MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Minority business owners came together to share ideas on how to grow and expand in Memphis.
The Memphis Office of Resources and Enterprises sponsored a minority business conference downtown.
Lisa Price built her hair product brand, Carol’s Daughter, from the ground up.
“I started in my home 22 years ago. I started cooking products in my kitchen stove and gave it away to friends and family and started to sell at church fairs,” she said.
Over the years, she gained investors and eventually was acquired by L’Oreal.
Now a speaker at Businesses Open for Opportunities in Memphis, or BOOM, conference, she hoped to inspire other minority entrepreneurs.
“It can be particularly more challenging for women and women of color,” Price said. “It’s just not an area where we have a lot of experience and exposure.”
That was something Alandas Dobbins, Director of the Memphis Office of Resources and Enterprises, hoped to change.
“The purpose is for us to come together and give resources to small, minority, women-owned businesses, and ocal businesses,” he said.
The two-day event, held Thursday at the Sheraton downtown, put aspiring business professionals in touch with procurement officials and offered information on how to grow effectively and network.
“Knowing when the bids are coming out, knowing when it’s going to come back out again if you missed that particular bid… we offer that,” Dobbins said.
Price had advice for those still trying to get their businesses started.
“You always have to think outside the box. You have to push yourself,” Price said.
“You can never give up.” Dobbins added. “Sometimes the days are the darkest right before the dawn, and that’s the truth.”
The conference continues Friday at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis starting at 8 a.m.
