Yacht Club’s Black business expo makes a comeback

East Carolina University’s Yacht Club hosted their second annual Black small business and organization exposition on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Jaylyn Gore, sophomore nursing major, said he and his girlfriend, Amiyah Eason, a senior psychology major co-founded their fragrance business, Jay’s Scent Shop, together. He said they make impressions of designer fragrances in more concentrated oil form.

Gore said the expo showed him potential customers and allowed him to network and get his business out there for people to see. This was his first time attending the expo, he said, and he appreciates the recognition for his brand.

“Seeing all our friends who are also entrepreneurs was our favorite part,” Gore said. “Getting to meet new people and expand really helped us with gaining new customers and expanding our business further.”

Kylar Jilene Wiggins, senior chemistry major, said she is a member of EGO, which stands for Elite, Graceful, Opulent which is a modeling organization on campus that promotes building confidence and sisterhood.

Wiggins said the expo worked to provide networking for different organizations and small businesses on campus. She said it was a great way to gain exposure and find new services that people may have not previously known about.

“My favorite part about the expo was the small businesses that I never knew about,” Wiggins said. “From hair to lashes to nails and there was even a brand new organization I didn’t know about. The event personally helped me to better advertise my organization on campus.”

Ameerah Martin said she is a makeup artist, Meerah Mua, and also does lashes, Mink by Meerah, which is her more popular service. Martin said she has done several expos before for the Black Student Union and for her moms jewelry business.

This time, she said, the expo didn’t have as much attention as the first event, but she was still able to connect with new people and engage with potential new customers from those who were at the event.

“I feel that the expo does work to connect minorities across campus,” Ameerah said. “It’s a lot of business owners in there and we all usually go up to each other's tables. Last year when I did the expo I got my hair done by a girl who was tabling and I bought jewelry this year so it helps us as black business owners to connect with each other.”