Talia Iris sells her Coco Aroma Candles in five different stores on the island. Kim Lawrence sometimes offers her Zen Crystals products from her backyard. Michelle Hatherley, of Lil’ Avenues Boutique, uses Instagram.

Those locations have their benefits but all three vendors want more personal interaction with their customers.

“It is nice and refreshing to interact with the locals and tell them a bit more about the candles and what I have to offer,” Ms Iris said.

On Sunday, the women will be taking part in Summer in the Tropics, a vendors’ market featuring more than 25 small businesses at the Botanical Gardens.

“The vendors’ market helps me to get in contact with people that don’t know I exist, or have thought about crystals, but are maybe afraid to venture that way,” Ms Lawrence said.

The business showcase is the first of its kind organised by Alicia Trott, of Build A Brand Bermuda. Her goal is to hold the markets the first Sunday of every month.

Since the pandemic began, she has seen many new businesses popping up.

“It is amazing to see people doing things they are passionate about,” she said.

She said that the pandemic was a reset for many people.

“During shelter-in-place, people dug deep to think about their dreams and goals,” she said.

She said online businesses were great but their creators still needed in-person customer interaction and feedback. She thought her event would help new business owners better figure out what drives their customers.

“And at vendors’ markets people are coming there with the intention to support,” she said. “That is like gold. People want to hear from other people. They don't want to watch a million advertisements.”

She started Build A Brand Bermuda in March 2021, as an altruistic venture aiming to help Bermudians grow generational wealth.

“I wanted to do something to support other entrepreneurs,” Ms Trott said. “I wanted to work with established businesses and new entrepreneurs.”

To do this she organised business networking events and highlighted local enterprises on social media. Summer in the Tropics marks a transition to a business proper. There is a $55 fee for each table.

“We will probably not have the market in the same place every time,” she said. “The fee will vary depending on the location.”

When she first launched, she had some self doubt. With organisations in the community already helping small businesses, such as the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, she wondered if there was space for Build a Brand Bermuda.

“But after hosting several live events and connecting with other business owners I decided there was a place for us,” she said. “People value the personal connection.”

Summer in the Tropics will be held on the Celebration Lawn at the Botanical Gardens in Paget from 11am to 4pm on Sunday.

Proceeds from a raffle at the event will go to the Reading Clinic on Serpentine Road in Pembroke.

• For more information, see Build A Brand Bermuda on Instagram and Facebook or e-mail

buildabrandbermuda@gmail.com