CWRU Black Business Expo will feature more than 40 vendors

The Black Business Expo, featuring more than 40 Greater Cleveland vendors, will be held Feb. 12 at Case Western Reserve University.

The businesses will sell a variety of products and services. They include custom-made hats, bakery treats, hair and skin care products and services ranging from dog daycare to gymnastics, tumbling and cheerleading classes.

A few slots for entrepreneurs wanting to participate in the program may still be available. The fee is $30. For information, call (216) 368-5371.

The free event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Tinkham Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Road, Cleveland.

The vendor market is one part of the daylong event, which CWRU has held since 2023. 

Very often we take it for granted what these business owners know. It is important that we can provide this type of knowledge for them and that they know that there are organizations and other entities that can help them. Minority-owned businesses very often don’t have access to this information, and many of them are new business owners.

Heather Burton, a CWRU associate vice president, who started the Black Business Expo

In the morning, the entrepreneurs attend a session to learn ways to make their businesses more competitive. It will include a presentation on business-building strategies by the Presidents’ Council, Northeast Ohio’s African American chamber of commerce. UBIZ Venture Capital, supported by the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, will discuss its small business lending and other programs. A presentation by CLEConsulting Firm will focus on financial literacy for small businesses. 

Why supporting Black businesses matters for CWRU 

For Heather Burton, a CWRU associate vice president, it was important that the business owners had an educational component as well as the opportunity to sell their products and services. 

Burton said she started the expo because she wanted Black and other entrepreneurs of color to know how to do business with state and local government, companies and institutions. (CWRU will give a presentation at the expo on the process of becoming a vendor with the university.)

“Very often we take it for granted what these business owners know,” she said. “It is important that we can provide this type of knowledge for them and that they know that there are organizations and other entities that can help them. Minority-owned businesses very often don’t have access to this information, and many of them are new business owners.”

Black Business Expo will include more than 40 vendors

Anita’s Sweet Treats Bakery

Balance Cheer and Gymnastics

Bomani Beauty MD

Bougie Berets N’ Such

Brwn In A Box LLC

Chandler Advocacy

Cleveland Inner City Ballet

CoCo’s Butter

Cote d’ivoire Boutique

Covermecutee

Crafted Condiments

Creative Leo Designs

DCB Spaces LLC

Diversified Gifts and Awards

Divine By Design $5 Boutique

Executive Pro Cleaning Agency

Fine Fresh Treats

HoneyDippedFacials LLC

Hopson Communication & Coaching, LLC

Indy Vision LLC

Integrated Abba Kreations

Just Bloom LLC

Komplex Kocktails

Lauren’s Herbal Apothecary

Learn with Pace

LT Squared

M&T Massage Therapy LLC

Max & Alayna’s Paws Play Ltd.

Mayne Attraction Studios

Mind Elevation University

Monica’s Boutique

Precious Things

Realty Maul LLC

Soulful of Myself

Successful Classroom Management LLC

Superpower Planner

The Cape Beauty Salon

The Significance Group

Tucker Accessories

Unforgettable Style LLC

Webbd Publishing Co.

Wellness Now Collection

Zae & Sam Bath Bombs