Three expos at one downtown event

Published 9:35 pm Monday, February 3, 2020

The Suffolk Executive Offices Foundation will hold the second annual Young Entrepreneur Business Expo on Feb. 22 at the Suffolk Riverfront Hilton Garden Inn. There will be three different expositions at the Feb. 22 event, including the Young Entrepreneur Business Expo, the B2P Expo and the Suffolk Humane Society Expo.

“Each event draws three different types of groups of people to promote, network and share resources to make this event successful,” Suffolk Executive Offices President Richard Chaing wrote in an email.

The main focus will be the Young Entrepreneur Business Expo, according to Chaing.

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The goal of this business expo is to inspire young business entrepreneurs from the ages of 7 to 17. It will be a marketplace that will allow them to experience creating, marketing and presenting their ideas, products and services to the local community.

The “kidpreneurs” will be entered in the business competition and judged by local business owners, based on criteria that include most original business idea, highest potential, creativity and best presentation.

There will also be the B2P Expo, which stands for “Business to People” and will allow small businesses to showcase themselves.

“This is a great opportunity to engage with the community, network, build new business relationships, and share what products or services they offer,” Chaing wrote.

The B2P Expo will also inspire the young entrepreneurs at the event.

“It will be a marketplace to promote both small businesses and young entrepreneur businesses to sell their products, services and ideas to the general public,” Chaing wrote, comparing it to a business internship in which these “kidpreneurs” can observe and learn from local businesses. “The feedback I received from the last expo was (that) the small business was encouraged by the kids. So, it’s a win-win for both parties.”

The Suffolk Humane Society Expo will highlight the society’s goals to promote the bond between humans and animals, and also to reduce pet overpopulation through advocacy for companion animals, humane education, adoption and foster programs and affordable and accessible spay/neuter programs.

The Young Entrepreneur Business Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, 100 E. Constance Road. Admission is free and open to the public.

There is a $20 fee for young entrepreneurs that wish to participate, and a $200 fee for adults with small businesses. All of the small business owners’ exhibitor table fees and other sponsorship funds will go back to the young entrepreneurs’ event, according to Chaing.

Applications are still being accepted for young entrepreneurs, and the deadline for these applications has been extended to Feb. 12 “because of the overwhelming response,” according to Chaing.

For more information, contact Chaing by emailing richard@suffolkexecutiveoffices.com or calling 925-4744, or visit suffolkyoungentrepreneur.com.