How One Entrepreneur Is Giving South, West Side Businesses A Boost During Their Slowest Months

CIRCULATE, a new initiative by Chicago entrepreneur Keewa Nurullah, aims to help small businesses thrive during their slowest months. Each month, a different local store hosts a shopping event, complete with music and family-friendly activities to promote community engagement. The events are strategically scheduled at the end of the month, when residents often feel the financial pinch from upcoming bills. The inaugural CIRCULATE event at Beverly Phono Mart led to a remarkable 280 percent increase in transactions, highlighting the initiative's potential. Nurullah focuses on the South and West sides of Chicago, where small businesses often lack marketing resources.

She utilizes social media and email lists to promote the featured stores and their proprietors. The initiative not only aims to boost sales but also to educate consumers on their responsibility to support local businesses. Nurullah's vision connects economic activism with community development, benefiting both business owners and local residents.