Pahrump Valley Times
The 14th annual Biz Expo moved back to the Saddle West Hotel and Casino Friday and Saturday, where 60 vendors laid out booth space, enticing attendees with numerous giveaways.
New businesses used the occasion to highlight their wares, like St. Therese Mission, which is building a cemetery and columbarium on Tecopa Road.
When it came to creativity, Allstate Insurance was giving out thumb bands that read “texting kills” to people who gave their fingerprints and pledged not to text while driving in violation of a new state law.
Brothel owner Dennis Hof didn’t take out a booth this year, neither did any of the other Nye County brothels.
Representatives of financial institutions like Community Bank and American International Bank greeted attendees as well as Merrill Lynch investments.
There were community groups like Friends of the Library, the NyE Community Coalition and Soroptomists.
There were $25 gift certificates awarded, $50 gift certificates, one merchant, Land Art Landscaping in conjunction with Star Nursery, gave away one tree every hour. Then there were free samples at almost every booth, like a dentist offering toothbrushes.
“If you were attending the event you got a lot of bang for your buck,” Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Mike Dreyer said. “A lot of vendors gave out door prizes. I think that was the most door prizes we ever gave out.”
A number of political candidates were handing out literature in a tent behind the Saddle West. Car dealer Saitta Trudeau had vehicles on display, there were even antique cars.
“You got a little taste of the entire community just coming through the door,” Dreyer said.
Responses on the majority of the surveys returned by the vendors came back positive, he said.
“It was the first year it’s been back at the Saddle West in six years and I’ve got to tell you, they were very accommodating. We couldn’t be more pleased with how they treated us,” Dreyer said.
The reports were the turnout was down slightly from last year.
“The turnout I think it was on par with what I thought it would be, considering we had so many events going on that weekend in town,” he said.
The Biz Expo was going on the same weekend as the auction at Floyd’s Ace Hardware which closed this year.
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- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – Dave Harris of Merrill Lynch was among a smattering of national business reps at this year’s Biz Expo.
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- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – Clearview’s Doug Laughlin created an inviting booth for this year’s Biz Expo. The window washing service attracted a buzz with its bright sign and giveaways.
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- Horace Langford Jr. / Pahrump Valley Times – Allstate representative Kathryn Weill handed out thumb bands — and delicious cookies — reminding people not to text and drive at the insurance company’s booth at the Biz Expo at Saddle West Friday and Saturday.
The Expo was pretty good this year. But in your article you said “Representatives of financial institutions like Community Bank and American International Bank greeted attendees as well as Merrill Lynch investments.” which is wrong. Community Bank has not existed for three years as it was taken over by the FDIC. The new bank in that same building has been around for almost 2 1/2 years and is called Meadows Bank. They have no relation to Community Bank other than they rehired their(Community Banks) old staff. Meadows Bank is a 5 star Bank(according to Bauerfinancial.com) People should check them out, it is a good bank with a great staff.