Women in business focus of expo
A GROUP of South Otago female business owners have joined forces to help local women showcase their talent and work at an expo tomorrow.
The Clutha Women in Business Group came up with the idea of holding an expo for local businesses owned or operated primarily by women.
All stallholders at the expo have a woman in charge or involved in the business in some way.
Group member Sara Sutherland said the group started as a way to support women in the Clutha district.
‘‘Some of us might be juggling being a mum or a grandparent . . . and there seems to be a lot of groups or support for males but there wasn’t anything in our region for women. That’s how we started.’’
Winter was ‘‘quite a hard time’’ for some members of the Women in Business Group and the expo came about to try to promote those who might not be known in the area.
There will be almost 50 stalls at the expo, being held at the Balclutha War Memorial Hall from 10am tomorrow, with a range of businesses such as giftware, homeware, travel consultants, trades, skincare and beauty.
‘‘The aim of this event is to showcase the variety of talent we have in the Clutha region.’’ Mrs Sutherland said.
‘‘I’m a big believer of ‘locals supporting locals’ and getting behind our community.’’
Group member Sarah Van Asperen said the group met monthly with ‘‘local likeminded females within the Clutha district’’ to network and learn from each other.
All proceeds from the expo will go to the Balclutha Parents Centre and Balclutha’s Women’s Refuge.
Entry is by gold coin donation, a nonperishable food item or personal hygiene product.