COUPEVILLE — For South End businesses, it’s time to circle the wagons.
With the economy in an apparent free fall, the 17th Uniquely Whidbey Business Expo in Coupeville couldn’t have come at a better time.
Lined up side-by-side in two gyms at Coupeville High School, 140 businesses small and large welcomed more than 3,000 visitors over the weekend. Roughly a third of the exhibitors were from South Whidbey, with the balance hailing from the north and central parts of the island, as well as Camano Island.
The event is hosted by the Island County Economic Development Council and is designed to showcase business and create a climate of networking.
“This show is more important than ever,” said EDC director Sharon Hart. “It’s the only one like it in the Northwest. It helps keep tax dollars local and allows new businesses to reach out to customers they wouldn’t encounter otherwise.”
This was the first year for George Springer, who operates Whidbey Island Moped in Langley.
“What we’re looking to get here is more exposure,” Springer said. “We want folks to know we’re here on the island and have a great product.”
The product in question is a vehicle that gets as much as 70 miles per gallon, nothing to sneeze at in these times of high gas prices.
“It’s a great way to do errands on the island,” he noted. His company, located on First Street, sells, services, provides parts and offers seasonal rentals. The 49cc mopeds cost about $2,200, including tax. Unlike a scooter or motorcycle, no special licenses are need to drive one.
Just down the aisle, Mike and Katie Donohoe were busy dispensing their Honeymoon Bay Coffee Roasters brew in small cups to coffee-starved visitors.
“We started about three months ago,” Donohoe said. “I was chief roastmaster for Mukilteo Coffee, passionate about good coffee, and we wanted to try this to see if we could make it.”
Though he lives in Greenbank, his French roast and other specialty blends are roasted in Oak Harbor and sold throughout the South End.
“We’ve gotten a lot of exposure and even sold quite a few bags of coffee,” he noted. “People sample it and see for themselves what we’re doing.”
Andy and Kris McRea run a small Clinton home construction company, McRea Partners. This is their third year at the expo.
“It does well for us because the folks who stop by are genuine customers interested in our products and services,” McRea said.
“This is a high-quality event, well-run, with a local, personal small-town flavor.”
McRea added that the show gives him a chance to have great conversations and network with others, a common recurring theme.
A good example is Dr. Craig Weinston’s Chiropractic Zone in Freeland, whose booth was right next to Whidbey General Hospital’s.
“This is an opportunity to talk to a lot of folks from all over the island,” he said. “The support from the EDC people has been great, and the facilities are outstanding.”
Hart noted that there are 6,000 licensed businesses in the county, but only 7 percent of them have more than 20 employees and 70 percent employ four or less. The average annual wage in the county is $29,324, compared to the statewide number of $42,881.
“Buying local keeps the purchase dollars circulating within the economy, one of the main reasons this show can be so helpful to small businesses and those just starting out,” Hart said.
Total taxable 2007 sales in Island County was $884 million, a 6.5 percent increase over the previous year.
By noon on Sunday, both gyms were crammed with visitors checking out the displays from both businesses and community organizations.
There were a number of potential customers from off-island as well.
Jon Parsons read about the event in the South Whidbey Record online and decided to make the trip from Edmonds.
“I run a small contracting outfit on the mainland and I wanted to see if there’s any way to pick up business here,” he said. “I’ve talked to several guys already, and I think I made some headway. We’ll see how it goes.”
Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbey
record.com.
