In Montgomery County, Maryland, budding minority-owned enterprises have been provided a improve by governing administration-organized meetups, called Store and Drop’s, at community facilities.

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano

WTOP/Dick Uliano
COVID-19 has manufactured matters really hard on some modest enterprises. In Montgomery County, Maryland, budding minority-owned organizations have been specified a improve by government-organized meetups, referred to as Shop and Drop’s, at community centers.
The gatherings give organization people a opportunity to swap suggestions and the chance to offer their goods, which they place on display.
For the duration of a Store and Fall party on Dec. 11, hosted at the Gaithersburg Recreation Centre, Marcell Brown confirmed his Hope Garments Manufacturer — sportswear emblazoned with Brown’s ideas and designs.
“There’s a whole lot of negativity likely on suitable now in the environment, and I fairly much needed to convey some inspiration and some positivity …” mentioned Marcell Brown, the owner of Hope Apparel Manufacturer. ” … I truly feel like God placed it in my heart and I’m likely to proceed to do what God tells me to do.”
Not significantly from Brown’s exhibit, artist Frankie Alika greeted customers at her table lined by her canvas oil paintings — dazzling paintings, with numerous in silver and gold.
“I took some artwork classes back again house … I’m initially from Nigeria, but I did not really pay back much interest to it, until COVID strike, and I was, like, alright, — I have to have to go back again to the talent that I have,” Alika said. She hopes to grow her enterprise and someday open a small gallery in Montgomery County.
Maisie Dunbar, of Germantown, owns Bluffajo cosmetics, offered on line at Bluffajo.com. The identify will come from Liberia in West Africa the place Dunbar reported “Bluffajo” is a time period of endearment.
“It’s a phrase that we refer to a particular person who is often nicely-dressed, refined, self-confident. It doesn’t automatically have to be a lady, it could be a male, just somebody that embodies the full visual appearance,” Dunbar reported.
Maryland Point out De. Pam Queen, of Montgomery County, a member of the Financial Issues Committee, has been drawing with each other minority enterprises at quarterly store and drops at local community centers.
“After the pandemic, numerous of them have to have a little jump get started, and so we’re making an attempt to make guaranteed we’re executing that as perfectly as enable them know what resources are offered to them,” Queen claimed.
Two Shop and Drops are prepared in the spring, targeted on Gals-operate and Asian-run corporations.
Like WTOP on Fb and adhere to @WTOP on Twitter to engage in dialogue about this write-up and some others.
Get breaking information and day-to-day headlines shipped to your electronic mail inbox by signing up right here.
© 2021 WTOP. All Legal rights Reserved. This internet site is not meant for people situated within the European Economic Space.