West Michigan Women's Expo Returns to Grand Rapids Celebrating 18 Years!

    GRAND RAPIDS, MI, February 18, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the 18th year, West Michigan Women's Expo will return to Grand Rapids, featuring ideas for women's health, home, fashion and style - and giving women something to feel good about.

The 2016 Expo, held downtown at DeVos Place from March 11 - 13, will feature products, services and seminars that aim to provide a weekend of education, entertainment and enjoyment for women of all ages. The Caribbean-themed three-day expo is the largest single consumer event for women in the region, featuring more than 375 women-owned and women-focused businesses.

Lake Michigan Credit Union is hosting a Caribbean vacation giveaway to keep with the island theme. Valued at $2,000, the vacation giveaway is an exciting chance to win for one lucky woman.

This year, the lineup of stage presentations, events and seminars will feature:
• Brian Santos, the wall wizard, who is back by popular demand. Santos will show women how to fill their lives with color. and color your life beautifully with the latest painting colors, tips, trends and techniques on stage daily. Santos is a best selling author and fourth-generation decorative artist with past clients who have included Clint Eastwood, Joe Montana and George Lucas. He will provide mindful tips, green advice and guidance on how to use paint, faux finishes and wall coverings to achieve a high-quality, fresh and new look for your home. Paint is the No. 1 way to update and refresh a home and wall papering is making a comeback.
• Oola. Each day of the Expo, the first 400 women through the door will receive a complimentary copy of the internationally best-selling book "Oola, Find Balance in an Unbalanced World." Oola focuses on seven areas women need to balance, grow and live the life of their dreams. With a foreword by NFL and Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner, women will learn about the seven key areas of life including OolaFitness, OolaFinance, OolaFamily, OolaFun, OolaFriends and more.
• Cynthia Silveri, passionate colorist and author, who will present her "Relaxing with Coloring" all three days on the main stage. A natural colorist, Silveri will offer coloring tips and techniques while selling her unique coloring books and creations.
• Title Boxing Club, a new craze that has ignited women's interest in fitness with personal classes and parties for up to 54. Title Boxing Club can help any women shed those extra unwanted pounds as trainers provide a heart pumping, beat bumping, calorie crushing session in just one hour.
• The American Red Cross is returning to host a blood drive. In the past, attendees have donated more than 88 pints of blood to the Red Cross. The last Women's Expo blood drive welcomed 43 first-time blood donors. Generous attendees know the need for blood donations is constant and their contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply.
• Rock Your Hair, as its national tour will once again make a stop in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Based in Malibu, California, Rock Your Hair is the latest big thing in the world of professional hair care. The Rock Your Hair team will deliver big volume and endless hairstyling ideas during demonstrations on-site at the Expo. Rock Your Hair is sure to be fierce, fun and a hair changer!
• Something Pinteresting is Going On, from Full Circle Design Studio. Design experts will present a hands-on demonstration on "Giving New Life to Old Treasures," using the ever-popular 100 percent natural chalk and clay CeCe Caldwell Paints that can paint metal and glass. The local studio will provide hands-on demonstrations. Expo visitors will have an opportunity to paint a cast iron bird with the color of their choice.
• Meijer returning with its popular Healthy Living Area and Cooking Stage. Meijer dietitians and other speakers will share cooking tips, recipes for easy meals and other ideas and solutions for healthy family life and living.
• Great Lakes Writers Expo, which is back by popular demand and will feature 30 authors from around the state who write fiction and nonfiction, including children's, mystery, romance, young adult, inspirational and educational books. Authors will be available to autograph and discuss their work throughout the three-day show.
• Canvas Painting on site. The Start to Paint program will feature fun, interactive painting classes and sessions all weekend long.

"Women's Expo is the equivalent of spring break for women - it's an opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled weekend with friends and to focus on feeling good and living well," said Denise Kolesar, president of Kohler Expos, which promotes the event each year. "For many women in West Michigan, this is a destination weekend that allows them to connect with friends and family while pampering themselves."

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 offer engaging and entertaining presentations and demonstrations on a variety of subjects, including remedies for cold and flu season, coloring, kitchen herbs for wellness, easy family-friendly recipes, healthy eating and more.

Other highlights of this year's expo include:
• A wide range of traditional and natural women's health and wellness products including AdvoCare Elite Nutrition, Plexus weight loss, body wraps and vitamins
• Health and wellness services that include therapeutic and relaxation massage, acupuncture, stress and energy evaluations, spinal analyses, facials, chiropractic, dermatology, orthodontics, dental, hearing and eye care and nutrition-response testing
• Beauty services and products, including Arbonne, Avon, Predire Paris Moroccan argon oil, Cigma hair tools, Onsen Skincare, Makeup Eraser, brow threading, cosmetic surgery, body contouring and wraps, varicose vein management and skin solutions, teeth whitening and more
• Vacation destinations from convention and visitor bureaus around Pure Michigan
• Exercise and fitness offerings, including the THRIVE experience by Le-Vel, physical therapy, fitness clubs, personal fitness training, exercise machines, medical weight loss and nutritional supplements
• Leisure and lifestyle products and activities including coloring, painting, reading, bird watching, psychic reading and pet services
• Herbal products for natural healing, pain relief and weight loss including essential oils, aloe, sage and sweet grass
• Educational resources and advisers for college
• Legal and financial services for family law, domestic and veterans affairs, injury, estates and tax planning, elder law, trust administration, probate law, tax, finance, retirement, insurance, loans, mortgages, investments and tax planning
• Home improvement and maintenance services for windows, bathrooms, roofing, siding, sunrooms roofing, insulation, gutters and gutter guards, custom built kitchen cabinetry, bookcases, mantles, granite quartz countertops and plumbing
• Home accents and accessories, including linens, mattresses, candles, pain-free pillows, upholstery and monogrammed items
• Clothing, accessories and jewelry, lingerie, body wear, bra fittings, scarves, bags, totes, belts, wigs, hair extensions and accessories, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and custom jewelry
• Home-based businesses, including Norwex, Tastefully Simple, Pure Romance and Thirty-One Gifts
• Food that includes gourmet treats such as fruit, wine frappe, juice, candy, fudge, caramels, dips and sauces, cookies, chocolate, cheese, sausage and jerky, coffee, chai tea and hot chocolate, cheese balls, barbecue, fondue, cheesecake, salsa, cake and cupcakes, spices, soups and rubs

Parking is available for a minimal charge and is conveniently located under DeVos Place off its Michigan Street entrance. Additionally, the DASH bus will offer transportation to the DeVos Place all three days; more details are available on http://www.kohlerexpo.com. A coat check will be available each day during the event, with proceeds benefiting the Women's Resource Center and Safe Haven. These organizations will collect old cell phones to benefit the Call for Help program.

The Expo is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 11 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13. Advance tickets are $8 each and are available at all area Meijer stores. Admission at the door is $10 for adults and $8 for children ages 6-14. http://www.kohlerexpo.com.

About the West Michigan Women's Expo
Celebrating its 18th year, the West Michigan 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 such as health care and wellness, finances, business opportunities, beauty, fashion, education, travel, fitness and home remodeling. Additional information is available at http://www.kohlerexpo.com.

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