22nd Annual Buy Local Expo

Sept. 18 from Noon to 5 p.m.

low business owners a fresh perspective on Ulster County’s enduring tourist draws.

While meeting prospective customers and landing a sale or two often is the goal of exhibitors, Stacey Rein, president of the Ulster County United Way, said the Expo is a lot more than that.

“We get to see people we haven’t seen in a while and renew connections and meet new folks who are doing cool stuff,” she said.

Rein and Su Marcy, United Way’s vice president, have been participating at the Chamber’s yearly Expo for about 20 years, and each year, they said they pick up good leads by interacting with prospective donors face-to-face.

“It’s an opportunity for us to make contact with our old friends who support us, and we also meet new people. For our business, that’s essential in order to bring new people into the fold,” Rein said. “The more we can be out in the business community, the better.

“We’re all in one place at one time, and I think the atmosphere is somewhat festive for a business event. There’s a lot of laughter and hugging because there are people we haven’t seen since the last Expo. We’re in different worlds, but we care about each other, and things change, so it’s good to get updated with what’s going on in our local business community by seeing all the folks that are there.”

Rein and Marcy also have been known to grandstand with creative, eye-catching booths. One year, they lugged in a kayak as a giveaway, and in 2015, they snagged a top prize for their exhibit, “Rec ‘n Roll.”

Surrounded by vintage records, Rein flashed a miniskirt and go-go boots, while Marcy showed off some leather pants and cool shades. That was the year the dynamic duo gave away prizes like a one-year membership to MAC Fitness and gift cards to local stores.

“I come up with the ideas, but Su figures out how to market it, which is how we work a lot,” Rein said. “She’s definitely the person who will take the idea and set the booth up.”

With the Expo around the corner, the two are plotting another nifty display and are again hoping to be the life of the party.

Then, there are those cannolis and that equally rich conversation at the Guido Restaurant Group’s booth.

“We feel like we want people to have a little taste of who we are, and, of course, as Italian people, we’re all about food, so everyone simply must stop by for a cannoli and a hello,” Schultz said.

To be a sponsor/exhibitor or to participate as an exhibitor, call the Chamber office at (845) 338-5100 or go to www.UlsterChamber.org.