LEWISTON – More than 2,500 businesspeople are expected to fill the Androscoggin Bank Colisee next week for the 14th annual Androscoggin Business-to-Business Trade Show.

The recession-based theme: Recharge your business.

“What we tried to do is focus on having companies think about post recession and what they can do now to sort of set the stage for future growth and prosperity,” said Paul Badeau, marketing director for the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council and coordinator of the show.

Badeau and other organizers had been concerned the poor economy would discourage businesses from exhibiting. Registrations for the state’s largest one-day trade show have been slower to come than in years past, but the June 11 show is still expected to sell out with nearly 200 small and large business exhibitors.

“Overall, we were pleasantly surprised,” Badeau said.

In honor or this year’s theme of recharging, the trade show will offer a stress-relief lounge where attendees and exhibitors can relax, check their e-mail and voice mail, get a massage, play Wii games and have an energy drink. Author and motivational speaker Lee Ann Szelog will also offer “attitude adjustments,” 15-minute small-group motivational sessions. Those sessions are free but available by appointment only. For more information or to schedule an appointment, e-mail [email protected].

In keeping with the recharging theme, the trade show will also give away a Toyota Prius from Emerson Toyota. Contestants must guess the number of coffee beans in a jar in the trunk of the car. Ten entries will be chosen at random and if one of those 10 entries has the correct number, that person will win the car. Of those 10 entries, the person with the closest guess will win a consolation prize. Of all entries, the person with the closest guess will win $1,000.

The Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast before the show, with Maineiacs president and head coach Don MacAdam speaking about branding in tough economic times. MacAdam has over 34 years of management and coaching experience in the NHL, the AHL and other hockey leagues and college teams in the U.S. and Canada.

“Companies are in the midst of a challenging climate, but you still have to keep marketing, you still have to keep networking. And in a nutshell, this show really is about networking,” Badeau said.

That evening the chamber will also host a Business After Hours gathering with food, music and prizes.

The trade show is free and open to all area businesspeople. Tickets are not required, but attendees must present a business card at the door. The show will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 11.

The Chamber of Commerce’s breakfast will begin at 7:15 a.m. and will be held at the Bates College dining hall in Lewiston. Registration is required and can be done online at www.androscoggincounty.com. Cost is $15 for chamber members and $20 for non members.

The chamber’s after-hours event will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Colisee. That event is free and reservations are not required.