For the week of May 22 - 28, 2002

Fun at the Fair

Hailey Business Fair 2002 offers fun, food and networking

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By PETER BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer

It was a beautiful afternoon Thursday to hold a fair, and even though there were no rides nor shooting galleries, Business Fair 2002 had lots of eats, sweets and prizes.

Maybe even a couple of clowns.

Names and Numbers Nicole Perkins, left, and Cornerstone Realty Broker Cindy Ward talk property values at the Business Fair 2002. Express photos by Willy Cook

This is the third year of the fair, put on by the Hailey Chamber and Visitors Bureau to showcase Hailey businesses and give people the opportunity to network.

This was the verb that came out of many an observer’s mouth.

Hailey Chamber director and co-coordinator of the fair Jeff Bertz said the event was primarily for the Hailey Chamber members to allow them "to network with each other and the community, and to encourage people to shop locally."

Trish Dial, the other coordinator of the event and also a chamber director, said the business fair’s purpose was to help people understand what the chamber does.

Patti Freestone, owner of Countryside Florist in Hailey discusses plants and business with Katie Hobson, right. Express photos by Willy Cook

"The fair focuses on how the chamber works with the community, with businesses and the individual," she said.

Despite it being billed as a Hailey event for Hailey businesses and residents, the event was larger than Hailey.

Carol Waller, executive director of the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce (and also a Hailey resident), called Business Fair 2002, "a community event."

"We, everyone in the valley, are all in this together, and we need each other’s support," she said.

It’s not uncommon for the two chambers to coordinate their efforts. Bertz said Waller had facilitated the Hailey Chamber Board’s spring retreat this year.

Live demonstrations were a part of Business Fair 2002. Here, Reflections Salon owner Amy Houck demonstrates a styling technique on one of her stylists, Jennifer Fife. Their Pine Street station salon does hair, nails, and spa treatments. Express photos by Willy Cook

Jann Kelsch, the executive director of the Hailey Chamber, said 20 businesses had booths at this year’s fair, 10 fewer than last year.

But the fewer booths didn’t seem to diminish the enthusiasm or the networking.

Even as Larry Flynn was announcing the next door prize winner, Elbie Bellon of Elbie’s Automotive was meeting Albertson’s store director Stan Soares for the first time.

That’s called networking.

 

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