Wade, of Holly Pond, was among some 40 vendors at the first Alabama Wholesale Market.
The event, which ended Monday, is the state's only order-only wholesale trade show for the gift and home-furnishings market, said Giles McDaniel, executive director of the Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, which hosted the show.
Wade and her husband, Kevin Wade, own Heart's Desire, which makes framed inspirational art and hand-poured candles. She is glad to see a market in Alabama.
"I'm hoping it'll grow to something big for the stores and the state," she said. "I believe this is something big for Alabama, and the people who put together this show are tremendous."
Jackie Wade said she has been to large shows in cities such as Atlanta, but it costs a great deal. She said she spent about $25 a day in parking alone in Atlanta, while it was free at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum.
Sherry Campbell, who helped found the market earlier this year when she was director of the Shoals Culinary Center, said Mississippi has had a similar annual event for 14 years. It has grown throughout the years and had 117 vendors this year.
That's what local organizers would like to see in Alabama.
McDaniel said things went well, especially for a first-year initiative.
"This staff did a darned good job for the first time putting this together," he said. "Tourism officials have been helpful with this, too. There were at least 50-plus hotel rooms booked for at least two days because of this event."
Sandra Forsythe, who works at the entrepreneurial center, said things went well.
"I couldn't ask for it to go any smoother," she said. "Everybody seems happy and is getting orders from buyers. A lot of people have been very nice to help us work things out."
Frank Thompson drove up from Enterprise, where he is executive director of the Enterprise Coffee Geneva Economic Development Corp.

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