ATLANTA — Several small business owners say they are still waiting for thousands of dollars they were promised after participating in the Welcome to Atlanta Experience during FIFA World Cup events in Atlanta.
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The vendors say they invested thousands of dollars in inventory, products and labor with expectations of large crowds and strong sales. Instead, several say poor foot traffic and problems at the event left them with significant financial losses.
“It was a complete failure,” vendor Renea Pierre said.
Maria Gardner-Rodgers, owner of Ever Bowl Acai Café, said she invested more than $20,000 in products and labor to sell smoothie bowls during the event.
“This has really caused a lot of hardship for myself,” Gardner-Rodgers said. “We’ve taken a big loss.”
Gardner-Rodgers said problems began when she arrived and found the vendor area was not properly set up to sell food.
Pierre, who owns Nature’s Own Herb Shop, said she had a similar experience.
“We did not get anything that was promised to us,” Pierre said.
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Pierre said she invested about $20,000 but made only about $3,000 in sales. She blamed the losses on little foot traffic and what she described as a lack of marketing by organizers.
“We were looking forward to the lucrative profits that were promised to us,” Pierre said.
Atlanta-based consulting firm CVM Worldwide organized the Welcome to Atlanta Experience.
According to the vendors, CVM CEO Candance Williams acknowledged in emails that some locations did not receive the expected foot traffic, resulting in losses for vendors.
They said Williams told them refunds would be issued by August.
But more than a month later, several vendors said they still had not received the money.
“We still have not got a penny from this organization,” Pierre said.
Pierre said she repeatedly contacted Williams about the payment.
“I’ve texted her, and I’ve emailed her, and she keeps saying it’s coming; we have the funding,” Pierre said.
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Channel 2 Action News emailed Williams seeking a response but had not received one.
Vendor Joshua Smith said he eventually received a payment of more than $1,000 after telling Williams he had contacted Channel 2 Action News about the dispute.
Smith said he can accept that the event did not perform as expected, but he said the promises made afterward are what trouble him most.
“I’m willing to accept it’s a failed event, but it’s the failed promises that are really heartbreaking to this man,” Smith said.
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