On Thursday, February 13th, Campbell’s hosted the inaugural Camden Business Bazaar at its headquarters in Camden, NJ, just in time for Valentine’s Day. The event spotlighted eight Buy Camden 1st local Camden-based businesses that had successfully completed the Camden Verified process. The event resulted in over $7,000 in new sales for these businesses.

The cafeteria at Campbell’s was transformed with beautifully decorated vendor tables, where employees could explore an array of products including flowers, baked goods, chocolates, essential oils, accessories, and candles. The Bazaar provided a perfect opportunity to shop local while celebrating the spirit of the season. When Campbell’s reached out to LAEDA in collaboration with Curate Noir, identifying reliable and established businesses was made easy thanks to the thorough vetting process of the Buy Camden 1st Initiative. Together, LAEDA and Curate Noir were able to present a diverse selection of businesses that perfectly aligned with Campbell’s needs.

Camden Business Bazaar participants included:

● Nika Corbett with Curate Noir
● Gatty Mercy with The Urban Scents
● Jennifer Ortiz with Creations by Jenn
● Mark Walton with Hope Chocolates Inc
● Arlene Felder with Glassy Brown Cookies
● Britany Frazier with Relentless Studios
● Roberto Rashid with Scarves by Rashid
● Sharon McMillion with Jasnell Creations

The event participants shared their experiences and takeaways from the event:

Nika Corbett with Curate Noir
Curate Noir is a gift shop dedicated to showcasing and selling products crafted by small-owned businesses.
“The event was great and I feel everyone was excited. Seeing the vendors happy and supported was excellent. I am looking forward to the next one.” For anyone interested in contacting Nika, she can be reached via her website at Curate Noir.

Gatty Mercy with The Urban Scents
The Urban Scent specializes in hand-poured soy candles and wax melts.
“We had a wonderful experience at the event. It was a successful day for The Urban Scent, and we truly enjoyed ourselves. The staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. We would like to extend a special thank you to Andrea and her team for their exceptional coordination and assistance throughout the event. We would love the opportunity to sell again at this event and participate in any future events.”
For anyone interested in contacting Gatty, she can be reached via her website at The Urban Scent.

Jennifer Ortiz with Creations by Jenn
Creations by Jenn is a premier floral provider, offering high-end customized arrangements for any occasion.
“Overall, I had a wonderful experience at the Business Bazaar. It was well organized and exceeded my expectations in terms of customer engagement. The sales were fantastic, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated.”
For anyone interested in contacting Jenn, she can be reached via her website at Creations by Jenn.

Mark Walton with Hope Chocolates Inc
Hope Chocolates offers premium chocolate products crafted with imported Belgian chocolate.
“Hope Chocolates’ experience at the Business Bazaar was incredible. Campbell’s was very welcoming and it was very easy to check in and get set up. Campbell’s had everything ready to go and the facility worked perfectly. We felt that everyone was very supportive of the Camden-based small businesses. My impression of Campbell’s as a company rose even higher than it was before. We had a great time talking with them about the Hope Chocolates’ mission; they were very receptive and supportive.”
For anyone interested in contacting Mark, he can be reached via his website at Hope Chocolates Inc.

Arlene Felder with Glassy Brown Cookies
Glassy Brown Cookies is a delightful cookie boutique that turns cake flavors into cookies.
“I had a great experience vending at Campbell’s. It was a nice size crowd. Everyone was warm, inviting, and eager to support small businesses. Thank you for including Glassy Brown Cookies in the event with Campbell Soup.”
For anyone interested in contacting Arlene, she can be reached via her website at Glassy Brown Cookies.

Britany Frazier with Relentless Studios
Relentless Studios is a spa and wellness business that offers personalized, tranquil experiences designed to nurture each’s mind, body, and soul in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
“I had a great time at this event! All of the vendors were extremely nice & all of the staff were super supportive. The event met all of my expectations and more. I would love to be a part of any future events! It was a pleasure meeting LAEDA and everyone at this establishment.”
For anyone interested in contacting Britany, she can be reached via her website at Relentless Studio

Roberto Rashid with Scarves by Rashid
Scarves by Rashid is a scarf designer that provides unique, high quality scarves.
“I had a great experience. There was a variety of vendors with many different products. Expectations went above and beyond. Sincerely grateful for this opportunity.”
For anyone interested in contacting Roberto, he can be reached via his website at Scarves by Rashid.

Sharon McMillion with Jasnell Creations
Jasnell Creations offers one of a kind accessories that use several different mixed materials.
“This was a wonderful experience for Jasnell Creations. We meet some great people and we were able to share our story and why I started my business. The event far exceeded my expectations. I have never been to Campbell’s Soup and everyone was so kind and welcoming. I really enjoyed this opportunity because everyone was selling something different. There were no duplications. I did not feel like I was competing.”
For anyone interested in contacting Sharon, she can be reached via her website at Jasnell Creations.