Thebacha Trade Show celebrates 10 years
Event adds $80,000 annually to Fort Smith economy
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The Thebacha Trade Show in Fort Smith has reached a significant milestone.
Linda Martin is general manager of Thebacha Business Development Services, which organizes the annual Thebacha Trade Show. - NNSL file photo
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"This is 10 years," said Linda Martin, general manager of Thebacha Business Development Services, which organizes the event.
This year's 10th-anniversary show will be held May 2 at the Fort Smith Rec Centre.
The trade show has been a success over the years, said Martin.
"I've only heard positive comments. Our exhibitors like it. They like how it's organized. They like the fact that it's one day," he said.
She added that exhibitors from out of town like coming to Fort Smith.
"The feedback I've had is the crowds, the public, attending the trade show are always friendly, they're always welcoming and they're always interested in the different exhibitors' booths," she said.
Some exhibitors have been participating in the show right from the beginning, such as the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), Kingland Ford, Aurora College, the South Slave Divisional Education Council, Kaeser's Store, Wesclean, Northwestern Air Lease Ltd., and the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority.
Brian Harrold, the co-owner of Northwestern Air Lease Ltd., said his company fully supports the event.
"We've been with the Thebacha Trade Show probably since its inception," he said. "I feel it's a really viable way to get our product across."
Along with being an exhibitor, Northwestern Air Lease Ltd. has also been a major sponsor.
"It's been very good for us," said Harrold. "We're very happy with it."
Along with the long-time exhibitors, the show always has new exhibitors each year, such as this year's High Country Refrigeration from High Level and the Fire Weed Soap Company from Fort Smith.
In the beginning, the trade show was a co-operative effort between Thebacha Business Development Services and the now-defunct Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce.
Thebacha Business Development Services continues to organize the event with the financial support of ITI.
"The cost right now is just over $40,000 to actually put this show on," said Martin, adding $25,000 comes from ITI and $15,000 from Thebacha Business Development Services.
"It adds approximately $80,000 into the Fort Smith economy," she added.
This is the second and final year for the trade show to be presented at the Fort Smith Rec Centre. The event moved there because of a fire and the resulting ongoing renovations at its regular home, Fort Smith Centennial Arena.
"Hopefully, we will be back in the arena bigger and better than ever in 2016," said Martin.
This year's show features 52 booths from 49 different exhibitors. That's about 10 fewer booths than can be featured in the larger space at the arena.
Martin said the trade show, which will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2, will still offer a wide variety of exhibitors.
That includes government agencies, businesses, community organizations, craftspeople, societies and more, she said, adding, "There really is something for everyone from little kids to adults."
