Regional companies promote products at show

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Jeff McElhaney, owner of Inventive Sign and Design in Mineral Ridge, wasn’t sure how much interest his business would receive at Thursday’s 2011 Business Showcase at Mr. Anthony’s.

But as the afternoon wore down, he said he had five businesses express interest in new signs.

“If I get one out of those five, it’s a good day,” he said.

McElhaney said business has picked up with the beginning of the school year — football signs are quite popular — and that’s the way he likes it.

But by attending Thursday’s trade show, the largest annual trade show between Pittsburgh and Cleveland, he was able to expose his product to about 80 fellow regional businesses.

The case was the same with Canfield Computers.

“We look at it as a way to get our brand and our name out there,” said George McDonald of Canfield Computers, a business-to-business systems-administration company.

The showcase featured a wide range of companies, including Humility of Mary Health Partners, Prodigal and Farmers National Bank.