Expo offers visitors peek at businesses

Where can you find a chiropractor, martial arts school, credit union and bath tub repairer all under one roof?

No, the answer is not the local strip mall.

It's the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce's fifth annual Home and Business Expo, which continues today in the Jacobs High School gymnasium.

"It is a great opportunity to get some exposure," said Bob Hollett, owner of County Line Chiropractic in Algonquin.

"There are a lot of people coming out, so it helps you distinguish yourself from everyone else. You can show people your benefits."

This year, about 124 businesses and organizations participated, including 14 craft vendors taking part in the expo's first craft exhibit.

"At 9:45 a.m., people were coming in," said Sandy Oslance, the chamber's executive director of the attendees who arrived 15 minutes before the expo's opening. "So that is exciting not only for the chamber, but the businesses, too."

Exhibitors ranged from hospitals, banks and real estate agents to political action committees and small, downtown businesses.

"Each year the show gets better and better," Oslance said. "It gives residents the chance to talk to various businesses and lets businesses get out to the masses and the community."

Organizers expect about 2,000 people to attend this year's event.

"People can talk to somebody about a particular service or product and not feel obligated to buy," Oslance said. "They can follow up later. It's much more relaxed."

Roberta Wajrowksi of Crystal Lake said the event was particularly helpful as her accounting firm Caufield and Flood prepares for the upcoming Huntley business expo.

"I want to get ideas for that," Wajrowski said. "Accountants are not usually creative -- we work with numbers -- so I wanted to see what others have done."

The expo continues today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gymnasium of Jacobs High School, 2601 Bunker Hill Road, Algonquin.