Success #7
Auburn Gresham
Solo Businesses Growing During the Pandemic is a Beautiful Thing!
This year the GAGDC Neighborhood Business Development Center team has been wrapping our arms around retention and growing businesses even during as the pandemic dragged on in 2021. Our small but mighty GAGDC business team embraced, Mr. Ro Davis’ idea to help a Chatham business expand to Auburn Gresham by assisting not only with technical assistance and the small need for access to capital, we used this as an opportunity to fulfil out goal to not only welcome a new business, but to go deep and build a strong and supportive relationship with our new business.
One referral to the special service area and Nedra Dokes, the owner of Solo Beauty second location at 9011 S. Ashland, was also immediately embraced into the GAGDC and Auburn Gresham Family. As a team, we assisted with the full planning of the business opening and invested resources in the actual grand opening day. Ms. Dokes welcomed with the open arms the support and using this as an opportunity for us to help her market her business, producing print marketing material and advertising on our community portals and social media sites. Working with GAGDC team and the 21st Ward Alderman’s office, we were able to align with another city project to promote awareness and offer vaccinations with the city of Chicago “VAX NATION” bus, with health care workers offering vaccines on the spot! The day was filled with music, other small business vendors and lots and lots of sales for Solo Beauty Supply accompanied this successful grand opening!