Black Southern Belle Collective Conference – Charleston 2017
Charleston plays host to several conferences and festivals. Our favorable weather and variety of venue spaces makes our coastal city an ideal wedding location. Brides, grooms and their families alike come to our Holy City for inspiration and tradition.
Black Southern Belle (BSB) is a lifestyle brand that spreads African American heritage and the traditions of women living in the South. The online magazine shares images of beautiful and stylish women of color celebrating different aspects of their lives in the South.
BSB social media pages features Belles of all shades draped in pearls and pride, true visions of proper southern ladies. Creator and founder, Michiel Perry host a 2-day conference educating brand managers and interacting with lovers of southern culture.
The conference consist of social mixers at exclusive locations around Charleston like the Historic Rice Mill and the newly renovated Cedar Room at the Cigar Factory. Local caterers, bakers and bartenders offered attendees bites and sips; showcasing what their company can add to your next event.
We also had the opportunity to meet some very talented brand developers. Swank Desserts served her gold dusted macaroons alongside Callie’s Hot buttered biscuits. Angela Belt, an interior design wiz captivated us with her style and local event coordinator, Candise Hilse dazzled us with her ability to carry a conversation whilst managing refreshment replenishment.
The day of training began with a tea and coffee bar with gourmet cookies from Grey Ghost Bakery. The morning sessions were lead by different groups of panelists discussing marketing to diverse audiences and using events to grow your business. We spoke on two panels; Social Media Networking and Adding a Special Client Touch.
Both classes were well attended and the audience asked interesting questions about brand collaborations and social engagement both integral parts of business building.
At noon, we were treated to a lunch of tomato pie bites, salmon and beet salad, followed by a slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Our mid-day meal was lead by a panel discussion moderated by Kim Alston, The Advertising Diva.
The lunchtime panel included a shoe entrepreneur and Senior Advisor at the United States Department of Commerce. The group provided invaluable food for thought while we dined in the courtyard of The Gadsden House.
Top 3 of BSB
- South Carolina State Shaped lunch menu by SASE-Ink
2. Pure Leaf signature cocktail!
3. Seeing such a diverse and empowered group of women!
www.blacksouthernbelle.com www.saseink.com www.pureleaf.com www.thetinytassel.cm www.luxurysimplified.com www.thecedarroom.com www.anerisphotography.com www.yojevents.com
Good Business Summit 2016
A day of business talk that felt more like a community discussion – Good Business Summit 2016. Local business owners converged at the Sottile Theater to learn, network and share ideas. Topics discussed included: diversity in the workplace, creating a corporate culture and community change.
We shared a panel with Brothers & Craft on storytelling through social media. The squad of fashionable and actual brothers, know a thing or two about marketing and brand building. They explained how their brand has collaborated with major agencies Ford Motors and hit reality show ‘Duck Dynasty’. Taneka and I shared our top tips for engaging with followers and creating unique content.
As we and other guest speakers revealed, there is no ‘secret’ to success other than hard work and a willingness to learn. The team at Lowcountry Local First should be proud of their 3rd annual conference that grows yearly and attracts keynote speakers like Matt Stinchcomb from Esty.com and Dave Dawson with The Urban Electric. Co. Next year is bound to be more informative and interactive.
Photography by Foxworthy Studios Photography
