Vendor pop-up brings diverse businesses to the fore

Vendor pop-up brings diverse businesses to the fore
Momma D's Kitchen will be one of many local businesses at the BIPOC Vendor Pop-up. <strong> Courtesy Momma D's Kitchen </strong>

West Michigan community leaders are coming together to support and advertise for minority-owned businesses. 

The first annual BIPOC Vendor Pop-up is scheduled to take place from 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Goei Center, 818 Butterworth St. SW, offering a wide variety of locally sourced products and services from minority-owned businesses. 

This event is the product of a partnership between Rende Progress Capital, Spring GR, the NAACP, the West Michigan Asian American Association and others. 

“Our goal is to introduce the community to entrepreneurs offering products and services that they didn’t know existed,” said John Hendershot, business development director at Rende Progress Capital, a financial institution providing small business loans to entrepreneurs of color. 

The list of scheduled vendors includes: 

  • United Freedom Painting 
  • Scratch by Patria (catering) 
  • Burst of Life (plastic silverware)
  • Isabel Media Studios 
  • Moore 2 Love Doula 
  • Momma D’s Kitchen 
  • Justen Joy Bakery 
  • Shea Buttercups 
  • Last Mile Cafe 
  • Studio 824 Beauty Lounge
  • Tiger Studio (design) 
  • Soldadara Coffee
  • Digital Marketing Solutions 

The BIPOC Vendor Pop-up will give locals the opportunity to get some holiday shopping done while connecting with underrepresented business owners in the area. Admission to this event is free, and live music will be provided by DJ Blaze.