Vendors sought for ‘Small Business and Craft Fair’ at AIB

The AIB College of Business student chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) is seeking craft-makers, individual entrepreneurs and pop-up businesses to participate in its first Small Business and Craft Fair Oct. 26 in the AIB Activities Center, 2500 Fleur Drive.

The event is a fund-raiser for the student organization and will help finance the group’s trip to Los Angeles next spring.

“This is the first of what we hope will become an eagerly anticipated annual event,” says AIB Professor Kelly Swinton, IMA sponsor. “AIB is strictly a business college, so we see it as a great way to support small businesses and individual entrepreneurs – and to provide a fun shopping experience for people in advance of the holiday retail frenzy.”

Swinton says space is available for a total of 60 vendors, and more than half the spaces are already reserved. The rental fee is $60 per space for the event, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We wanted to keep the cost affordable for the vendors,” Swinton says. “We want to encourage individual entrepreneurs with all types of wares – from crafts makers to local authors of books to artists to T-shirt makers to cupcake bakers.

“Really, this is a fantasic opportunity for small operators to gain visibility. And there is no admission charge for shoppers.”