Lima supports local at Lima Mall business expo

LIMA — More than 25 businesses gathered at the Lima Mall for a day of networking and community outreach on Saturday.

Nicole Scott, vice president of the Lima Chamber of Commerce, said the commerce had not put on a business expo since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and wanted to revive it to give businesses a chance to reach the community while supporting the mall. She said business owners could also view spaces where they could open brick-and-mortar shops.

“We wanted to partner with the Lima Mall because it’s centrally located and it’s a great space for people to spread out, and give [businesses] awesome traffic,” Scott said. “The Lima Mall is not dead and we want entrepreneurs to be featured.”

Scott said the expo brings back a pre-Internet shopping experience, and with it being in the mall, it encourages more people to shop in person. She said the Chamber of Commerce also provides e-commerce resources and training to small businesses.

Lafawn Pughsley, owner of Plush Party Palace, said her business is a one-stop shop for little girls’ parties and spa days. She said the company, which had been operational in Lima for about a year, pampers young girls typically between the ages of five and 13.

Pughsley said the business is expanding to include Plush Cookie Co., which will sell baked goods in the same space as the party venue. She said she hopes to open the bakery on May 1.

Pughsley said the business was developed in 2017 and started in Michigan, and she moved it to Lima after she got married. She said she likes seeing an impact on the little girls for whom she provides services, so she’d like to get to know the community more and host workshops.

“Our aim is more than just the painting of the nails and the playing and different things like that,” Pughsley said. “We really want to help motivate the little girls; we’re really big on self esteem building and different things like that while they’re there (at the party palace).”

Pughsley said the expo gave her business the opportunity to build community and network with other small businesses.

Tracy Darr, business adviser for small business software Thryv, said the expo allowed the company to reach more small businesses. She said she not only networked with other companies featured in the expo, but also with people in the community who own a small business who knew someone that does.

Darr said she does a lot of networking events for Thryv and has noticed substantial growth as a result.

“This is like the new, modern way to find business,” Darr said. “It used to be door-to-door and whatnot. Now it’s just putting your name out there, networking.”

The expo featured other small businesses such as Fresh Press Threads, Kessler Estates Senior Living, Schrader Realty and Streamline Insurance Solutions.

The event also supported large companies like Amazon and Sam’s Club.

Amazon set up a booth promoting its delivery partner program to small businesses. Brittani Jackson, an Amazon sales representative, said the businesses would help deliver packages for Amazon while earning extra income.

“I hope that they were able to experience the businesses and also kind of get a little bit of a retro feeling that we’re coming back together again,” Scott said. “Small business is important and we need to support those small businesses. We appreciate the people that do come out to help do that and support our community.”