Local businesses gain exposure at Community Clothing and Craft Expo

By Jazmine Knight

St. Joseph’s Stoney Creek Hotel hosts the Community Clothing and Craft Expo presented by Bright Design and Business Solutions.

The expo featured multiple vendors selling a wide variety of pre and custom made goods.

“[The] Expo is meant to bring local vendors together and all in one place, where you can walk in and have some fun on the spot,” said Derrick Lambright, owner of Bright Design and Business Solutions. “Some of them are doing laser engraving. We have people making t-shirts. We also have people that can hem your clothes and do alterations on the spot here,”

Not only does the craft expo support St. Joseph but it also supports local, small businesses. Lambright says all the vendors came from within 30 miles of St. Joseph. Some vendors hail from cities like Trimble, Cameron, Maryville and Savannah.

“It was a way to get some different people in town and into our community,” he said.

Joy May, owner of Joyfully Made, said she’s made a few sales at the craft expo.

“I have sold a few t-shirts and a few signs. I’ve received a few custom ordered signs already,” May said.

She says even though this isn’t her full time job, she has turned her hobby into a side business.

“I like to do this for therapy and for myself. It’s just a hobby and it makes a little money on the side,” she said.

May says craft expos are beneficial to small businesses like hers because it offers a chance to gain exposure.

Lanbight says his favorite part of the expo is seeing all the local support and meeting new people.

“I think it’s a really neat thing to have the local support,” Lambright said.