Mayberry Mall abuzz with BizFest

Inside Mayberry Mall Wednesday there was much more foot traffic than one may have expected. Just pulling into the parking lot, it was obvious something was afoot as a line of food trucks were parked adjacent to main entrance ready to serve.

All the fuss was for BizFest, a chance for approximately 40 businesses to meet potential clients and network with other area businesses. The event was sponsored by Surry Communications and hosted by the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce and the Surry County Economic Development Partnership.

To better understand the purpose of BizFest would be to have Nathan Tucker approach from out of the crowd with a stack of business cards and a smile. He is a new apprentice barber learning for the next year under the tutelage of Jessica Cockerham, who was dutifully handling a beard trim for a client in a barber’s chair set up inside BizFest.

She is opening the new barbershop at Riverside Drive and East Pine Street in Mount Airy in the converted gas station building across from Riverside Park. From Sparta, Tucker said he was using the time Wednesday to introduce himself to new clients in the area. He offered coupons and a QR code to link to his booking page to entice new customers through the door.

Melissa Hiatt, executive director of the United Fund of Surry, said she had been on hand since mid-morning getting set up and ready for BizFest. She was spotted chatting with Traci George who is chairing the annual campaign for the second consecutive year.

Liz Marin and Will Jackson staffed a table for Pine State Marketing. Jackson explained, “What I think the best thing about BizFest is just for community connection. I come from a corporate background so getting back into community and seeing what everyone has to offer and how we can help one another, I think that’s the main thing.”

Marin concurred, “We want to be out there and be able to make that connection with the customer. For a long time, we just couldn’t do that for a few years so it’s great to come back out here and to see everyone’s faces again. It’s wonderful to see everybody and see what they have to offer — and I want them to see us too because it’s been a while.”

Marlin Yoder, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, and his board chair Barbara Blood were making the rounds for networking purposes. Getting to know other business leaders may help Habitat with future projects or even finding volunteers.

He said the next Habitat home is underway on Sunset Drive with an expected completion date in late summer. They are getting assistance from Surry Community College in building this home which he said is a great benefit for Habitat in getting that labor and also for the students who are gaining invaluable hands-on experience with construction.

As he was speaking about SCC, Lesa Hensley was handing out information to participants and visitors to BizFest educating about the Small Business Center at Surry Community College. The recent high school participants of the YES Surry entrepreneurship competition were offered a chance to visit with Hensley and get a free small business assessment.

While many booths were there to meet future customers, the ladies from Northern Regional Hospital said they were at BizFest just to meet the public and remind them the hospital and its employees are active members of the Surry County community.

All that walking and talking can make a person hungry, so everyone seemed to perk up when Chic-fil-A operator Chad Tidd turned the corner with a large bag full of food for their booth. Meanwhile Blake Moyer of the Surry County Economic Development Partnership gently ribbed Chris McMillian, owner of Duck Donuts in Mount Airy, to see if the area may get another location of the donut shop.

More than one attendee said there was no better way to market themselves than with a handshake and eye contact. BizFest succeeded on Wednesday in its mission to bring together a variety of businesses and non-profit organizations under one roof and allow the public the chance to get to know what each offers the community.