Trade Show: 'Brainchild' of Local Moms

By Michelle Cyr-Whiting

Home-based business trade show busy at Civic Centre Saturday

Prince George, B.C. - In just three years, the Prince George home-based business trade show has doubled the number of vendors involved and traffic through the doors at the Civic Centre yesterday was up, as well...

More than 70 businesses, all members of Prince George Work At-Home Moms and Dads (PG WAHM), had their wares on display - everything from health and beauty, to children's clothing and accessories, toys, books, and even funky notebooks made out of recycled vinyl records.

The trade show literally grew out of a playdate involving a group of five or six enterprising young Moms. Katie Naphtali made the suggestion - and they ran with it.

"I just found I was very isolated in my basement with my kids, trying to run my business," says Naphtali, owner of Cozy Bums modern cloth diapers and unique baby gifts. "I run mostly an on-line business, so getting customers wasn't as big of a deal as me just wanting to 'connect' with other professionals and other business owners in the community."

She laughs when she recalls the conversation with Bobbi Carpino, a photographer, about starting the trade show to help get other Prince George 'basement lurkers' out there and showcasing their talents and products.

For her part, Carpino says the show 'looks' exactly as they envisioned it. The vendor rates are set to just cover their costs and there was no admission charged, other than donations to the local food bank.

She says it's an opportunity for vendors who may not be able to afford the larger trade shows. "We don't want to make a profit on this, we're not getting paid - this is our volunteer effort to be able to offer something like this to Prince George, as well as to the business folks."

In addition to Prince George home-based businesses, there were vendors from Vanderhoof, one from Dawson Creek, and another from Grande Prairie. Naphtali says the trade show has already grown to become a northern B.C.event.

"To see the changes that have happened over the three years and to see the new businesses that have been popping up, having been inspired by our initial show, is really the most gratifying part for me," she says. "Just to know it's catching on and women are feeling confident to start their own home-based businesses and raise their kids at the same time."

The PG WAHM Trade Show is already pre-booking vendor spots for next year, click here to go to the group's website for an application.

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