There’s still time to register for this year’s Business Opportunity Fair (BOF), SLMBC’s largest event of the year.

Why should you attend this year’s BOF?

For MBEs 

“The Business Opportunity Fair is a wonderful place to showcase a company’s products and service lines, and the event gives us an opportunity to network with larger companies that might not otherwise know about us.  Making ourselves aware to them really seems to help.”

- Carl Arizpe, President/Owner Lightspeed Technologies

“The fair is the largest bang for your buck in terms of getting in contact with corporate resources and corporate buyers from across a variety of businesses.  These are people who you wouldn’t necessarily contact if you were going through all the regular channels.”

- Audrey Jones, The UPS Store

“The fair is much more than just going for the big contracts. It’s a chance for small businesses to see each other and realize the opportunities that we have.  It gives people hope, courage and motivation.  You’d be amazed how good it is to see other small, minority businesses that are still here.  It makes such a positive impact.”

- Mary Johnson, Owner, Mary “One” Johnson Home Team Realty, LLC

For Corporations

“It’s a terrific opportunity to not only showcase the MBEs and what they have, but also to help facilitate conversations between the end users.  I can target specific MBEs that I would like an end user to talk to instead of me arranging a meeting in-house.  It’s a great utilization of my time from a supplier diversity standpoint and also for our end users as well.”

- Deborah Lebryk, Director,  External Relations, Monsanto

“If we attend an event like this….it’s like a one-stop-shop.  We buy many different kinds of products and services, and we know that these businesses are going to be under one roof at the fair.  We usually like to sponsor as well, not only because we want to help the organizations, but also it’s great exposure for our company as we’re looking for businesses to form relationships with.”

- Valerie Joyner, Senior Supplier Diversity Specialist, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car

Here are a few key dates to keep in mind:

MBEs

June 13 is the payment deadline for MBEs who want to host an exhibit booth where they can meet and greet potential buyers at the Business Opportunity Fair. If a MBE’s payment is not received by June 13, it will forfeit its exhibit space and a unique opportunity to connect with new and existing customers.   Visit the SLMBC website to register at www.slmbc.org or call the Council office at 314-241-1143.