How Crawford-Williams started a movement in her apartment that now supports hundreds of small businesses in Detroit

Get to know Jennyfer Crawford-Williams; she is behind All Things Detroit Day, an annual event that gives exposure and support to small businesses in Detroit. All Things Detroit Day is produced by Ask Jennyfer, Crawford-Williams’ Detroit-based firm specializing in branding and promoting small businesses.

The idea for the movement started at Crawford-Williams’ apartment in Detroit 10 years ago. Today, that idea has grown into a full-blown movement that supports the city’s small businesses, according to Black News.

“All Things Detroit started as a way to augment the services that our consulting operation provided, primarily as a way to provide a powerful venue for small business owners to connect with customers and promote their brand through an environment that is as much fun as it is powerful.

“Today that guiding mission has evolved into an affair filled with the same effective approach to elevating small businesses, but now resonating in a fun, more memorable and deeper level that works; in a celebration unlike any other,” Crawford-Williams said.

Crawford-Williams’ is marking 10 years since she started All Things Detroit Day. The 10th-anniversary celebration of the movement will include over 200 manufacturers and businesses in April.

“I am proud to say that helping small business owners is my professional purpose. These entrepreneurs are the foundation of our community,” she said. “This All Things Detroit Day, I want to welcome everyone to come out to Eastern Market to discover something new and celebrate our 10th anniversary in a big way.”

The event will feature cuisine, apparel, home, and handmade goods, as well as interactive experiences and special surprises, with many participating businesses being Black-owned and women-owned.

One participant is Kiana Hughes, the founder of Scent Science, who launched her business at home in 2019 and opened her first location in Auburn Hills last year.

“Participating in this milestone anniversary is a privilege that highlights the relentless effort and commitment not just of Jennyfer, but of all the small businesses that have flourished alongside her,” she said.

In 2014 when Crawford-Williams started running her business, Ask Jennyfer, full-time, she did so without a net.

“With about $1,500 in the bank, she forged ahead and grew a reputable brand marketing firm that now represents more than 250 small businesses and draws more than 12,000 guests to successful small business showcase events like All Things Detroit,” the company’s website says.