The Black Business Expo, featuring more than 40 Greater Cleveland vendors, will be held Feb. 12 at Case Western Reserve University.
The businesses will sell a variety of products and services. They include custom-made hats, bakery treats, hair and skin care products and services ranging from dog daycare to gymnastics, tumbling and cheerleading classes.
A few slots for entrepreneurs wanting to participate in the program may still be available. The fee is $30. For information, call (216) 368-5371.
The free event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Tinkham Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Road, Cleveland.
The vendor market is one part of the daylong event, which CWRU has held since 2023.
Very often we take it for granted what these business owners know. It is important that we can provide this type of knowledge for them and that they know that there are organizations and other entities that can help them. Minority-owned businesses very often don’t have access to this information, and many of them are new business owners.
In the morning, the entrepreneurs attend a session to learn ways to make their businesses more competitive. It will include a presentation on business-building strategies by the Presidents’ Council, Northeast Ohio’s African American chamber of commerce. UBIZ Venture Capital, supported by the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, will discuss its small business lending and other programs. A presentation by CLEConsulting Firm will focus on financial literacy for small businesses.
Why supporting Black businesses matters for CWRU
For Heather Burton, a CWRU associate vice president, it was important that the business owners had an educational component as well as the opportunity to sell their products and services.
Burton said she started the expo because she wanted Black and other entrepreneurs of color to know how to do business with state and local government, companies and institutions. (CWRU will give a presentation at the expo on the process of becoming a vendor with the university.)
“Very often we take it for granted what these business owners know,” she said. “It is important that we can provide this type of knowledge for them and that they know that there are organizations and other entities that can help them. Minority-owned businesses very often don’t have access to this information, and many of them are new business owners.”
Black Business Expo will include more than 40 vendors
Bougie Berets N’ Such
Chandler Advocacy
CoCo’s Butter
Cote d’ivoire Boutique
Crafted Condiments
Creative Leo Designs
DCB Spaces LLC
Diversified Gifts and Awards
Divine By Design $5 Boutique
Executive Pro Cleaning Agency
Fine Fresh Treats
HoneyDippedFacials LLC
Hopson Communication & Coaching, LLC
Indy Vision LLC
Integrated Abba Kreations
Just Bloom LLC
Komplex Kocktails
Lauren’s Herbal Apothecary
Learn with Pace
LT Squared
M&T Massage Therapy LLC
Max & Alayna’s Paws Play Ltd.
Mayne Attraction Studios
Mind Elevation University
Monica’s Boutique
Precious Things
Realty Maul LLC
Soulful of Myself
Successful Classroom Management LLC
Superpower Planner
The Cape Beauty Salon
The Significance Group
Tucker Accessories
Unforgettable Style LLC
Webbd Publishing Co.
Wellness Now Collection
Zae & Sam Bath Bombs
