Producers of goods and services will greet the public Saturday at Tutu Park Mall at the second annual Small Business Expo.
Promoter Janette-Millin Young says those who attend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will have a variety of opportunities to browse the merchandise, attend mini-seminars and enjoy a splash of Virgin Islands culture.
The event — called Shop Local, Grow the Economy — returns to center court at the mall in 2026 after setting up shop at Fort Christian the year before. More than 30 vendors are expected to set up tables promoting their businesses ranging from travel agencies, to food products, to human service consultants, to estate planning advisers and solar energy companies.
In 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy said 36.9% of the Virgin Islands workforce is found in small businesses. Millin-Young sees the expo as a place where anyone who earns a living through small-scale private enterprise can learn how to make that business grow.
“I believe the prototype of most of these businesses is very small, composed of three persons — the actual owner and assistants, and that’s because it’s very expensive to operate a business here,” she said. “A lot of these businesses sell local products but they don’t sell in large quantities.”
Through networking and sitting in on the three mini-workshops offered on Saturday, the promoter hopes visitors and participants can find ways to increase sustainability. One returning vendor says that kind of encouragement is the reason she keeps coming back. “This will be my third time attending. My experience has been phenomenal,” said Gerilyn Ray, owner of Raeniece Collections. Ray said the connections formed at the events have helped her build a support network and repeat customers for her products.
First-time sponsor Lisa Donovan says she’s been eager for a chance to join Shop Local-Grow the Economy as a sponsor. “I always wanted to be a part of the event that Janette Millin-Young promoted,” she said, adding that this year it will also be an opportunity to let participants know more about the Party Shop, her own local business.
“What I hope to get out of it — I love networking,” Donovan said.
Entertainment offerings at center court include a Bamboula Dance production. Millin-Young said she hopes everyone who comes will leave with better ideas about their role in helping the V.I. economy flourish.
