A move to two days, and a new location, appeared to be beneficial for the 25th edition of the Estevan Showcase Business Expo.
Showcase was held on Friday and Saturday at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. Traditionally it has been a three-day event at either Affinity Place or the Power Dodge Ice Centre.
Art Beselt, who is the chairperson of the Showcase committee, was pleased with the support this year. They had 61 booths this year, including two outdoor exhibitors.
“The vendors that I talked to were certainly positive,” said Beselt. “They liked the venue. They liked the fact that it was heated. The crowds were good. Some have already preregistered for next year.”
Approximately 1,700 people attended Showcase, with about 650 people showing up the first day and another 1,050 present for the second.
Exhibitors suggested being open earlier on the Friday, or having shorter hours on the second.
The showcase committee will look at the evaluation forms once they come in before making a decision on the hours in which Showcase will be open.
Showcase also had free admission this year, although people were encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or a cash donation for the food bank. An exact figure for donations has not been tabulated.
This year’s Showcase was a project of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce, the Estevan Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Estevan. Next year it will be the Lions and Rotary involved with the event, and Beselt is confident in Showcase’s long-term future.
The next edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
