Making connections

COEUR d’ALENE — Juanita Gonzalez of Blackfoot and Laura Gramirez of Idaho Falls didn’t plan to attend the Coeur d'Alene Regional Business Fair on Wednesday. They were just passing by the bay room doors leading to it at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

But greeters were friendly, welcoming and convincing.

“Come in,” they said, smiling.

Gonzalez and Gramirez did.

They wandered, checked out business booths, chatted with people and came away impressed.

“Good vibes,” Gonzalez said.

“A very relaxing atmosphere,” Gramirez added.

Which is how they like it at the annual event put on by the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber that featured about 80 businesses at what is billed as the largest business fair in the area.

Linda Coppess, chamber president and CEO, was pleased to see such a large turnout.

“We have incredible businesses in our community and they love this place. They want to support the amazing quality of life that we have here," she said. “They're open for business and they're ready to meet new customers.”

Marketing, credit unions, mortgage, health, heating and cooling, finance, entertainment, higher education and nonprofits were all there, spotlighting products, services and personnel.

They offered games, prizes, gift baskets and treats to entice guests to stop by and learn more.

An estimated crowd of more than 1,000 attended the three-hour fair, mingling, collecting freebies and making connections with local services.

There was free food, entertainment and workshops.

“It is very busy, very lively,” said Angela Blessinger chief culture officer with J.A. Bertsch Heating and Cooling. “There's a lot of great people here gathering together to learn about what each other does to promote and strengthen our community in North Idaho.”

Michelle Barnett with The Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort said it was a chance to introduce people to all it offers. That includes a golf course, cultural tours, hiking, an eagle aviary and two hotels.

"We're kind of diverse,” she said. “It's more than just a casino. There’s a lot of different things to do.”

Monique Faux, a real estate agent with King Realty, was having a great time chatting with people. She said it was a diversified crowd, “which gives us amazing opportunities to meet people.”

Many asked Faux about the housing market and whether the bubble of rising prices was going to burst any time soon.

Her answer based on 35 years of experience?

“No, not right now, not this summer, not soon,” she said.

Ron and Linda Jones of Post Falls attended, as they try to do every year.

Ron tried his luck by spinning a wheel for prizes and had a small bag of free items collected from businesses.

“A lot of good information,” he said. “Good food, too.”

Wife Linda said they would like to get a new carpet at their home, but some companies have told them they would need to move the furniture. That would be difficult for them, Linda Jones said, as they’re older. But she may have found a solution at the fair.

“We met people over there,” she said, pointing toward the booth of Movher, a moving company. “She said they would move our furniture.”

Tiffany Long, vice president of creative with Blue Zone marketing, said the fair was a great networking event.

Asked if she could tell folks a few things about Blue Zone, she said, “We do everything any other marketing agency can do for you, but better.”

Long said Blue Zone wants to be “Coeur d’Alene’s marketing agency, so that our town and our community, we can give back to them and make sure they come to us if they need marketing, and mostly digital marketing, anything with their online presence."

Cecil Kelly of Coeur d’Alene enjoyed the fair as he wandered about, chatting, eating and finding out about local businesses.

A talkative man, he loves such gatherings.

“Ever since I retired, I really miss talking to people. It's a great place to get together with people I haven’t seen in a year or two or three,” he said.

He was learning about different and new services, too, which he said is important.

“The world keeps changing,” he said. “You have to try to keep up or you get left behind.”