Backporch Pickers and Artisans organized a Small Business Exposition and shopping event at First Street Community Center and their business location Saturday, April 26.
Paige Eby said the goal of the event was just to get people thinking about small businesses, and more than eight vendors were there for the event Saturday.
One of those small businesses was Anna Moore Photography.
Anna Moore, an alum of Mount Vernon High School and former photographer with the University of Iowa, shares studio space with Jackie Austerman photography in the First Street Community Center. She also works alongside her mom, Jan, for some studio work.
She is open to all types of photography assignments, from family, athletic shots, senior sessions, wedding and other event photography.
“I just love taking photos that are going to be part of memories for people,” Anna said.
To book a session with Anna, visit https://www.annamoorephotography.com/.
Tyson Kromminga was selling some of his freeze dried candies and products at the event, as well as his car air fresheners.
“We were trying to get into some locations with our car air fresheners, and had one of them tell us if we had something else to offer, like freeze dried candies, that would go over well,” Kromminga said.
He and his wife got into freeze drying candies at that point, and have had a popular business model in several communities, especially Waverly and Waterloo areas.
“It’s one of those commodities people do not know about, but once they try it, they are hooked,” Kromminga said.
NativeWorks by Terri Anne Akers is based out of Mount Vernon.
Akers said she got her start with her grandmother years ago, and does a lot of her products by order. The small business expo was a chance to show off some of the items she works on and sells. She runs her own Etsy shop and Facebook page where people can place orders for products.
“I’m just hoping to get more focus in some of these smaller communities,” Akers said.
Ally Bradford with The Bradford Boutique said she got started with her small business after having a health incident.
“It’s always been my dream to open a crafting small business,” Bradford said.
Her husband’s grandmother lives in the Mount Vernon area, and offered up her farm to grow flowers on, which is where many of the flowers are now raised for their business.
“I love being able to provide crafts and other small gifts for people to purchase,” Bradford said.
She will also be selling many of her flowers and crafts at the Cedar Rapids and Marion Farmer’s Markets this season.
Tina Conroy opened a booth of some of her thrifting f inds at Backporch Pickers and Artisans. People can find her booth out at that store on most weeks.
“It just became a way to share some of my finds with others, and support my hobby,” Conroy said.