Trade Nassau Show Stimulates Long Island Business

Tuesday's show at the in Woodbury created some buzz right here on Long Island. 

More than 150 businesses and 1,500 participants from both Nassau and Suffolk County participated in the day-long networking event, free to members of the business community with advance registration. Each attendee was presented with countless opportunities to network and promote their business. 

"It's just great - we love the show," said Meyer Levin, Investment Council at the Syosset based , one of a couple of investment service companies at the show. 

David Lerner was also in attendance at the , which created a ton of anticipation for Tuesday's event. Anyone that was also in attendance at the fall show could easily tell that Tuesday's show drew more people.  

"It is clear that our event, like no other business event on Long Island, has helped bring together the small-business community and generate economic activity," said Jonathan Levin, the co-founder of the show. 

Matthew Carrus was at one of tables representing Cottage Pharmacy & Surgical, a surgical supply, homecare and pharmacy service company with offices in Woodbury and Plainview. 

“This is just huge," Carrus said. "We’re really trying to change from being reactive to proactive, and that’s a challenge – it’s about educating people on the value of our services, over assisted living."

Representatives from , which has a location in Farmingdale, were on hand to inform people of services they offer that they might not have previously known about.

“Most people don’t know it’s a place you can hold a meeting or a social event,” said Kaitlin O’Conner, Special Events Consultant. “It’s definitely been going good so far – we’ve gotten not only corporate leads, but social ones as well.”

Nassau Community College Professor Jack Mandel attended alongside representatives from the Department of Economic Development to discuss and promote their Business Initiative Program, a free seminar series that will run on three consecutive Friday mornings at Nassau Community College. 

The seminars will aim to teach businesses how to attract customers, provide information on building and maintaining small businesses, and how to handle cash flow, among other related topics. It will run on April 29, May 6 and May 13. 

"It's a free service we have to help struggling businesses in the area," Mandel said. "Professors from all over are dedicating their time to do this."

The event provided not only business opportunities but charitable ones as well. The show opened up at 8 a.m. with "Networking for Wishes," a fast-paced, speed networking forum that benefited The Marty Lyons Foundation.

Lyons, a former New York Jets star, started the foundation which grants wishes to children - ages 3 through 17 - who have been diagnosed with life-threatening and terminal illnesses. 

All in all, those in attendance said they thought the event was a huge success yet again, which begs the question - how long until the next show?

For more info. on exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities exist, visit www.nassautradeshow.com, call (516) 342-5505 or email info@cardinaltradegroup.com.