Showcase offers networking, publicity for businesses

"SchmoozaPalooza' in Jefferson City

The atrium, food court and bar areas were filled with local business people for Wednesday's annual Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Showcase at the Capitol Plaza Hotel where they waited until the end of lunch for this year's Small Business of the Year Award winner to be named.
The atrium, food court and bar areas were filled with local business people for Wednesday's annual Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Showcase at the Capitol Plaza Hotel where they waited until the end of lunch for this year's Small Business of the Year Award winner to be named.

Sometimes "schmoozing" isn't such a bad thing.

That was the idea behind the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce's "SchmoozaPalooza" business showcase on Wednesday.

The annual showcase featured more than 100 booths marketing area businesses and offering their representatives a chance to network with community members and other professionals.

"This was probably the best turnout we've ever had," said event co-chair Michael Moyer, estimating attendance improved by several hundred people compared to last year's, with a steady traffic flow.

Chamber officials attribute the success to a shift in timing. The showcase spanned only one day instead of two for the first time, extending its hours into the evening.

"Businesses are so busy that we changed it so it was all in one day. ... A lot of small businesses couldn't do it when it was over two days," said Susan Neill, director of membership and special events for the Chamber of Commerce. "We extended the hours at the end to get the after-work crowd, too."

The showcase followed a luncheon honoring the 2014 Small Business of the Year, Oscar's Classic Diner, and the other 25 nominees for the award. Later in the afternoon, Brittany Elder, head of housekeeping at Candlewood Suites Hotel, was named the 2014 Exceptional Employee of the Year, earning the award over four other finalists for excellence in outstanding customer service, finding opportunities for improvement and exceeding customer expectations.

Some businesses used the showcase as an opportunity to inform customers and colleagues of upcoming changes. Wilson's Fitness representatives, for example, drew people to their booth with exercise-related "minute to win it" games, then made sure to tell visitors that the fitness center would be relocating to the other side of Capital Mall this December.

"This is our first attempt, really, to let people know," said Wilson's Fitness owner Keri Austin. "This is really a great way to start telling them."

Other businesses focused on promoting specialized services. Capital Region Medical Center displayed prominent pink signs advertising 3D mammography capabilities, which the hospital added last September.

"It has revolutionized what we do. We catch so many more breast cancers now," said Lauren Carender, registered radiology technician. "If I can get one woman to come in for one mammogram, I've made a difference here."

Wheat Chiropractic & Wellness Center offered free surface EMG scans, analyzing visitors' posture for muscle tightness.

"It doesn't give us a clear picture of what's going on, but if we see lots of red we know something is going on with that spine," said Dr. Chelsea Sogard. "I don't feel that a lot of people know what chiropractic does. The more of these events we can get out and educate the community at, the better."

Jefferson City Nursing and Rehabilitation Center tried a different tactic: food. The nursing center offered visitors a taste of its chef's homemade chicken pot pie soup served to residents as an example of the care the business provides.

"When people think of nursing home, they think it's the end. I'm trying to get people to view it as just another season in their life," said Katherine Carlson, memory unit manager at the nursing center. Carlson manned the booth while her partner networked with other business representatives throughout the showcase.

"Some of them offer services in the community that we can use," Carlson said, noting the contact she made with a company offering walk-in showers at last year's showcase. "It helps with giving referrals to our residents, and it shows us what our community has to offer and what we can be more involved in."