Chambers of commerce host joint trade show

Businesses, big and small, from Richmond and Delta will be showing their wares next Wednesday (Sept. 25) at the River Rock Theatre in a joint trade show.

This is the first time since 2006 the Richmond Chamber of Commerce has staged the event. And since that time, the city has experienced plenty of in-fill of businesses, especially in the city centre area. And that, along with a selection of exhibitors from across the other side of the Fraser River, is expected to make the event one not to miss for the business community and beyond.

In Richmond, specifically, business has been categorized as being grown on very fertile ground. Proof of that came this spring when fDi Magazine named Richmond among the top 10 "American Cities of the Future" for the second time in a row. Part of that distinction was attributed to the city placing well in three of eight categories in the evaluation of more than 400 cities.

Richmond placed third among small cities in the Americas - a category representing a combination of foreign direct investment criteria. Best Business Friendliness and Best FDI Promotion Strategy were the other two individual categories in which Richmond placed in the top 10.

At the trade show, a total of 50 vendors have taken all of the available spots and will be displaying everything from business coaches to high-tech operations that call the Richmond or Delta home.

One long-time Richmond business looking forward to attending the event is AA Advertising Ltd.

Company president and owner, George Montgomery, said the benefits of being a local chamber member and among the list of vendors at the show are numerous.

"Being a chamber member gives us lots of opportunities to meet other members at different functions. And it gets the word out about who we are," Montgomery said, adding that is especially important since he is in the business of promoting other people's businesses with all manner of promotional items, from pens and mugs, to key rings and clothing.

"We've done many trade shows, but this one is an opportunity for us to meet people who maybe are not familiar with our company. And, hopefully, we can forge some bonds to do some business together."

Admission is by donation and runs from 3 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit richmondchamber.ca and click on the 2013 Richmond Chamber of Commerce Trade Show section.