KITCHENER - Guelph businesses were front and centre Tuesday at Bingeman's conference centre in Kitchener.
Many businesses made the trek down Highway 7 for the annual 2016 Business Expo, an event hosted by the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, the Guelph Chamber of Commerce and the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce,
The event sold out all 200 exhibitor booths.
"For me it's about connecting with other businesses that might have complimentary services, but also things that we need," said Marios Matsias, Executive Director of Business Centre Guelph-Wellington.
"These people around here all know the answers. So to be able to connect with them, to be able to put something together that attracts more of them, that's why we're here.
"You can Google search and try to find all this stuff, but when you see it visually and you see what they're doing, that's interesting, you should go over and you should talk to them."
Hundreds gathered for the one-day event, with plenty of business cards, handshakes and elbow rubs exchanged.
From small private businesses to large corporations and institutions, they were all represented in two large ballrooms.
"They're definitely worthwhile. You get to see a lot of different products and different ideas, but mostly it's the people," said Joe Migliaccio, who owns and operates State Farm Insurance in Guelph.
Migliaccio said you are spreading the word about your business and services, but also learning from others.
"There's some products here I've never seen before, that I never knew existed and they're practical," he said. "There's always something new."
Melku Gebrekristos, who owns Guelph's Laza Food and Beverages, said it was a good way to find people who could spread the word about her products.
"I was also talking to a guy who was looking to start this kind of business and I was talking with him about what you have to do go start this kind of business. So you share your experience with others," said Gebrekristos, who was attending her third Business Expo.
