The expo coincided with the docking of the first shipment of goods on the MV Island Trader from the specifically-built wharf at Birdon Marine.

The expo was organised by Tanya Newman from Bennett's Steel and followed a Port Macquarie Hastings Council-hosted meeting held earlier in the year.

"Lord Howe Island residents, just like you and I, need consumables, but their major restriction and cost is all around the freight component," Mrs Newman said.

"With the decision for the Island Trader to return to Port Macquarie from Yamba, it was decided to conduct a business expo on the island so the locals could get to know who they would be dealing with.

"Purely through talking to our own customers and other local businesses, we realised that the expo needed to happen sooner rather than later.

"It is a credit to these businesses that they were able to get involved pretty quickly in this event."

While trading with the islanders was the principle reason behind the expo, Mrs Newman said it was also important to build relationships with the islanders and local businesses.

"The island is World Heritage Listed and there are plenty of restrictions on what products can be introduced," she said.

"So our businesses needed to understand what the islanders wanted and not simply 'unload' product on them.

"Specifically, packaging of product is a big issue on Lord Howe as are the kinds of building products that can be introduced.

"And, from the islanders point of view, I think they really appreciated the effort made by our group to get there and provide them with information.

"The potential for trade with the island is huge and I really don't think the community here realises what potential is there on the island."

Apart from the Island Trader, there is an airfreight and Australia Post service to Lord Howe Island catering for the 350 to 450 permanent residents. At one one time, there can be as many as 1000 people living on the island.