Oriental invests in SME growth with 40-vendor holiday market
Oriental will host more than 40 local merchants and artisans at its Christmas Business Market on Dec. 4, expanding its annual initiative to support small and mid-sized businesses while encouraging responsible holiday spending that circulates money in Puerto Rico’s economy.
The event, which forms part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, will take place at the Oriental Center Plaza in San Juan’s Hato Rey district. Public hours will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to give workers, families, and holiday shoppers additional flexibility.
This year’s edition underscores Oriental’s push to strengthen the island’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by giving small businesses visibility, customer reach, and a platform to grow.
“At Oriental, we believe in the power of collective progress. When a business grows, its community grows,” said Lumarie Vega, managing director of Marketing & Public Relations. “With initiatives like the Business Market, we connect consumers with local entrepreneurs, amplify their reach, and foster relationships that generate long-term value.”
Vendors will offer a broad mix of craft goods, home items, clothing, accessories, food, coffee, and family-friendly experiences in a setting designed to encourage discovery and customer interaction. Oriental emphasized that the market serves as both a sales opportunity and a business-development platform as entrepreneurs meet new buyers and fellow merchants.
For participating businesses, the event provides direct access to a diverse consumer base ahead of the peak holiday season.
“For us at Nacho Libre, participating in this market represents an invaluable opportunity,” said Iván Vázquez, operations manager of the local food business. “It not only allows us to connect with new customers, but also to strengthen our relationship with our community and showcase our culinary offerings to a diverse audience.”
Oriental expects the market to draw strong foot traffic as shoppers seek alternatives to big-box retail, prioritizing local brands and Puerto Rican-made products.
