THIS WEEKEND Manchester will host an annual event billed as the biggest shopping experience for black shoppers.
Black-owned businesses are on display today (August 6) at the Black-Owned Business (BoB) Exhibition taking place at Manchester’s Central Convention Complex.
This year’s event, which is expected to attract up to 2,000 customers, marks the fourth year BoB Expo has been held. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and purchase a diverse range of items ranging from Afro-Caribbean beauty, food and fashion products among others.
Exposure
The founder of the exhibition, Monique Kufuor said voice as well as meeting a growing demand for cultural products, she wants the event to provide greater exposure for black business owners.
“Visibility is so important,” she said. “Many black business owners don’t have the financial resources to be able to pay for major marketing. This makes meeting their ideal customers more difficult. The idea behind BoB Expo was to create an event where black business owners can meet their ideal customers in the same room. They can be discovered by potential customers, who can then go away and tell people they know that they found this great product or service at the Expo.
The frustration
Kufuor also revealed that her decision to start BoB Expo was born out of her frustration at not being able to find the cultural products she wanted to buy.
“I had a really hard time finding cultural products and different products, especially hair products for my daughter and myself,” she recalls. “I would always have to go the extra mile to get products and I found that really frustrating.
I gradually realized that this was a common problem within the black community and that the black consumer has been overlooked for so long. So I created an online platform to help people like me find where to find things. And I was very surprised by how many amazing businesses there were that offered really innovative products and services.”
SUPPORTING
Following the tragic death of George Floyd in May 2020, there has been a huge increase in support for black businesses, particularly through events such as Black Pound Day.
It’s a trend Kufuor sees continuing.
“I think over the last couple of years people have become much more aware. Even people outside the black community are thinking about what they can do to help the economic growth of marginalized communities. And that’s why I’m so passionate about Expo.
“Even though there has been this increase in support, it’s still difficult for black business owners to get the visibility they need. Our event is about providing a space where people can come and see where these businesses are.”
