Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
REVERE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Blizzy Women Social’s Fall Festival in Revere Beach was all about the community for the community.
Amanda Portillo, organizer and CEO of Blizzy Women Social, told WBZ NewsRadio that the goal of the festival was to bring more visibility to women-owned small businesses. “Not everybody is able to afford a store front, so this gives women an opportunity that isn’t quite there yet to set up shop.”
Portillo co-founded Blizzy Women Social with her friend Lauren Maloney in 2020. They wanted to support and empower women business owners in their community, so they stared hosting “one-of-a-kind, FUN, high-vibe markets,” just like this fall festival.
There were free face painting, coffee, apple cider, kid’s crafts, and live music. “…we really try to make it a day for everybody,” Portillo continued.
For Karen Leonardo of Revere, this is her first time setting up shop at an outdoor market. She is the owner of Leo Kosmetics, an online skincare and self-care store.
“I get to see a lot of women that created businesses out of nothing, just from ideas and getting to see them prosper is a huge, huge thing, ”Leonardo told WBZ NewsRadio.
Even though she felt overwhelmed at first, “there’s so much great energy around that you can’t help but just be happy even if you are nervous I think the happiness surpasses the nervousness,” she added.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
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