Fun, food and a fair, too

COEUR d'ALENE - Door prizes. Free food. Free parking. Games. Golf. Friends laughing.

Whoever said this was all about business, anyway?

"Eat, drink and pretend you're merry," joked emcee DickHaugen.

They were definitely eating and drinking, but there was no pretending going on Tuesday night. People were merry during the annual After Hours Business Fair at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.

More than a thousand men and women visited the free, three-hour event that gave businesses and nonprofits a chance to show who they are, what they do and what that means for consumers.

It is billed as a chance to get in on the biggest marketing opportunity of the year.

"Build a year's worth of business in three hours," according to a press release.

Representatives for real estate firms, health clubs, heating companies and outdoors organizations stood ready behind booths that stretched along the walls and down aisles.

You've got questions? They had answers.

Many who came to peruse and partake also stopped and listened to sales pitches.

"It supports the community and lets people see all the businesses in the community," said Mark Robitaille, food and beverage manager at Silverwood Theme Park and chairman of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation. "I think that's great for us as consumers to see what's new, what else people are doing, new things on the horizon."

Bret Bowers, sales executive with Benchmark, Inc., and iMGX kreativ, said that in the past year they have helped Texas Roadhouse, Vivo, Idaho National Guard, River City Fabrication, Fitness on Fourth and San Francisco Sourdough.

"Anything that's large scale visuals, that's what we're helping people with," Bowers said.

It was their second year at the After Hours Business Fair, which Bowers called a great opportunity to meet and speak with people about their interests in the business community.

"More importantly, we get to talk with the people, small business owners, the people working here, that are making sure the economy is moving forward," he said.

David Konigsberg with Row Adventure said the company has been a longtime customer of the fair.

"It's a great way for us to expose ourselves to the local community," he said.

Row offers rafting and kayak trips throughout the region. That includes the Lochsa, Moyie, Spokane, St. Joe and Clark Fork rivers.

"When people are here visiting with their family and friends, we hope that they join us on a trip," he said. "It's a great way to reach out with other businesses and network."

And, as Robitaille noted, the menu of meatballs, beef sandwiches and vegetables kept visitors happy and satisfied, too.

"The food is great," he said.