Missed the Black Spending Matters marketplace? You can still support its businesses

That was the theme of the 3rd annual Spending Black Matters marketplace, which popped up at Eastside Charter on Feb. 24, just in time to help close out another Black History Month.

Every February, Influencers Lab Media, the founder of the Delaware-based, nationally reaching Facebook group of over 33,000 Black business owners and consumers, holds this marketplace in Wilmington. There, local and regional Black-owned businesses can showcase their work and sell their products directly to the community.

The goal, said cofounder Malcolm Coley, is to “recycle the Black dollar” within the community.

This year, for the first time, the event was at EastSide Charter School in Riverside, just across the street from the NERDiT NOW tech recycling center. It drew about 40 businesses, as well as sponsoring community organizations including The Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital, The WRK Group and Wilmington Alliance.

If you missed out, here are a few of the businesses and vendors we saw at the event, with a link to where you can do business with them yourself:

• “Blue Tulip” — Comic book
• Dream-Her Experience — Youth mentorship for girls
• The Cottage by Monarch — Wellness and self-care products and services
• Iris Scent It — Scented candles and decor
• J.A. Desserts — Baked goods and sweets
• Lavish Brows by Cici — Permanent makeup artist
• Lavish Wellness & Aesthetics — Beauty and wellness services
• Rayvona Le’Blanc — Realtor
• Nay Lash’d Out — Beauty boutique
• Natural Mystic Holistics — Natural skin care products
• OneTruClareYarn — Handmade custom crochet items
• Reddy 2 Battle — Adult kickball league
• SajFit LLC — Health and wellness products and services
• Screen Masters — Mobile window screen repair service
• Shana Starks — Certified travel agent
• Kyle Steed, Nation One — Mortgage consultant
• Wilmington 1st Walk-In — Urgent care clinic
• Whole New World Cleaning Service — Residential, commercial and office cleaning