Entrepreneurs, public invited to Syracuse University South Side Innovation Center’s Spring Bazaar April 30

Entrepreneurs, public invited to Syracuse University South Side Innovation Center’s Spring Bazaar April 30 April 08, 2009Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s South Side Innovation Center (SSIC), a community-based microenterprise incubator operated by SU’s Whitman School of Management, invites local retail entrepreneurs to participate in its Entrepreneurial Spring Bazaar on Thursday, April 30 at the SSIC, 2610 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Starting at 6:30 p.m., retail entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to display their products, distribute information about their businesses, and sell their items to the local community.

The bazaar will follow a guest panel at 5:30 p.m. that will give budding entrepreneurs tips on how to start and grow their ideas into viable businesses. Panelists will include James Horan, owner of The Edge in Armory Square; Maria LaFace, owner of Oleander in Armory Square; Marc Jones, president and CEO of Dreissig Athletic; and Art Williams of Da Spot.

“The Entrepreneurial Spring Bazaar is a great opportunity for local retail entrepreneurs to gain more recognition for their work,” says Monica Hughley, director of the SSIC. “The SSIC had great success with the holiday expo in November, and we felt the time was right to provide these community members with a forum for their talent and also to share with them tips and advice on how to take their products to the next level. We hope the community comes out in great numbers to support Syracuse’s local retail entrepreneurs.”

The cost to attend the Spring Bazaar is $5. Local retail entrepreneurs can display their products for a $15 fee. For more information or to register, contact the SSIC at (315) 443-8634 or jpuchir@syr.edu.

The Spring Bazaar is sponsored by the South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project (SSECP), which seeks to establish a vibrant entrepreneurial culture in the South Side and surrounding communities through the creation of sustainable ventures, infrastructure building, student and faculty engagement through consulting teams, a micro-credit loan fund, training programs for entrepreneurs, and opportunities for minority purchasing.