MORE than 30 businesses exhibited their wares and services at the inaugural St Ives Business Fair.
The event has been declared a success by organisers St Ives Chamber of Trade and Commerce.
Nearly 100 other business- owners came through the doors during the day at the event in the town's Guildhall and organiser Neil Whitham said planning was already under way for an even bigger event next year.
"The Business Fair is indicative of what the Chamber of Trade and Commerce is doing in starting things like this and St Ives in December, and we have to keep that momentum going.
"The room had a buzz all day long, since we opened at 10am with a speech from mayor Colin Nicholls," he said.
"It was a very enjoyable event. I've spoken to at least two-thirds of the exhibitors and they're very pleased overall."
The number of visitors was not as high as had been hoped, he said, but it was the first fair and they would look at getting the word out. "Next year we'll build on getting more visitors along, but it's been very successful," he said.
"One of the issues for next year is whether we hold it in The Guildhall again. We could have hired out more stalls if we'd had room.
"We have to bear in mind the Guildhall is central to the community and the town, and if we took it out of here it would take on a whole new meaning."
Andrew George MP attended the event at lunchtime and held an impromptu question-and-answer session for business-owners.
Mr Nicholls, himself a retailer, said: "The Business Fair is another step towards traders in St Ives recognising our strengths and recognising that in St Ives we have to do things better all the time to attract the right market.
"We have to recognise the power of things like the internet, but the real currency of business is enthusiasm. That's the fuel of our town. We have a worldwide brand in St Ives but we have to improve all the time to make the most of it."
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