“The Mix” business expo, hosted by a local media production company and a local dance studio, brought a variety of people to the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science on Saturday.
Niekeisha Pryce, a Florida A&M alumna and owner of NP Media Productions, which collaborated with Excellence Dance Studio to host the event, said she believes the vendors being receptive to getting involved with the expo early resulted in a successful event.
“I’m happy about the turnout,” Pryce said. “A lot of people are getting their stuff sold, and the vendors are actually networking with other vendors.”
Catering to the entrepreneurs and their small businesses was a key element of the expo. Although this was the first expo for Layci Harris, a fourth-year graphic design student from St. Petersburg at FAMU and owner of Angelle Cakes, it will not be her last.
“I have met a lot of interesting people giving me great ideas to enhance and add different aspects to my business,” said Harris, who gave out samples of her cupcakes.
“The Mix” extended an invitation to Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor, who said he likes to be a part of things that are up-and-coming.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet a new wave of entrepreneurs,” Proctor said. “And from time to time, we have to know who the new stars and future players are.”
Many attendees took advantage of the expo, such as Ray Walker, a recent FAMU graduate from the School of Business and Industry who is looking to open a clothing boutique in Tallahassee. Walker came to the expo to build professional contacts.
“I met three definite, solid connects already – one on the investment side with Truth Investments and a new company, Humble Hustle,” he said. “[Humble Hustle] would also be possible candidates of clothing we could keep in our stores.”
Online advertisements piqued the interest of additional visitors, such as Alexandra James, who came to “The Mix” in support of small businesses.
“I thought it would be good to come out and support black businesses,” James said.
After receiving positive feedback from attendees and vendors, inquiries about a future expo have risen. There is a chance that NP Media Productions will host another expo soon.
“We are considering that now,” Pryce said. “We are actually planning that now in the very near future. We just want to learn from the things that we are doing now, how we can improve it in all ways and we’re going to go from there.”