Various vendors will come together to showcase a variety of products and services catered to women from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. April 9 at the “What Women Want” fair.

The event will take place at the Unique Suites Hotel in Charleston at 920 West Lincoln Ave.

The Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the annual event, will be offering the vendors a place to showcase their products.

“What Women Want” is a fair the chamber has been putting on for the past four years.   Cindy White, president and CEO of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event is catered to female consumers, and it attracted 200 women just last year.

She also said this is a great way for businesses to display their products for the Charleston community.

Vendors will be selling beauty products, home decorations, spa services, food items, skin care products, children’s fashions, and more.

The vendor expo will have products on sale for attendees, and every vendor will have drawings and giveaways at their tables.

Vendors, such as the Brick House Bar & Grill, will also be giving away food samples as well as assorted desserts from County Market and Flesor’s Candy Kitchen.

Bidwell’s Artisan Chocolates & Bistro will also be at the expo, also providing samples.

This year, the chamber has added a silent auction, where an array of purses will be auctioned off to attendees.

The purses, ranging from vintage to modern, have been either bought by the chamber or have been donated. However, it is not just the purses being auctioned off.

White said vendors will be putting different products inside the purses, which will also be given away when bids are placed.

A variety of new vendors will be present at this year’s expo, including AdornableU, B&B Trophy, Chunky Monkey, Home Again Consignment Shop, and Mangy Mousse Hair Salon.

Returning vendors include EIU Booth and Charleston Carnegie Libraries, Ekko Jewelry Designs, My Charleston Dentist, and Sarah Bush Lincoln.

“Out of the 36 vendors, 16 of them are different,” said White.

Attendees will be provided a complimentary glass of wine, as well as food, desserts, and even a fashion show.

Tickets, if purchased in advance, are $20 per person and $25 at the door. For further information on this event, those interested can call the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, visit them at the office or visit the website.

Ana Nededog can be reached at 581-2812 or ajnededog@eiu.edu.