MATCHING BUYERS, SELLERS GOAL OF SHOW

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A lady who made drapes in her home never thought about establishing a business.

She attended a Supplier Trade Conference. There she learned that a large manufacturer in St. Louis needed someone to provide the firm with drapes and curtains. She now has a contract with the company.

Another large company needed a cleaning service. It found one at a Supplier Trade Conference.

"If you have an idea for a new product or service, bring it to the Southeast Missouri Supplier Trade Conference Tuesday," says Judy Moss, Economic Development Director at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

"This conference will provide a unique opportunity for companies, and/or individuals, to display their products or ideas," said Moss. "It also puts buyers from large companies into touch with other firms.

"The program will be conducted in tracts," said Moss. "Representatives and buyers from four to five companies will be available in each tract."

A total of eight `tracks' have been planned, with four of them starting at 9:30 a.m., and four at 11 a.m. They will be repeated during the afternoon sessions, starting about 1:45.

Purchasing agents from universities, defense contractors, corporations, wholesalers and government agencies will be on hand at the day-long event, to be held at the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus, with registration at 9 a.m.

Moss added that the conference would also give businesses, suppliers and manufacturers a better idea of what type of products and services are currently in demand and being made in the area.

"We'll have booths and tables available to display products and catalog displays," she said. "We're really encouraging area businesses to participate."

The cost of the conference, which includes lunch, is $40. Additional information is available by contact Moss at 335-3312.

John J. ("Jack") Stack, president of Springfield Remanufacturing Corp. (SRC), Springfield, will be guest speaker at the noon luncheon at the conference.

Strack has been featured in `Fortune' magazine in its "People to Watch" column; and `INC' magazine where he was identified as a member of the INC. start-up, all-stars "Dream Team."

His company, which remanufactures gasoline and diesel engines for the automotive, truck and off-highway markets, has also been featured in INC.

Other speakers during the day will included Dr. Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University; Gene Rhodes, Cape Girardeau mayor; and Robert Hendrix, president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce.

Following are companies which will be included in the various tracts.

Manufacturing I: Emerson Electric, Kennett; Briggs & Stratton, Poplar Bluff; Dana Corporation, Cape Girardeau; Noranda Aluminum, New Madrid.

Manufacturing II: General Sign, Cape; Flat River Glass, Flat River; Gates Rubber, Poplar Bluff; Biltbest Windows, Ste. Genevieve; and Procter & Gamble, Cape.

Wholesale, Retail, Service; Six Flags Over Mid-America, Eureka; Drury Industries, Cape; ServiceMaster Food Management Service, Richardson, Texas; and Cybertel, Cape.

Agribusiness; Malone & Hyde, Sikeston; Busch Agricultural Resources, Inc., Jonesboro, Ark.; Fisherman's Net, Cape; Stone Hill Winery, Hermann; and Office of Administration, Division of Food Purchasing, Jefferson City.

Exporting; The Global Marketplace: U.S. Department of Commerce; Missouri Department of Economic Development, International Trade; Missouri Rural Innovation Institute, UM-Columbia; Magnetic Collectables, Cape.

Government Procurement/Government Prime Contractors: Missouri Office of Administration, Division of Purchasing, Jefferson City; Missouri Department of Economic Developoment, Procurement Section; Southwest Mobile Systems, St. Louis; McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems, St. Louis.

Recovered Materials: The Doe Run Co., Resource Recycling Division Ironton; McKinley Iron, St. Louis; Louisiana Pacific Corp., St. Louis; River City Marketing, St. Louis.

Universities and hospitals: Missouri Hospital Purchasing Council, Jefferson City; Southeast Missouri State University, Cape; Health Service Corporation of America, St. Louis/Cape; VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff; and University of Missouri Systems-Columbia.

A wine and cheese reception will be hosted by the Missouri Department of Agriculture April 22, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Glenn House, 325 S. Spanish in downtown Cape Girardeau.

A networking opportunity reception, sponsored by District 8 of the Missouri Industrial Development Council, will follow the day-long meeting.