For Laverne Mathews, the atmosphere at the third annual Black Expo Chicago could be summed up in the name of her company: That Special Touch.
Friday she looked out from the balloon-festooned tent that enclosed her exhibit at McCormick Place`s Donnelley Hall and explained why.
”It`s very important for our young people to know they can aspire to have a business of their own,” she said. ”It`s also important that we come together and quietly enjoy each other. It just feels good to be here.”
Mathews owns a Lansing-based business that handles parties, wedding receptions and the like. This is the first Black Expo for her and her husband. Like many of the 610 exhibitors at the third annual Expo, which runs through Sunday, Mathews said the show provides small businesses and corporate giants with opportunities for product promotion and recruitment. ”We are selling services, we are networking,” she said. ”This is about letting the black community know that I am here and that I am available to them.”
Through corporate sponsorship from Quaker Oats, Rev. Bernard Taylor launched the first Black Expo in 1990.
Before then, there hadn`t been such an event in Chicago since the Rev. Jesse Jackson`s days with Operation PUSH, which organized annual expos from 1969 to 1976.
With the Expo`s growing appeal-it featured 175 exhibitors in 1990 and 425 last year-Taylor still resists an urge to say ”I told you so.”
”Most people didn`t think we could do it,” he said.
A steady stream of people filled the convention hall Friday. Many children came for the free handouts from such corporate giants as Coca Cola and Kraft Foods, while others scribbled their names on slips of paper for the many raffle give-aways for cars, computers and dream vacations.
Radio station WGCI (FM-107.5) provided music, and upstairs from the two floors of exhibitors companies held a job fair.
Recruitment seemed a major focus. Even as Upjohn sales training manager Kevin Cleary fought off a horde of small boys who scrambled for Garfield Band- Aids, he took time to file resumes from two male college students.
Taylor said big-name talent will provide weekend entertainment. Movie actor Wesley Snipes and rap star Kid `n Play are among those entertainers scheduled to appear Saturday. Bulls players Craig Hodges and Scott Williams are also scheduled to appear.
But the main feature is opportunity.
”There is no place where a small business can go and get 50,000 to 100,000 people during the course of 3 days to see his particular product,”
Taylor said. ”The corporations benefit, too, because black people see that they are interested in what they are doing, and, in turn, (blacks) will go out and buy those products.”
Anthony Dade, part owner of Lines Unlimited, the Chicago maker of ”Fan Scents,” said the expo helps black companies overcome obstacles.
”It`s pretty hard for black businesses to get started,” said Dade, 23.
”On the telephone it`s real easy. But when (distributors) meet me, they always want to push me to minority-buying programs.”
Taylor said once started, black businesses have had difficulty growing.
”Even though we have had an increased number of black businesses in this country, like from 200,000 in the early `70s to more than 400,000 today, the revenue from those companies are about the same as in the `70s.”
Exhibitors claim Expo is an advertising bargain.
Charles Johnson, owner of AshAway, a Dallas-based skin lotion company, has exhibited the last 3 years because he feels he gets his money`s worth. He noted that a 1-minute spot on WGCI radio costs between $200 and $600, and a full-page ad in Ebony magazine costs more than $38,000. A table at Expo runs $800.
”It`s a matter of economic survival, and I feel this is more than worthwhile,” he said.
Not not every exhibitor heaped praise on the event.
Patricia Lyman complained that she drove all night from Memphis and didn`t get the corner booth she reserved 6 months ago.
”I`ve got a lot of complaints about this,” she said. ”This might be my last year here.”
Maurice Waters, office manager of Ronald J. Waters Real Estate, said some use the Expo the wrong way. ”I don`t think businesses should look at it as a chance to empty their inventory,” he said.
”They should try to develop relationships and get name recognition so that people will come to you throughout the year.”
