Holiday Pop-In Market Caters to Minority Business Owners

Thousands of business owners are offering deals and even opening for the first time over a weekend of holiday sales.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -“Be a part of the Spoon Hub where everyone has a seat at the table,” said Crystal Cunningham, the co-owner of the Spoon Hub which is a small business networking tool for black entrepreneurs.

She and a few other business owners put on the Holiday Pop-In Market at the Columbus Arts Council Center.

With over 50 vendors in attendance, Cunningham says the event is just a piece of the larger puzzle in closing the racial wealth gap.

“Many times, we don’t have you know a platform or even the resources to be successful and thrive in businesses,” Cunningham said. “Statistics show that small black businesses, don’t last many times no more than 18 months. And we wanna be here to provide resources and tools and networking opportunities for small black businesses so we can bet those odds and statistics.”

A study by Wakefield Research found that one-third of Americans are more afraid to start their own business than to jump out of a plane.

Sometimes the hardest step is starting

“For some of these people, this is their first time doing a pop-up shop. But it gives them a platform so people can see them,” Cunningham said. “And for a lot of these people today, they took the first step: getting out there, getting before the people.”

Her advice to young aspiring business owners of color.

“Just be consistent, Cunningham said. “Pray about it. Have faith. Stick to it, is what I would say.”

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