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Variety, fun, useful info at 12th annual Women's Expo

Natalie Bridges, on the table, has her eyebrows touched up by Jennifer Fillinger of Sonali Day Spa during the Women's Expo at Meadowview. Ned Jilton II photo.

 

KINGSPORT — A two-day event at the MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center is truly giving women what they want this weekend.

Thousands of women, young and old, single and married, came out for the 12th annual Women’s Expo on Saturday, visiting more than 100 exhibitors with a variety of products and services.

Event Coordinator Diana Meredith said the expo pretty much has anything women want.

“It covers the range from fashion, fragrance, jewelry and cosmetics. If you’re not into pampering yourself, we’ve got plenty of items for the home,” Meredith said. “This is an event that women are planning for now and look forward to coming back, year after year.”

Over 100 exhibitors filled the main hall, an adjacent ballroom and the hallway leading into the event. During the two-day event, women can visit small and large businesses offering a number of health and beauty products, services and advice.

Free child care is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and a men’s lounge with a large-screen television is available for husbands and boyfriends to wait while the women visit the expo.

Meredith said the expo should bring in around 10,000 women from all over the region.

“We always fill this place, and as you can see, parking is at a premium,” she said, noting people had to park at the Eastman Credit Union across the street and be shuttled over throughout the day.

The expo drew in a number of large and/or well-known businesses such as Belk’s, Walgreens, the Kingsport Town Center, Chrysalis Laser Skin Care and Tri-Cities Skin Renewal. The event also features a number of smaller, newer businesses in the Model City.

Meredith said the expo is a good place for women to get acquainted with the new business owners in the area.

“One of the best things about having an expo like this is having all of these businesses in one place. You can play, shop and compare and you don’t have to get in your car and drive all over town to see these different businesses,” she said.

Saturday’s special events featured the Belk’s fashion show, a pet show and pet trick contest, the celebrity chef contest (where the winner’s recipe will be featured at the Meadow’s restaurant for a week in October) and an Ambush Makeover.

“If you show up at the door with pink on and a sign that says “Ambush me” they’ll pick two ladies and do a total makeover — free makeup, hair and wardrobe,” Meredith said. “Then they’ll be on the main stage later in the afternoon.”

The Ambush Makeover will also take place on Sunday. As on Saturday, the first 100 attendees to the expo on Sunday will be entered to win $100 cash, and attendees will be able to register for a three-day Bahamas cruise from Cruise Planners.

New this year to the expo is a series of seminars titled “Tips, Tools and Resources for Competing in Today’s Career Environment.” The seminars are by local experts and are meant to help women with today’s job market and financial times.

“The Women’s Expo is clearly a lot of fun, but we also try and make it truly useful for the women who come here as well,” Meredith said.

The Women’s Expo continues Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the door and children 12 years old and under get in free.

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