WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Small business owners across the Triad gathered at The Triad Business Expo to trade ideas, meet potential customers and talk about what it takes to keep a business moving in a difficult market. Organizers said the event brought together more than 100 owners on Saturday for networking, expert advice and a look at new opportunities.

Reginald McCaskill, executive director of the expo, said the event is meant to support the people he sees as the base of the region’s economy. He said small businesses help drive development in the Triad, and that the area’s mix of customers and entrepreneurs gives new ideas room to grow.

Expo Focus And Message

McCaskill said the expo’s summits are built around practical business help, including how to make a plan, what steps to take, and what can go wrong or right along the way. He said the goal is to give business owners a place to learn from people who have already worked through the same challenges.

He also pointed to North Carolina’s recent ranking from CNBC, which named the state the second-best in the country for business. In his view, that standing reflects a public that has been open to innovation and to new small businesses across the Piedmont Triad.

Owners Talk Challenges

Not every part of the business climate feels easy, though. Regina McManus, owner of Wet Kiss’s Boutique, said shoppers are not buying as much right now, which makes sales less predictable for small operators trying to plan inventory and events.

McManus sells shirts, hats, bags and handheld fans, and she said she likes offering items that feel “classy but sassy.” She said pop-up events help her stay motivated because they give her a chance to meet new people, sell directly and stay flexible when the market shifts.

How Owners Can Connect

McCaskill said people thinking about starting a small business should look for community resources and reach out to The Triad Business Expo for help. He said the process should begin with passion, which he described as the force that pushes people toward what they want to do.

For owners already in business, the expo was also a chance to build relationships that could lead to future work, customers or collaborations. McManus said meeting new people can open doors to different opportunities, which is part of why events like this matter to local entrepreneurs trying to stay visible and connected.

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