West MI Women's Expo Celebrates 15 Years

West Michigan Women's Expo

Returns to DeVos Place to Celebrate 15 Years

Home, Health & Fun with Caribbean-Themed Birthday Party

West Michigan Women's Expo turns 15 years this year and will celebrate with a Caribbean-themed birthday party when the show returns to Grand Rapids March 8-10.

The largest single consumer show in the region focused exclusively on women will feature more than 375 women-owned and women-focused businesses during its three-day run at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Women will have the chance to hear engaging speakers, attend seminars and DIY presentations, connect face-to-face with physicians and other healthcare professionals, sample new food items, get a massage or new hairstyle and shop to their hearts' content during the Expo.

Highlights of this year's lineup of exhibits, speakers and events include:

• Pinterest guru Michelle Grzybowski, who owns {re}imagined just for you (www.reimaginedjustforyou.wordpress.com). The artist will take the main stage throughout Expo for "Something Pinteresting is Going On." Her presentations will feature {re}imagining old, dated furniture with paint, creating hand-painted signs for home décor and gifts and creative {re}purposing to bring Pinterest boards to life.
• Casino Fun, which will showcase gaming entertainment at its best at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. The Mt. Pleasant resort - Michigan's largest - will offer door prizes and exclusive giveaways during the show.
• Merri Davis, owner of Hoop Happy Hoop Healthy LLC, will conduct Hoop Fit clinics throughout Expo. Attendees will learn the basics of hooping as a way to strengthen one's core, add definition to arms and tighten legs - while having a fun cardio workout. Davis turned her hobby into a company, offering Make 'n Tape parties that allow women to design their own custom hoops and training instructors to work as independent hoop contractors.
• Pink Cadillac, a special area enveloped by pink tulips and hyacinths to celebrate the lives of amazing and inspiring women. The area will be complemented by Pink Door Spatique, a new Grand Rapids-based business that provides women fighting cancer with discreet, personal services, such as skin care, makeup, breasthetics, wigs and head coverings and electrology. Also, there will be a way for women to remember and honor their loved ones.
• Teaparty Showcase, which will feature six beautifully decorated tables by Teacups and Treetops, which specializes in themed weddings, wedding showers, tea parties, family events and other special occasions.
• Meijer, Inc., which will once again host the Healthy Living Cooking Stage and a fitness area with a personal trainer and pharmacy area. Dietitian Shari Steinbach will be among the presenters sharing recipes and healthy cooking tips for families.

 Afterbirth Services, which offers placenta encapsulation, biofeedback and herbal products, will provide a breastfeeding area.

"We invite all women throughout the West Michigan area to join us for a weekend of education, entertainment and enjoyment," said Denise Kolesar, president of Kohler Expos, which promotes the event each year. "This year, we'll be bringing in many new exhibitors and speakers who will showcase hundreds of products and services all under a single roof. Longtime Expo favorites, such as local fashion boutiques and a variety of hair styling techniques, will also return for the three-day run of the show.

"Our focus remains on things that are important to women: health, home and fun. Kohler Expos is again delighted to be able to offer our annual 'spring break for women' to help chase the winter blues away."

The title sponsor for this year's Expo is Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.

The Expo is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. Advance tickets and group sales are $7 each and are available at all area Meijer stores. Admission at the door is $9 for adults and $7 for children ages 6-14.

As in previous years, the Expo's Main Stage will feature live presentations on a variety of topics throughout the weekend while the Cooking Stage will focus on families and healthy eating. Local and regional experts will present engaging and entertaining presentations and demonstrations on a variety of subjects throughout Expo.

Other highlights of this year's Expo include:

• On-site day spa services, allowing women to try a new hair style, relax with a massage, get a wax and sample other beauty treatments for a fun day of pampering
• Gourmet foods and new food items to sample, including custom cookies, cakes and pastries, salsa and jams, chocolates and toffees, bottled waters and coffee, Watkins spices, flavored oils and other items
• The return of the Great Lakes Pub Cruiser, a 10-person pedal-powered pub crawl on wheels that allows friends to pedal from pub to pub while seeing the sights of the city
• Clothing and accessories, from scarves, purses and sunglasses to shapewear, sundresses and fashion-forward clothes
• Jewelry, including handcrafted vintage items, Pandora-style beads, crystals, dangles and custom map pendants from Chella's Collection
• Vacation planning services that feature destinations throughout Michigan, weekend get-aways, golf weekends and out-of-state travel ideas
• Michigan author Bernadette Johnson, who will be signing copies of her first book, "Waves of Influence: Words that Speak to Your Heart and Lift Your Spirit!"
• Style pick-me-ups with hair restoration, hair extensions, wigs, glimmer body art and hair jewelry
• Home remodelers featuring a wide variety of services, including painting, window replacement, siding, roofing, restoration, natural stone flooring and others
• Health and fitness information, products and services, including kidney screenings, post-mastectomy clothing and products, posture screening, spine checks, physical therapy, wellness consultations and personal training
• Professional service providers, from financial management and investment planning to legal and educational services
• Non-profits focused on a wide variety of issues, from education and workplace advancement to children's cancer support and leadership

"Looking for ideas to freshen up your living room? Items to spruce up a wardrobe? New recipes to put a kick into mealtime? Vacation destinations? We have all that - and more - at this year's expo," Kolesar explained. "Spend a day at the West Michigan Women's Expo and you'll walk out with ideas and recharged batteries. We truly have something for everyone."

Parking is available for a minimal charge conveniently located beneath DeVos Place off its Michigan Street entrance. Additionally, the DASH bus will offer transportation to the DeVos Place all three days; more details on www.kohlerexpo.com. A coat check will be available each day during the event to benefit Safe Haven Ministries, which will be collecting old cell phones to benefit its Call for Help program, and Women's Resource Center.

Attendees can also sign up for a number of give-aways at the door and throughout the Expo, including a Caribbean vacation valued at $2,000 donated by Lake Michigan Credit Union. For more information, including a schedule of events and additional information about exhibitors and parking, go to www.kohlerexpo.com or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WestMichiganWomensExpo.

About West Michigan Women's Expo

Celebrating its 15th year, West Women's Expo offers a balance of education, entertainment and enjoyment in an event tailored for the lives of busy women. More than 375 women-owned and women-focused businesses will display a wide range of products and services targeted specifically toward women. The Expo also features demonstrations and presentations on topics including healthcare and wellness, finances, business opportunities, beauty, fashion, education, travel, fitness and home remodeling. The title sponsor for the event is Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort and Meijer. Additional information is available at www.kohlerexpo.com.