Certified LGBTBE® Suppliers Forge Unexpected Business to Business Partnership at 2015 Conference
Elaine Helms and Tamara Fleming never thought they would help TomboyX win the LGBT Biz Pitch competition at the 2015 NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference.
This summer, Tamara Fleming, Co-Founder of the strategic marketing company FEMWORKS, ventured with fiancé Elaine Holmes to NGLCC’s 2015 International Business & Leadership Conference with hopes to gain new business insight, meet likeminded entrepreneurs, and learn more about opportunities with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. While there, Fleming and her fiancé met Fran and Naomi owners of TomboyX, one of three LGBT owned companies up for the LGBT Biz Pitch Competition.
After some small talk and discussion about TomBoyX’s signature underwear for women, Elaine mentioned that she had modeled for several designers under the similar stage name – “Pretty Tomboi.” From there, the invitation was extended for Elaine to model underwear during the competition.
Needlessly to say, the presentation went well. “I went in, I did it, and it was great. I had a great time doing it, and they won. It was a good thing,” Elaine said in an interview with NGLCC.
During that initial conversation at Conference, Fran and Naomi learned that FEMWORKS is a Certified LGBTBE® and that Fleming had previously photographed shot NGLCC’s Financial Awards Dinner event at the for the last few years. Soon after their return back to their businesses, Fleming received a request to submit a proposal for event coverage during fashion week. TomboyX hired her to shoot two well-known lesbian models, RainDove and Merika. This opportunity gave Fleming the opportunity to shoot the VERGE NYFW Queer Fashion Show, create branding, and even market collateral for their online and print campaigns.
Just a small conversation ended up having many opportunities for both Certified LGBTBE® suppliers this year. Fleming and Helms doubt that their partnership with Fran and Naomi is over. The two plan to continue the relationship with TomboyX and pitch additional services they offer to LGBT and African-American audiences across the nation.
