Building Wealth & Creating Legacies

The New American Chamber of Commerce

Will Host Its First Annual Business, Real Estate & Wealth Building Expo

BROOKLYN, February 26, 2018 B The Chamber Coalition ─ New American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), the African-American International Chamber of Commerce (AAICC) and the Hispanic-American International Chamber of Commerce (HAICC) ─ in partnership with Equity Smart Realty, Inc., is proud to present its first Annual Business, Real Estate & Wealth Building Expo on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the Sheraton Brooklyn Hotel, 228 Duffield Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. This is the ideal expo for the novice, information‑seeker, prospective and current home owners, realtors, investors, entrepreneurs, marketing and salespersons to come together and learn how to create, keep and build wealth.

The Business, Real Estate & Wealth Building Expo promises to be high‑energy and impactful. The day starts with a Welcome VIP Breakfast B Be Equity Smart, and continues with empowering seminars, an exhibiting hall of businesses and a Real Estate Investing Luncheon.

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Founder of NACC, said that the “American Dream is twofold: that of starting a business and owning a business. At the New American Chamber of Commerce we seek to empower our members and the wider community to achieve those goals. That’s why we are having our Annual Business, Real Estate and Wealth Building Expo. The theme of the Expo is ‘building wealth and creating legacies’ and that is, what it is all about. How are we going to pass wealth from one generation to another? How are we going to create a legacy? By owning a home, starting a business and investing in property.

“According to the NYC Comptroller’s Office, ‘working New Yorkers are struggling through an affordability crisis. With rents rising and wages stagnant, the very people who helped build their communities up…well, they’re being priced out.’ Almost every minority community is facing gentrification. How do we fight gentrification? What is the solution? Answer: Home ownership.

“Also, the unemployment rate is highest in the minority community. How do we bring it down? Again what is the solution? Answer: Starting a business. Guess what? In addition to family and friends, one has a tendency to hire those who look and sound like them.

“Save the date: March 24, 2018. It’s a day of opportunity and we invite all to come. Lao Tzu said that ‘The journey of a thousand miles, begins with one step.’ The path to building wealth and creating legacies starts on Saturday, March 24, 2018. It's that first, one step. Don’t miss it.”

Victoria Falk, CEO of Passionate Travel Inc., Vice-President of AAICC and President of BlackCEO NY Chapter, says

"I highly recommend that if you are in business, or seriously thinking about starting a business, that you attend the upcoming Business, Real Estate &Wealth Building Expo. In this age of high technology, connecting with people on a personal level is still very important.  We do business with people we know, like and trust.  There's no better way to establish initial rapport with a potential client or business partner than at the Expo.  So bring your business cards, a positive attitude, and be prepared to network with other professional people who want to meet you.  Attend the seminars and learn from people who have quality information to help you get to your next level. Personally, I have gained new customers and business partners, as well as valuable information that have put me ahead of my competition at previous expos presented by the New American Chamber of Commerce.  So mark your calendar and prepare to attend the Business, Real Estate & Wealth Building Expo on Saturday, March 24, 2018.”

To learn more or register now, visit www.businessexponyc.com

Rachel Roy's 5 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Rachel's 5 Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

On January 11th, Rachel Roy sat down with IVY in Los Angeles to discuss her journey toward building a highly successful business, and all of the highs and lows in between. Here are 5 tips that Rachel shared for aspiring entrepreneurs:

1.     Get Started! 
The difference between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs is the start, because a lot of people have great ideas, but not everyone acts on those great ideas. If you find yourself thinking, What do I need to start? When can I break away from my salary job and start working on my own passion? Just know that you have to be brave enough to jump and grow your wings on the way down. You’re never going to have wings before that - it just doesn’t work like that. That’s not how the universe is set up, and it’s not how we’re set up to succeed. There’s so much that is accomplished even in taking that first step to start.

2.     Take Risks
You can do the exact opposite of what the experts recommend, and have it be a great success. In 2008, the economy wasn’t doing very well with retail, and I started a secondary collection. At that point, not a lot of other designers had secondary lines, so I didn’t have very much competition in the market at that price point. When I had to stop my designer line, I still had my secondary line, which has become very successful over the years and if I did not take the risk and launch during a recession I may not have a business now.

3.     Protect Yourself
I worked as a licensing manager for seven years, and I learned that whatever you write in a contract is really all you have to protect you. Even if someone says that they have the same values as you, if you don’t put it into a contract, it’s probably not going to happen. With my first licensing deal, I put into the contract that I wanted to produce product by women in third world countries. It was very important to me to employ women who were seamstresses and who had a really hard time finding work. I wrote that into the contract so I would never have to have that uncomfortable talk with the people who are sustaining my business. I wouldn’t have to beg for it, because we had it in writing.

4.     Take Control of Your Life
Instead of placing blame on your circumstances and on the people around you, you can take control and take ownership of your choices. Every day within every moment, you have a choice. As soon as it can click that we are in charge of our choices, we realize that we are in charge of our happiness. After all, the happiest people are the sexiest people.

5.     Trust Your Gut
My proudest moment came when my first partners no longer wanted to fund my company, but they also didn’t want my company to exist. I could have done what other designers in my situation did – which was absolutely nothing – or I could fight. I went to many successful people in the fashion industry to ask for advice (including Anna Wintour and the president of the CFDA), and the majority told me not go through a lawsuit because I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Ultimately, I didn’t take their advice. They were right – it was horrible, but I went through it and I got my name back. Now for the designers that have creative control, there’s a law that prevents this from happening to any other designer in the future.

When you are ready to realize your American Dream of Entrepreneurship, call the Chamber at 718-722-9217 to schedule an appointment for a FREE Small Business Consultation.