It seems like a relatively simple concept: execute an event where women of all ages will find everything from home décor, travel, cooking, entertainment, fashion trends and new products to expert advice and information on health issues, business, career and self-improvement.
The trick is making it a reality.
Fortunately for Wichita women, 12 years ago Chris Veazey Brown and Deanna Wheeler teamed to create what has become an iconic February date on local calendars: The Women’s Fair.
“We wanted to help women explore their interests, taste and education,” says Wheeler. “Something that could encompass all the dimensions of a woman, whatever stage of life she was in.”
Both Wheeler and Brown were show management veterans and had previously directed the WABA Home Show, bridal fairs, grand openings events and mall promotions, so they knew how to do the logistics—all they needed to figure out was what would interest women.
“We knew from the beginning that we needed to constantly figure out what women are interested in, then deliver products and information of interest to them and make it easy for them to experience it,” says Wheeler. “To this day, we still do market research.”
From its admittedly modest first year with only about 80 exhibitors, The Women’s Fair has grown by leaps and bounds.
At this year’s Fair, Feb. 12 through 14, there will be nearly 400 exhibitors and attendance is expected to reach more than 15,000. “The early years were scary,” admits Brown, “but we believed everything would be all right—for good reason.”
In the meantime, Brown and Wheeler’s business partnership—and friendship—has flourished. “When one of us is down, the other is up; it’s like a marriage,” says Brown.
This year’s lineup at The Women’s Fair includes a winning combination of popular recurring activities and new attractions, including demonstrations, 40 stage shows, 385 exhibits—and plenty of shopping.
The Women’s Fair weekend kicks off with a Friday Girls’ Night Out. The evening includes non-stop entertainment. You won’t want to miss (we’ll be there!) wine-tasting with WomensFocus contributor and KNSS “Good Life” host Guy Bower, as well as food sampling with local restaurants, music and more.
Along with The Women’s Fair signature WomensFocus Mother/Daughter Look-Alike Contest, be sure to check out other fun events, including fashion shows (two daily), cooking shows, game shows, stage shows and hair cuts for charity. Plus, The Women’s Fair MarketPlace features local and national vendors offering fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, gourmet and speciality foods, health products, home décor, bath and body products, gifts, housewares and much more.
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