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This was a fundraiser for the tourism bureau, with proceeds going
toward the restoration project at The Mill. Misty Bell, the
assistant to tourism director Geoff Ladd, spearheaded the event.
Bell said that altogether the day brought in about $400 for
restoration projects.
Each vendor paid $25 for a space and agreed to participate in
"customer sharing."
Bell explained that in customer sharing, each vendor agreed to
invite their established customers to the expo. The hope was that
once they got there, they would learn about other products that are
available and eventually become customers to more than one
home-based vendor.
In addition to the table fee, each participant donated items from
their wares to be given away as door prizes for shoppers.
Bell said that the event was not just about raising money for
tourism, it was also about raising awareness of a niche of business
owners who often go unnoticed.
She said that home-based business owners are often left out
because being a part of business organizations such as the chamber
of commerce is often too much for a home-based business to afford.
Consequently, they are more or less left on their own to grow
their business with no support from the business community.
Bell feels that offering the vendors an opportunity to do an
annual show like this will help them in their business and in turn
have an effect on the overall well-being of the economy.
Bell said that several of the vendors at the show were local, but
there were others who came in from out of town. She noted Deb
Templeton, who drives into town from Peoria to offer her Gourmet
Cupboard products, saying that even though she isn't from this area,
when she and others like her come into Lincoln, they are going to
support local businesses such as gas stations and eateries.
Perhaps some of the first home-based businesses established were
Stanley Home Products and Tupperware. These types of businesses were
as much about socialization as they were selling products.
In the 1960s and '70s, ladies enjoyed hosting an event in their
home, inviting friends and family for an afternoon or evening of
chit-chat, refreshments and learning about the newest innovations in
homemaking.
Lincolnite Darlene Begolka is new to the home-based business
venue, but she has chosen an age-old product, Tupperware, as her
offering. She said that her business approach is going to include
home parties, but she is also going to do shows such as this
weekend's expo to build her business.
Like some other vendors, Edith Keller of Lincoln said that over
the years the face of her business has changed. Offering Stanley
Products for over 20 years, Keller said that today, with more
homemakers also working away from the home, free time is precious,
and she doesn't see that many people wanting to do an at-home event.
Her business plan has evolved into presenting her wares at flea
markets and shows such as the expo.
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Rachael Joseph, who has been selling Longaberger since 2001 in the
Lincoln area, said that her business has gone to mostly catalog
shows. She said that choosing a nationally known label has been a
good route for her.
She noted that being with a product line such as Longaberger,
there is a tremendous amount of support from the company. For
Longaberger in particular, she said that her marketing practices can
include Web sites and direct e-mails via the company.
While many home-based businesses include being affiliated with a
franchise, some folks who have creative minds and talent go their
own direction, offering unique, handmade products.
For Gina Rexroat, her home-based jewelry business is all about
quality and affordability. She said that she makes all of the
jewelry she sells, with the exception of a few sterling pieces.
Quality and craftsmanship are very important to Rexroat. To that
end, she hand-selects every bead she uses. "I need to see, touch
every stone or bead to know that they are good enough," she said.
She also noted that even though handmade jewelry is
labor-intensive, she tries to make pieces affordable. "I know I
don't have a lot of money for items like these, so I want to keep
prices low enough that people like me can afford them," she
explained.
As shoppers came into the expo, they were offered an opportunity
to register for door prizes, invited to enjoy a doughnut compliments
of Casey's General Store and given the opportunity to browse the
wide variety of offerings.
Bell said that overall, for a first-time event, she felt like the
day was successful. While rain may have held off some visitors,
several shoppers came in to take a peek and perhaps book a party or
buy an item from the cash-and-carry tables.
In addition to this new annual event, the tourism bureau is
publishing a directory of home-based businesses. Bell said that all
of the day's participants will be listed in the directory, complete
with contact information.
The directories are available at the Information Station on Fifth
Street.
In addition to the expo, Bell said that next year the tourism
bureau will open up their parking lot to home-based businesses
during the Route 66 Garage Sales.
She said that the "Home Based Boulevard" will add to the shopping
experience of Route 66 while maintaining the flea market-style
experience that allows them to look, touch and buy at will.
[By NILA SMITH] |
