Home based businesses showcase at markets

It won't be long until Geraldton will have access to a ‘pop-up department store’ at the Midwest Home Based Business Markets.

Formerly known as the Midwest Home Business Expo, the event will bring together between 50 and 80 local home based businesses showcasing their products and services.

Local organisation business Its All Sorted is looking forward to the third year of the event.

“As always with our Community Events, the Midwest Home Based Business Markets will be fundraising for a worthy local cause. This year it’s for the Geraldton Emergency Services Cadets Corp (GESCC)!” said Its All Sorted Director Emma Howell.

The GESCC is a community group aimed at youth between the ages of 12 and 17 and aims to promote a challenging, safe, rewarding and engaging environment for cadets to learn life skills not developed in any other environment.

GESCC representative Brie-anne Mauger praised the event and said the funds were vital for the local community group.

“Our cadet unit encourages positive community involvement into adulthood and provides training based around the emergency services, which can lead to a career or volunteer position into their adult life,” Brie-anne said.

Emma said the event always attracted a huge range of exhibitors.

“We have everything from jewellers, party plan sellers, clothing stores, to maintenance, craft, food, plants and so much more...! There aren’t many opportunities to browse a selection of home based businesses like this, considering they are all hidden away inside our homes," she said.

"This is a great chance for people to see products, chat to owners and creators and get a feel for the businesses which might not usually be available.

“Plus it’s an amazing opportunity for the home based businesses, to access hundreds of potential customers in just a few short hours. A really intensive promotional opportunity which isn’t regularly available with the added bonus of a fantastic community contribution.”

The Midwest Home Based Business Markets are part of the 2014 Community Events.

“Our major sponsors The Abrolhos Group and Dr Kim Pedlow are vital to the success of the Community Events, it means that funds raised on the day of the event can go straight to the charity without having to cover costs of insurance, venue hire etc,” Emma explained.

“Plus our gold sponsors Geraldton Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank, silver sponsors Maicon Engineering, Harvey Norman and Ian Blayney MLA, media sponsors Geraldton Newspapers, WAFM and Spirit Radio, and marketing sponsors RGI SignWorks and Coastal canvas, make a world of difference!”

The Midwest Home Based Business Markets are on Sunday 18 May, 10am – 2pm at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. Entry is $5 (children under 10 free) and raffle tickets are $2 each. Exhibitor registrations close on Sunday 11 May and start from just $50.

For more information visit www.itsallsorted.com.au