Black businesses attend expo

By Diamond Williams

Mississippi Link Intern

The second Annual IMS/Trensek Black Business Expo on March 5, was filled wall to wall with black-owned business vendors at Tougaloo College’s Owens Health and Wellness Center.

Ninety-five vendors had the opportunity to network with and promote fellow entrepreneurs of the metro area.

The expo included a multi-complexity of vendors like Damsel in Defense, which sells safety products; Mace a Difference, Safety Products Plus LLC; Blue Skyz Still Waters, which offers massage therapy; clothing and accessory vendors such as Origami Owl Custom Jewelry, Kamies Kreations, Chic4Cheap Boutique and food vendors such as Back in Time, Delectable Delights, Pesto’s Vegetarian Cuisine and Catering and Catering by Andrew.

Some first-time and several returning vendors not only marketed but also had an opportunity to get educated about black-owned businesses and recycling of currency within the black community.

Two first-time vendors Alexandria Powel of Mace a Difference and Latish Holmes of Damsel in Defense both heard about the expo last year and could not pass up the opportunity to participate this year. “I am enjoying it so far,” said Powel. “I look forward to networking with my brother and sister business owners.”

Holmes expressed the same gratitude. “I love how there are so many vendors in one spot. I wondered how I would go out and meet people but because of this event, they are all here.”

With a mission to equip, empower and educate veterans of entrepreneurship and women about personal defense protection, Holmes decided to become a business owner. She then created Combat Boots to Red Bottoms for “individuals with a warrior spirit to create their own status.”

Vendors that offered services not commonly recognized in the black community were on hand such as Steal Your Pretty Brow Bar by Latoya and Sharina Webley, which offers eyebrow threading, and Blue Skyz Still Waters by Matthew Haynes, a returning vendor. “A lot of people don’t know there is a black-owned massage therapy business in the city of Jackson, which is a shame,” said Haynes. “This event has helped a whole lot. It has helped me be more outspoken, a better salesman and a better person.”

Educating African Americans about the importance of spending money in their own community and more black business unity was demonstrated at the event. The Jackson Black Pages has given each black-owned business a platform to market their economic flex.

If interested in more information about any of the vendors, information may be found at http://jacksonblackpages.com/expo.html.