MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The ninth staging recently of the annual Made in Manchester Expo is being credited for not only boosting 40 women entrepreneurs, but also for expanding its reach with diversity.

Event conceptualiser Annette Salmon told the Jamaica Observer that the expansion of the expo was an opening to new offerings.

“This is our ninth year and we are happy in terms of how it has grown, so not only do we have people who are selling products; artisans; home-made items like body butters and lotions, scrubs, candles and so on, but now we have service providers,” said Salmon as she pointed out that among the expanded offerings were legal aid and a virtual service consultancy.

“Small businesses can’t do all the marketing and follow-ups on their own so they need a virtual assistant to just take over some of those roles for them,” added Salmon.

She reiterated that the expo was aimed at boosting business visibility for women.

“We also had entrepreneurs in the travelling and tourism industry, pest control. The expo is widening,” she said.

Samantha Nelson, owner of Sammy’s Virtual Services, pointed to the significance of online services in growing small businesses.

“This was actually my first time at the expo. I got the opportunity to interact with a lot of other entrepreneurs because I want to also help local businesses to let them know that there are virtual businesses out there that are willing and capable to help them with their back end needs.

“I provide administrative, creative and technical support for all business sizes and industries, which include customer service, data entry, email management, social media management,” said Nelson.

In the meantime Sadra Madonna Lindsay, proprietor for Garden Gold Cosmetics whose business specialises in natural hair care, hailed Salmon as a visionary as she pointed to the success of her business since participating in last year’s expo.

“We definitely acquired new and different clientèle from this expo last year to now,” said Lindsay.

Constance Malcolm, owner of Caras Bonitas, who was also a returning participant in the expo, explained her inspiration for the arts and beauty by using log wood and cement cast to create pieces.

“Sometimes in terms of business, women are not seen as important as businesses run by men. A lot of these businesses here are start-ups so this expo helps to get them going. I like art, but I can’t draw or paint in the traditional way. I was on YouTube and found something that I liked and varied it. I tried it with cement by making faces,” she said.

Michieka Taylor, owner of Save Space for Dessert, said the expo continues to be a major boost for her business.

“It allows me to access more customers, as my business is online based, so having the interactions at the expo is important. As it relates to women in business, the expo gives you a platform to showcase your business in your home parish,” she said.

For Danielle Plummer, proprietor of e-commerce bakery Frosted, the expo is a good initiative that has been put on by Salmon.

“[It’s] one in which we as females get to showcase our talents and just expand as it relates to our business to others here in Manchester,” she said while also promoting cake-decorating classes.

“We decided to not only serve our community with beautiful cakes, but also to provide assistance to persons who are in need of learning the skill. We will be having a cake-decorating class on April 7, 14, 21 and 28,” added Plummer.

The expo was also supported by prominent passenger and courier service company Knutsford Express.

Yanique Wright, an employee of Knutsford Express based in Mandeville, said courier services have been beneficial to expanding small business.

“We have persons who have their products and they want to ship it to other parishes. We provide courier services for those clients where they can transfer their goods to customers who are in other parishes,” she said.

Patrons at the expo also hailed it as a success.

Among them was Dyana Leslie, a registered nurse who practises aromatherapy.

She told the Observer that the expo allows her to network.

“I take things like lemongrass oil, pimento oil — what I do is to find out what healing properties they have. They are relaxants; they help with pain, mood swing, and appetite. I have written a book called 21 essential oils from Jamaican aromatic plants, so at this expo I came just to network,” said Leslie.