wiscosnin wholesale gift show

[galenk1]

The Wisconsin Group


Mission Statement

Wisconsin Group Mission is to promote smaller wholesale business in Wisconsin and beyond and gather a group together who will have power to promote and sell their products.

Trade shows are nothing new to these business people, but when the economy started slipping it was time for a change.

Founder Galen Klisiewicz saw a new way to be effective and give new small wholesale business and the gift , floral shop retail industry a chance to improve how business was being done.
I have been in business for over 30 years and had my ups and downs, I have seen businesses want and waste and not care about the customer, I have seen far to much from China and other countries and not enough from USA

So I wanted to change.

The cost of shows for a young or new entrepreneur was staggering. A 2 day trade show was 1000.00 or better to do. The second problem I saw was the manufacturers were not coming because of costs, so the buyers were also staying home. I wanted both worlds to come together and be strong.

It made sense to bring the gift show to the customer, kind of the way we used to be, door to door, and give wholesale business the chance to compete. The Wisconsin group was formed in January 2009

Lori Domzil a sales rep in the wholesale business joined Galen to start setting up rules and guide lines on these trade shows. The first hand picked members joined the group and became the adviser team that would now have the task of jury in new businesses. New businesses who wanted to get involved in gift show wholesale were contacted. Less then 30 days after its start the web page was up and running and the first two shows were scheduled. The show was one the road. Wisconsin Rapids and Green bay. That was the very first shows for The Wisconsin group. The theme for this business group was primarily Wisconsin made and being a Wisconsin business. As of now we have branched into 4 states for vendors.

We have branched from Wisconsin to beyond, offering others in different states to join us.
Buyers come to this show by invitation, and as of this date there are over 2000 buyers, from 5 different states requested to see those shows.

Shows have branched out and are already set up for 2010 in Eau Claire Wisconsin. Green Bay Wisconsin. Tomah, Wisconsin and Janesville, Wisconsin. This is also good for the local people where we hold shows Hotel, restaurants, food stores and gas stations benefit along with other fine businesses.

Galen said, “2010 adds more of a challenge to the traveling shows, as we are booking Iowa and maybe Illinois for 2 shows each per year.” Our client base has grown and waiting businesses are on a growing list. With harder times and with more individuals wanting to branch into their own business we are here to meet the needs and keep the economy moving. Joining forces together and really helping each other is the only way to really be strong.

The Wisconsin Group offers its members good shows with high attendance of buyers and a much lower cost of doing business. It also offers its invited buyers more good quality and more USA products from smaller more interesting manufactures. Galen states “this is a win situation.”

[keith]

Got links?

Sounds interesting.

Regards,
Keith