BlackBusinessList.Com founder, Stephen Wicks, will moderate a panel discussion at the 2021 retailX Conference. The title of the session is How Retail Organizations Can Boost The Bottom Line While Helping Minority Businesses Succeed. Panelists include two minority business owners who have had success in getting their products in major retail stores. Jomaree Pinkard, Co-Founder of Hella Cocktail Co., and Maranda Walker Dowell of Joe’s Gourmet will share their insights and experiences with conference attendees.

The panel discussion will benefit both retailers and brands as the panelists share tips and pointers from their entrepreneurial journey.  The moderator, Stephen Wicks, has been working with and helping to promote Black-owned businesses since 1997 and will help guide the conversation.

BlackBusinessList.Com is also developing a special group that will focus on helping minority-owned businesses successfully partner with major retailers. Many Black business owners do not know how to get their products ready to be put on shelves at major retail stores. BlackBusinessList.Com sees this as an opportunity to help them level up and get more sales and exposure.

​In addition to the panel discussion, BlackBusinessList.Com and BBLTV will also be live streaming from the event. They will interview retailers and brands directly from the retailX expo floor.  Wicks said, “We are very excited to be involved with this event. The retailX Conference is the only major LIVE in-person event of its kind this year, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We intend to help retailers and minority-owned brands see unique opportunities that exist when they cultivate thoughtful and intentional partnership programs.”

Learn more here:

• retailX: https://retailx.com/onsite/overview
• Hella Cocktail Co: https://hellacocktail.co
• Joe's Gourmet: https://www.joesgourmet.com
• BlackBusinessList.Com: http://www.BlackBusinessList.Com

BlackBusinessList.Com founder, Stephen Wicks, is moderating a discussion at this year's retailX Conference in Chicago.  The discussion will explore the idea that major retailers can add to their bottom lines by purposefully assisting minority businesses and communities. 

Are you a black business owner who runs a business in the wholesale and/or retail sales of goods?

We are looking for minority business owners who have products in retail stores to give us their experiences.  We may include your feedback in the discussion in Chicago.

Questions:

1. What products do you produce?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. How are your sales?
4. What stores are you currently in?
5. Was it difficult to get into the stores?
6. Do you feel as though your minority status helped or hurt the process?
7. Did the retail organization have a program dedicated to help minorities?
8. What suggestions do you have for black wholesalers looking to get into major stores?
9. What would you like to see differently from large retailers?

Mr. Wicks will use this data in the discussion with minority business owners and retailers at the retailX Conference.

Please feel free to reach out to him at [email protected]

You can learn more about the retailX Conference here.
https://retailx.com/onsite/overview/