Businesses to Hold Court at Tennis Club

Visitors to the Westboro Tennis and Swim Club on Saturday may leave with their faces painted, gift certificates to local merchants, and a handshake from Finz.

About 25 to 30 vendors are expected at the 8th Annual Local Business Health and Wellness Expo, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the club, 35 Chauncy St. Admission is free.

The businesses are “vendors who we think are local, good businesses that support (the) local economy and that our members would have an interest in,” club General Manager/Owner Justin Lundberg said Wednesday.

Lundberg said he started the expo in 2006, the year after buying the club.

“I thought it was a good way to help out local businesses promote their services to our members, and it was also a good time of year to promote our services to the general public,” he said.

Giveaways and raffles – many offered by the businesses -- will be part of the event, which typically draws more than 1,000 people, Lundberg said.

“That’s one of the things we ask them to do. I think the vendors who use it well use it to gather contact information so they can follow up at a later date,” he said.

The club will raffle such items as a one-year membership extension, nutritional counseling, and pro shop merchandise, according to an event brochure.

The first 200 people will receive door prizes, the brochure notes.

Sales/Marketing Associate Donna Drohan said the event will draw several new vendors, including Patch.com, CoCoBeni Confections, Koopman Lumber and Hardware, Patch, Park Street Dental, and Window Treatment Showplace.

Membership Director Jessica Thomas said WXLO (104.5) will broadcast live from 10 a.m. to 12. 

Several kids activities will be offered, too, she said. The Face Fairy will do free face painting. And there will be arts and crafts. And, the brochure notes, Worcester Sharks mascot Finz will appear.

“It’s more set up so the parents can come, look at the vendors and the kids can have something to do,” Lundberg said.

Summer camp registration is “one of our biggest draws that day,” he said.

“It’s the first day you can sign up for summer camps,” Lundberg said.

“I was surprised the first year we did it. I think the summer camps were the biggest surprise. We had so many early signups. I think parents just wanted to get their kids set up for what they’re going to do for the summer, and secure the weeks they want. About 40 to 50 percent of our summer camp sales will occur on that one day. It’s the best discount, and it’s also the surety.”