Made in Montana Tradeshow Gearing up for March Event in Helena

Montana’s Premiere Wholesale Tradeshow Expands to Meet Vendor and Buyer Demand http://www.madeinmontanashow.com

It’s time for Montana retail store owners and wholesale buyers to register for the 2014 Made in Montana Tradeshow for Food and Gifts. The annual show moved to Helena this year and promises to be the biggest ever with over 120 exhibitors hoping to get their products on store shelves next season.

"We’ve had overwhelming interest from vendors wanting to attend the show," said Department of Commerce Director Meg O’Leary. "We’ve even expanded the number of booths available to help meet the demand."

The tradeshow will be held March 21 and 22 at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Helena. Friday, March 21 is for qualified retail and wholesale buyers only, while Saturday, March 22 is open to the public.

"Visitors to the state list shopping as their number two expenditure while in Montana," noted Director O’Leary. "Since we know they’re looking for authentic Montana products, this show focuses on connecting buyers and vendors to help boost the number of local products on store shelves."

Visitors aren’t the only ones looking for products made close to home – the rising popularity of "shop small" and "shop local" movements across Montana communities has led to an increased number of local consumers seeking out Made in Montana products.

"People always tell me they’re on the lookout for Made in Montana products because they know that their dollars stay at home, going directly into friends’ and neighbors’ pockets," said Lonie Stimac, Marketing Officer for the Made in Montana program.

Attending the tradeshow comes with an added bonus for retailers too – Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor® will be on hand to Friday, March 21 to present a free seminar. The seminar, titled "You Can Compete!" is a customized workshop for Montana retailers designed to get store owners to think outside of the box and evaluate their retail strategies.

Qualified store owners and other wholesale buyers are encouraged to pre-register at http://www.madeinmontanashow.com , by e-mailing [email protected] or calling (406) 841-2757.

For more information about the 2014 Made in Montana Tradeshow for Food and Gifts, contact Lonie Stimac at (406) 841-2783 or [email protected].