Charlotte foodie entrepreneurs get set for Small Business Saturday

Expect a festival vibe at the Shop Micro Local event on Nov. 30, which will feature several local food and products producers, according to organizer Olive Stewart.

She and other local and regional foodie entrepreneurs are uniting at a one-day-only pop-up store, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 1320 S. Church St. as part of Small Business Saturday. The location is near All Nations Coffee and The Unknown Brewing Company, which Stewart says will also be open on the shopping day dedicated to promoting local merchants. There's free parking.

Stewart is the founder of Bushelle Seasonings, whose homemade marinades are on the shelves at Whole Foods. 

In a press release, Stewart explains why she's organizing the temporary retail site:

"For this special event, Shop Micro Local will feature local and regional small businesses that sell their goods to stores, online, and at special events. These businesses do not have their own brick and mortar store - yet. They count on events such as these to help build their audience and sales. At this pop-up event, much like any festival, small company owners will display their goods and introduce their product for the first time to many attending. Expect delicious food samples to be available."

"The timing of this event, branded 'Shop Small' by American Express, couldn’t be better. This weekend is famous for kicking holiday shopping into high gear. Shop Micro Local business owners want to help you to put something local under your tree. For the person on your holiday shopping list who has everything, try a gift of something new. Like Sadie’s Caribbean fish cakes, Fresh herb blends by Bushelle Seasonings, Garnet Gals handmade jams, Sweet Neecy homemade cake mixes, Guava Love fruit and butter spreads, All Nations fair trade coffee, Hey Sugar Shop truffles, or a whole array of other wonderful food and gift options. Gift baskets featuring locally made products will also be available for purchase."

Stewart said CPCC Small Business Institute, Whiteside Industrial Properties, and American Express are supporting the pop-up event. 

Follow the planning on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ShopMicroLocal.

And read more in this Wednesday's ShopTalk about how Charlotte merchants are using pop-ups stores as temporary retail sites during the holidays and beyond.