More than 800 people came to shop at the HeyMiss Progress presents Black Friday Black Business Expo this past Friday.
Over 25 local and distant Black business owners were present selling hundreds of handmade and homemade goods and services.
Vendors came from as close as Madison and Milwaukee and as far as North Carolina offering services such as bartending, business consultation and entertainment as well as goods ranging from makeup and beauty products, clothing and accessories, and original artwork, all owned, operated, and created by Black business owners.
“It’s just been really good energy and vibes this year,” event organizer, Sabrina “HeyMiss Progress” Madison told Madison365.
Progress also noticed an influx of families and young people coming to the expo this year, with some people coming from out of town after finding out about the event on Facebook.
“So many more folks are bringing their kids and teens with them and it’s really beautiful to watch them get excited to shop with vendors who look like them too,” she wrote on Facebook following the expo.
For the vendors, especially those who travel for the expo, it is well worth the journey, according to Progress.
Many vendors sell out quickly like candles from Solitude Scents owned by LaToya Adkins, a Milwaukee native and Durham, North Carolina resident.
“If you’re a candle lover — get there early, because LaToya S. Adkins, owner of Solitude Scents always has the best scents and always, and I do mean always, does so well that she even sells out of the extra candles she packs,” wrote Progress.
Another popular returning vendor is Latisha McDuffy owner of Mo’Betta Butter Cookies. McDuffy says Friday’s expo was her fourth or fifth time participating and she always sells out.
“The people keep me coming back,” she said. “The overwhelming support I get is just phenomenal.”
Collectively the vendors made a total of $10,947 during the expo, with some individual sellers making as much as $1,200.
“I just love to see all of these others Black businesses that you had no clue about, but you find out about them here and can support them,” McDuffy said.
