BY: ALYSSA MAHADEO
Through steelpan, great music, and even a drop in from Brampton’s Batman, for the past four years, Carib101 Media Group has worked tirelessly to organize the annual TC Business Social putting the unity in community.
The TC Business Social is an event tailored specifically to small business owners to provide them with the opportunity to showcase their products and services to potential clients from their local community. On Sunday May 6th, 2018 over 60 vendors filled the luxurious halls of the Pearson Convention Center with colorful displays and products for the public to experience as they browsed through the 2018 MarketZone.
With over 60 vendors to experience, patrons were able to connect with small business professionals and entrepreneurs from their local community, and spanning across the GTA.
Sponsored by Starion Realty, the MarketZone was FREE for the public to attend in order to provide the community the chance to network with business owners whose products and services they could benefit from all year long.
Throughout the day vendors and patrons alike networked within the MarketZone, sharing in innovative products and ideas like home essentials, auto graphics, clothing and apparel, city services, health and fitness, legal services, catering, financial services, mortgage services, gold investment, international cuisines and so much more!
The TC Business Social was established through the collaboration of some brilliant minds, individuals who are leaders in the community and are hoping to share more of what the community has to offer. They are all about eradicating stereotypes, brainstorming and developing a plan of action that implements change for the better.
The public was welcomed to the melodious sounds of steelpan, setting the tone as they walked down the main hall and met with various vendors eager to connect and explain their exhibits.
At 1pm Brampton’s Batman dropped in, rolling in with his Batmobile returning for the 3rd year in a row he is always a huge hit with vendors and attendees alike hoping to grab a picture or get swept off their feet by the dark knight himself.
Inside the main hall, new and returning vendors eagerly awaited their chance to meet the public, meeting new and familiar faces as the day went on, and making lasting connections that they can foster throughout the year. Vendors put great effort in the designing and layout of their booths, displaying their products and services in a way that prompted interest and warranted interesting and engaging interactions with the public.
The Peel Police, Ministry of Correctional Services, World Financial Group, V24K Gold Team, Scentsy, Print My Banners, MYC Graphics, Sher’s 5 Star Catering and Ani O Yoga were just some of the returning vendors the public was able to meet and network with at this year’s event, alongside new vendors such as Taylor Made Events,
“This has been my 4th year at the TC Business Social, I’ve been with them every year and every year it gets better and better, I get to meet so many new people and prospective clients to help expand my network of people,” shares community realtor Dionne Witter.
Grant Browning the CEO/President of Carib101 Media Group explains that the social is an integral part to business development and beneficial for the community to attend. “This event is tailored to building a stronger community, and building a better future for the next generation of future business owners and entrepreneurs.” “We are focused on strengthening and highlighting the businesses in the community. We are giving businesses an opportunity to showcase their products and services, and providing a welcoming networking environment for all.”
In addition to the MarketZone, the TCN Network was live to air for the entire day at the TC Business Social, and Simone Smith host of Hear 2 Help You and In the Now spent the day interviewing vendors and entrepreneurs about their business experience and what it takes to run your own successful business venture.
“I got into this industry by accident, I had the skills and knowledge to bring an idea I had to life, hiring people to do the work, until it came a point where I had to transition from career to entrepreneurship full-time,” shared 2018 MarketZone vendor Kurt Welch about his own small business experience.
“This is our 3rd year at this event, and it was an excellent day,” said Antoni Snopek owner of V24K Gold Team, “If I could I would have loved the opportunity to stay after 7pm as I’ve had such a great time and don’t want this event to end!”
The TC Business Social is an annual event established to create and foster opportunities for patrons of the community as well as small business owners. Bringing everyone together under one roof levels the playing field and puts everyone on the same level. It allows for people to meet face to face, learn from each other and hopefully help aid each other in the long run.
The TC Business Social isn’t about us it’s about the community, it is a way of giving back to the community. We want to ensure that attendees are treated to a worthwhile business experience filled with enjoyment and new, exciting information. We want to give back to the community by giving businesses and individuals the opportunity to expand their horizons and shine.
