By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
For the past nine years one instrumental group from Lake Orion High School has helped organize and stylize the annual Shop Local Expo, and this year they are sharing some of their secrets.
The 2016 Grow Community, Shop Local business expo is Tuesday, May 10 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Lake Orion High School Field House (gymnasium).
The LOHS DECA Club promises it will be a sandwich-slinging good time.
The Lake Orion DECA Club is a chapter of the international business club that specializes in marketing, hospitality, management and finance.
For the past couple months DECA has lent two of their seniors, Meg Miller and Morgan Monaghan, to the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce to help organize the event, but the partnership has been going on for years.
“We enjoy doing this kind of stuff because we love DECA and helping out our school’s chapter in any way we can,” Miller said. “We also love helping out the community and seeing small businesses thrive.”
Miller and Monaghan have attended weekly chamber meetings for the expo, planned out the decorations, chose trophies for the gold and silver level sponsors, and brainstormed tons of ideas for the chamber to use. They also will help check in hundreds of local businesses and make sure that everything runs smoothly during the actual event.
“Marketing is very important in this day and age. It allows small businesses to get the word out about their business, not only to the community but to be able to expand it to other places,” Miller said.
The theme for the expo is Grow Community, Shop Local, and with that theme in mind, Miller and Monaghan have incorporated beautiful plants and flowers and brightly colored balloons.
Their DECA advisor and marketing teacher at LOHS, Julia Dalrymple, said her marketing students thrive from working this type of event. After all, it’s these students, and many others, who help run the show the day of the expo.
“They learn to work with a ‘client’ and pitch ideas while taking positive and constructive criticism, which is an amazing experience to gain in high school,” Dalrymple said.
Dalrymple became involved about nine years ago when she organized the first team of students to bring a fresh perspective to the Chamber’s annual expo.
“It’s amazing for job-work experience,” she said.
It’s a site not to miss.
Patrons will find more than 100 local businesses, some with store fronts, some based from home, non-profit organizations, and other ventures at the expo, with free samples, shopping, and information about their goods and services.
A few battles will also take place.
Defending their 2015 Pizza War Champion title, Chicago Brother’s Pizza will compete against G’s Pizza, Passport Pizza and I Ragazzi Wood Fired Oven Pizzeria for the Sixth Annual Pizza War.
Jersey Mike’s Subs, winner of the first annual Sandwich Slam last year, will also defend its title against ‘wishes of Oxford, Time Square Restaurant, Lockhart’s BBQ, Firehouse Subs, and Great Harvest Bread Company for the best sandwich of 2016 in the second ever Sandwich Slam. Come early, only the first 250 people to enter will get to participate in the sandwich-ing.
Participants are encouraged to come hungry. Just to wet the whistle, these following businesses will provide some free tasty treats: Culvers, Italia Gardens, Buffalo Wild Wings, Kona Ice, Yates Cider Mill in Canterbury Village, Lockhart’s BBQ, Crates Coffee House, Chef Teriesa, and Great Harvest Bread Company.
But, there will be plenty of excitement to share. A scavenger hunt, bounce house, tons of door prizes, and a free vision screening for kids are all part of the mix.
“This event has been such a great way to feature local businesses to our community for the last eleven years and we’re very excited to present such an amazing variety of businesses again this year,” Orion Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim Urbanowski said. “Local businesses are, like our theme states, what grow our community.”
Admission is free, and parking lot shuttles will be available from Stadium Drive Elementary and Scripps Middle School.
For more information, visit the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce website at orionareachamber.com or call 248-693-6300.