New event will help local shops celebrate with West Bend residents
By Noah Mintie, Current Staff
Check your calendars, because an exciting new milestone is coming to West Bend.
The All Around the Bend Business Showcase, a new event organized by the West Bend Chamber of Commerce, allows all businesses in West Bend to promote themselves in a way that is the area’s first of its kind. Guests can browse the various booths, purchase items and meet the owners face-to-face. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 inside the West Bend High Schools fieldhouse.
Optional school supply donations will be accepted at the door, with all donations going directly to the school district.
West Bend has many small businesses that specialize in unique interests. But do area residents have awareness of the many retail options available to them? All Around the Bend will tackle this issue in a way never seen before in the city.
All Around the Bend seeks to present the best of every business to the public, as more than 70 different businesses plan to show up to the event. These businesses will have pop-up shops and displays, and there will be over 70 raffles for ticketed guests as well.
The Chamber hopes the day will be fun for everyone, but also that the day will make history.
“The All Around the Bend Business Showcase will be the first of its kind,” said Amber Cypcar, the event’s organizer. “There hasn’t been a showcase like this before in West Bend that welcomes all types of businesses and organizations, and it’s going to be a great opportunity for the community to meet Chamber members and local area businesses that make West Bend an outstanding community.”
Because this event is the first time West Bend businesses have gathered in an open-to-all fashion, All Around the Bend could kickstart a boost in small business growth for West Bend. The Local Investing Resource Center states, “Business showcases bring key members of the community together to connect with entrepreneurs and business owners, to learn about the challenges and opportunities that local businesses face, and to inspire everyone to work together to support their local businesses in a variety of creative ways.”
Cypcar believes the event will be a win-win for all parties involved.
“The community will have the opportunity to meet with their favorite businesses and find out about businesses that they may have not been familiar with in the past,” Cypcar said. “Exhibitors will have the opportunity to get their name out into the community and build relationships with people they may not have been able to in the past. It will be extremely beneficial to all of our community.”
In addition to uniting the community businesses, All Around the Bend will also let WBHS students share their talents with the town, as musical groups from the high school will be performing, and athletic teams will be selling concessions, with all proceeds directed towards their respective teams.
(Images courtesy of the West Bend Chamber of Commerce.)
The West Bend Current 