Southport Magazine

As the summer season starts to wind up, the Southport -Oak Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coastal Home and Lifestyle Showcase to help service providers, contractors, retailers, and food and beverage businesses connect with potential customers. This new annual event takes place on Saturday, May 8 from 10 am – 3 pm in Middleton Park Extension behind the Oak Island Town Hall. Admission will be free, and locals, visitors and out-of-town homeowners will enjoy free samples, giveaways, food, and music, and they can register for a $200 cash drawing. 

Chamber Executive Director Karen Sphar says spring is the perfect time for such an event. “Spring is all about nesting and renewal – the birds are singing louder, the blooms on the trees and flowers are brighter, and people are in a state of mind to make improvements or changes to their homes or lives. An expo focused on how to help people make these changes is perfect in spring.”

The popular Coastal Consumer Showcase hosted by the Chamber has been moved to January and this Home and Lifestyle Expo is added to the annual calendar. “We are moving the Coastal Consumer Showcase which is all the different types of businesses in our community to January because it is not weather dependent,” Sphar said. “The Coastal Home & Lifestyle Showcase naturally lends itself to spring because its focus is on businesses that can protect, support or create indoor and outdoor living spaces or the activities and health of a person.

“We expect a nice crowd of residents and second homeowners will take the opportunity to Shop Local and get ideas. A business which provides services or products related or supporting the home and lifestyle will want to be seen and take advantage of the opportunity to talk with potential new clients,” Sphar said. “You may not make a sale today, but you need to make an impression so that you can close the deal in the future.”

Restaurants, bakeries and wineshops are also welcome to participate. “This is a great opportunity for our restaurants and bakeries to get some exposure but also sell direct to those who are in attendance. People get hungry and thirsty at these events,” she said. However, no alcohol sales will be permitted.

This may be a perfect opportunity to join your local Chamber of Commerce. “You don’t have to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce to purchase a display booth,” Sphar said. “However, it is a good time to consider Chamber membership since member businesses receive a discounted booth fee and since we are at the end of the fiscal year, your business will receive 14 months of membership for the price of 12!”

The event will comply with all COVID-19 protocols. Vendors and attendees will be required to wear a face covering. And the booths will be spaced 10 feet apart with one-way traffic through the expo.