Pictured: Strout with her daughter Vivian. Photo Courtesy of Julianna Strout.

Mark your calendars, the SRQ Women’s Expo is back! This highly anticipated beauty, wellness, and business exhibition provides guests with an exclusive, empowering experience on July 27 at the Ritz Carlton located at 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive in Sarasota.

Event founder and organizer Julianna Strout felt a need to strengthen community support for small, local businesses. She says, “The economies of Manatee and Sarasota County are primarily run by small businesses. Many of those are run by women and mothers, and you need to find them support.” Whether it’s by taking advantage of the expo’s free childcare or networking with the high-profile attendees in attendance, Strout wants everyone to have their self-care opportunity, however they see fit. “It’s that Instagram v. reality of what motherhood really entails,” says Strout, “(at the expo) there are going to be so many ways that you’re going to be able to find that support.”

Established in 2023, the SRQ Women’s Expo has developed exponentially. Last year, Strout was able to pull 47 businesses and 100 attendees in for the event. Since then, the number has grown to over 150 businesses and 600 attendees.

Heather Hiemstra, owner of Rockstar Blends, will be exhibiting their botanical formulas for the first time with the expo. Sharing Strout’s vision, Hiemstra looks to empower the women in her community. She says, “The Sarasota-Manatee area has a powerful community of female entrepreneurs. We hold each other up, and this expo is a perfect example of that.”

The exhibition boasts free or low-cost vendor-offered beauty services and products, a fashion show, and professional financial, beauty, and fashion advice from keynote speaker Barbara Palacios and panelist Hayley Paige. Born in Venezuela, Palacios won Miss Universe in 1986, and became the third woman from her country to do so. Paige is a fashion designer and Instagram influencer, perhaps known best for her work on the television show Say Yes to the Dress. The designer has also notably won back the rights to use her name and social media accounts from dressmaker and former collaborator JLM Couture. Strout notes that key conversations in the panel discussions will revolve around intellectual property, economic support and growth, and childcare.

The SRQ Women’s Expo will hold a cocktail reception for its guests at 6:30pm on July 27 at The Sarasota Studio, before doors open at the Ritz Carlton located at 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive in Sarasota at 11:30am on July 28th. Guests may purchase ‘Lunch & Learn Tickets’, which includes a 2-course lunch prepared by the Ritz-Carlton’s executive chef and access to workshops, panel discussions, and complimentary services for $100. Interested vendors may purchase a table, sell, and promote their brand with potential clients for $350-$450. Interested persons of all ages and genders are invited to take attend the SRQ Women’s Expo to connect and learn with their local community.

Pictured: Strout with her daughter Vivian. Photo Courtesy of Julianna Strout.

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