Brooklyn's Progress
June/July 2007

BY JILL SHEEHY

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the New York Enterprise Report, held its 2007 Marketing Expo and Luncheon on May 2 at the Grand Prospect Hall.

The sold-out event heralded a new era in helping Brooklyn’s small and mid-sized business development, with exhibitors and seminars aimed at helping them tailor their marketing approaches.

Delivering the keynote address was John Jantsch, the well-known blogger and marketing guru who penned “Duct Tape Marketing – The World’s Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide.”

The event featured a variety of breakout sessions from leading sales and marketing experts who shared their knowledge, strategies and practical advice on vital topics in business marketing.

The event, which was sponsored by HIP USA and the United States Postal Service, along with support from Prime Visibility, was a huge success, noted Darryl Hollon, director of industrial and manufacturing services at the Chamber.

“This is the largest exhibition trade show we’ve ever had,” he said. “It’s reflective of the new marketing approaches of the Chamber.”

In addition to the daylong expo that took place in the main ballroom, there were breakout sessions hosted by leading sales and marketing professionals that offered in-depth guidance in sales and marketing techniques.

Karma Martell, president of KarmaCom Inc., led a seminar called “Public Relations and Advertising on a Budget.”

“It’s a terrific opportunity,” said Ms. Martell of the Expo. “In this age of the webinar, the group conference call, it takes a tremendous amount of effort to get people together. It’s so worthwhile, because the energy that happens when ideas are magnified and multiplied is amazing.”

The keynote speech was another interactive affair, with Mr. Jantsch bounding around the room and postulating his message: “You have to be willing to say ‘here’s who we serve best’” he said, “and you have to be willing to start saying no to people.”

Sound hard? Mr. Jantsch explained how the rest would fall into place and businesses could even raise prices once they had a core message and clientele.

The New York Enterprise Report’s Robert Levin was thrilled with the turnout.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the Chamber on an event that made such a strong impact on small and mid-sized businesses in Brooklyn,” he said. “We’re especially excited to present an internationally-known expert like John Jantsch, a dynamic speaker that can help Brooklyn business owners.”

Chamber member Emily W. Robinson, CEO and president of Purse Hanger, an accessory that holds handbags, was pleased with what she learned.

“This has been very helpful,” she said. “I learned things that I can go home and do today to help my business.”

To learn about events at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, contact Maggie Beaute-Lucien at mlucien@brooklynchamber.com or at 718-875-1000 ext. 105.