weeks later in the year than usual, which organizers are hoping works in its favour.
“Normally we’ve kind of competed with spring break. We’re moving away from that,” Moffat said. “If we had stuck with our original date, we would have run into Easter this year.”
She said the chamber put a lot of staff resources into marketing the expo.
“We just need the people to come and support it,” she said.
