West Kelowna

A number of West Kelowna companies will be giving Westside residents a chance to learn more about the diversity of businesses serving the community this weekend.

Photo: Contributed - Tanya Lister

Tanya Lister has helped organize this weekend's West Kelowna Business Expo.

The West Kelowna Business Expo is on Sunday, October 21, from 11 to 4, at the Westbank Lions Community Centre, Main Street Westbank.

Organizer Tanya Lister says the idea came about as a way for local businesses to be featured at a lower cost than most other events of this kind.

"Most trade fairs cost upwards of $500 for a booth." says Lister.

She has promoted her business, Definition Body and Face, at some of the larger trade shows, but says many businesses find these shows to be too expensive.

"We come back and you get a lot of local businesses who say 'We would love to do something, but we can't afford it.' After hearing that for the last couple of years we said 'Let's see what we can do'."

So Lister and some her fellow members of the Westbank and District Chamber of Commerce created a business expo that caters to businesses of all sizes.

"(We wanted to) make it affordable for the big businesses, the small businesses, the home based, and all of them."

There will be over 30 businesses set up at the Expo and admission is free to the public. Organizers say there is something for everyone and all interests, from home and pet care to beauty and personal pampering.

Lister adds many of the businesses will be giving away some great prize packages at the end of the day.

"There will be different demonstrations going on during the day, there will be music playing and the main thing is to get your names into the draws."

Paulette Breault, Director of EZee Piano Systems says she's excited about the opportunity the Expo offers for both local merchants and their customers.

"The Expo will help people that live in West Kelowna to find out that there are a number of businesses that exist in West Kelowna so that they don't have to cross the bridge to go for the same type of business."

Breault adds the Expo will demonstrate first hand just how far the community has come along.