Thomasville expo to highlight Black-owned businesses

During the height of the pandemic, Thomasville native Jauraz Crosby was delighted to see many young, Black entrepreneurs starting businesses. As the number of small Black-owned businesses continued increasing, Crosby began to see a need and a solution.

On Saturday, June 19, “The Chair City” will be home to the first Thomasville Black Business Expo. It will be held at the Thomasville Farmer’s Market located at 21 E. Guilford St. Thomasville, NC 27360 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Crosby is the sole organizer of the Thomasville Black Business Expo. {Contributed photo}

Organized by Crosby, the event will feature 50 vendors ranging from apparel to accessories to skin care. Business owners from across the Triad and as far away as Gastonia, NC will be showcasing their products at the expo. Despite the perceived difficulty in spearheading an event with many moving parts, Crosby said the front end process has presented few challenges.

“I plan everything in my head. Once the idea comes from God, I take it and run with it. Planning is by far the easiest part, well at least for me. What, where, when, and how are my four key words. Implementation can be a little tedious depending on the task. In order to be successful, you must continue to push yourself. Execution is simple. Execute to perfection!”

Along with vendors, attendees can expect to be immersed in Black culture as well as have an opportunity to enjoy music, food and fun. Vendor space is still available and no fee is associated with any portion of the expo.

As he continues to put the finishing touches on the event, Crosby shared that he believes now is an optimal time for the Thomasville Black Expo because “we’ve never seen this before” in Thomasville.

“I want to build my city up!”

If interested in volunteer and sponsorship opportunities or for more information, email crosbyjauraz@gmail.com. He can also be reached on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jauraz.crosby.