Small business owners from marginalized communities had a chance to showcase their products on campus earlier this month.
The BIPOC Small Business Showcase was organized by Events Management students and featured 12 vendors.
Chessbeard Oil was one of them. It assists people who have facial hair with beard care and grooming. Business owner Kwabe Amp said that his products range from beard oils to face and beard wash.
“The purpose of it is to make sure that when men do grow a beard, they take care of it in a way that is aesthetically pleasing,” Amp said.
As someone who has a beard, Amp did not find any products that met his needs. He started the Chessbeard Oil brand to fill in that area of the marketplace.
GN Fashion Accessories sells Afro-centric items including jewelry, artwork and African fashion.
“We strongly believe that representation matters,” said business owner Adwoa Nyanthayinuaa. “And that’s why we do events like this, because we think it is very important to show and display the culture of Africa.”
She said that when GN Fashion Accessories does events like the BIPOC Showcase, they are helping educate people about what their culture has to offer.
Nurse Next Door provides home care services for senior citizens. Business owner Rajwinder Dhaliwal said their services could range from companionship to transportation.
“This is a global brand,” Dhaliwal said. “You can work anywhere in this company, from Canada, America, or Australia.”
The event was supposed to be held during Black History Month but was delayed due to a storm. DC Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) student chapter president Joelle Gueco said it was important to hold the event.
“It is important to celebrate different cultures, backgrounds, and support small local businesses”, she said. “So the event’s mission was to learn, support, and inspire.”