Home-based business expo is Oct. 23

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College’s second Home-based Business Expo is set for Oct. 23, from noon to 8 p.m., at the college’s Advanced Technologies Education Center.

The expo is a chance for new businesses to network with others and expand their customer base, explained Allan Peterson, director of the college’s Center for Business and Industry Services (CBIS).

“Working from home is a great thing, but it’s also a barrier,” he noted. “There’s lots to be learned from each other on how to do it.”

Peterson also called the event an opportunity to learn about going beyond family and friends with one’s small business.

Business start-ups increased “exponentially”  as compared to four years ago, he said.

“It’s part of the micro-enterprise economy, in that it’s just getting bigger and bigger,” Peterson commented.

The college’s first expo was this spring, but they decided to hold the next one in the fall after hearing exhibitors’ comments.

“The exhibitors said it should absolutely be a fall event,” he commented. “It’s the beginning of holiday sales for a lot of these folks.”

Peterson expects the upcoming event should be better attended because people have more lead time.

The springtime expo attracted people from the Washington state towns of Ellensburg, Yakima and Bellevue and Hayden Lake, Idaho.

“We’re trying to reach down into Oregon and Idaho again,” he says.

“Home-based businesses are important to grow and nurture,” he commented. “They can fill in holes on Main Street. Every Main Street has some space to fill.”

So far, there’s more than 30 confirmed exhibitors for the event, said Regan Cardwell, program assistant with CBIS.

The event and workshops are free to the public. 

Workshops include: How to Start Your Own Home-Based Business, Basics of Marketing, QuickBooks Simple Start and Utilizing Social Media, Cardwell said.

Business categories are varied and include jewelry, beauty products, auto detailing, kitchen products, graphic design, bridal, toys, chocolate, cakes, fitness, massage therapy, clothing, recreation, home decor, financial and wood-making.

There’s still room for exhibitors, she said.

For more information, visit www.bigbend.edu/cbis.