6 Black-Owned Businesses to Shop Today
Do you remember when you first decided to #BuyBlack?
I first became interested in seeking out Black-owned businesses in 2016. I was perusing idontdoclubs to find upcoming local events and stumbled upon lists of Black-owned restaurants in U.S. cities, as well as holiday guides. I truthfully had not given the concept much thought beforehand; fortuitously, our ever-increasing access to information has motivated me to become a more conscious consumer.
The #BuyBlack movement continues to intensify as a growing number of people are pursuing entrepreneurship, and actively investing in our communities. As there are a multitude of Black-owned companies, I have chosen to share a handful which offer an array of products and services and are accessible to anyone reading (in the U.S. at least) as they operate online.
Who doesn't love relaxing with a delectable glass of wine? It's probably my favorite part of adulting.
Fellow wine lovers, look no further. Brown Estate Vineyards is an award-winning wine producer that offers a variety of preeminent blends. It is the first and only Black-owned winery in all of Napa Valley, CA.
The company was officially established in 1996 by siblings Deneen, David and Coral Brown. The trio's parents bought and restored the land on which the winery operates in 1980; the family originally farmed the land, selling to local winemakers. The bottling of its premier Brown Zin marked the beginning of the Brown Estate label.
In addition to selling wine and merchandise, the company offers three levels of membership, which gives one access to new blends as well as discounted rates on purchases and tastings. The winery itself is only accessible to members and their guests; however, the general public is able to visit Brown Downtown Napa, a tasting room in which members and non-members alike can sample wines in a luxurious setting.
The estate continues to make history, most recently partnering with Delta Airlines to serve two of its flagship wines on domestic flights.
I had the pleasure of stumbling upon this vendor at a vegan street fair in Los Angeles. I had been on the search for an all-natural bath bomb and lo and behold! I found one infused with pure, hydrating almond oil straight from my father's homeland.
Nigel’s Jamaican Almond World is owned by lovely couple, Nigel and Jessica Haughton, who met through mutual friends in Jamaica. The two source almonds from the island and use a cold-press method to create their products, effectively retaining all nutrients. The brand produces pure, bottled almond oil which can be used to moisturize the skin, hair and nails; beard and mustache oil; moringa seed oil serum; and eight varieties of the 'bath bomb fizzy.' Potential buyers can also order a free sample of the almond oil.
I bought six of the bath bomb fizzies cause I could not decide on just one; they are all delightfully soothing but the 'Love Me Lavender' is heavenly!
Clearly, I could gush about The Lip Bar all day. I first wrote about co-founder and CEO, Melissa Butler, in my Boss Ladies post. Since then, the company’s product offerings have tremendously increased. The fact that I met her and that the brand's messaging resonates with my values makes me a natural ambassador!
The cosmetics brand launched in 2015 as a result of Butler feeling frustrated by the linear definition of beauty being pushed by mainstream media.
Her empire continues to grow; since launching with a handful of lipstick and lip gloss shades, The Lip Bar now sells an array of makeup products. The company most recently introduced its 'Fast Face Kits,' comprised of foundations, four-in-one face palettes, brow gels, eyeliner, mascara, and lip products. The kits are intended to help people streamline their makeup routine, reducing it down to a brisk seven-minute-slay, and are cheekily described as “...makeup for people with sh*t to do!”
Blush and bronzer duos are also part of the new product lineup.
All products are vegan and cruelty-free. Other brand values include making everyone feel welcomed and represented in beauty, as well as making products that are easy to use and require a minimum skill set to apply.
In addition to supporting The Lip Bar's online store, you can find this brand at its brick-and-mortar shop in Detroit, MI. The line is also available in 100+ Target stores nationwide and can be ordered through Target's website.
You've probably heard of Tiffany Aliche, AKA Tiffany The Budgetnista, because her branding team is extraordinary. She has appeared on The Real and Good Morning America; partnered with Ellevest; and, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the New York Times, just to name a few publications.
A former preschool teacher hailing from New Jersey, Aliche is dedicated to making financial education accessible to women around the globe. To date, the powerhouse has helped more than 800,000 women attain financial freedom since she started in 2014.
The Live Richer Academy is a virtual learning suite comprised of 100+ financial literacy courses. The trainings are led by Aliche and approximately 50 other financial experts, and range in topic from repairing credit, to budgeting for travel, investing in the stock market, and buying real estate. It is truly a buffet of learning! Members pay either a monthly, bi-annual, or annual fee to gain access to the modules and tools, as well as access to a private Facebook community. I tried it out for two months and to be honest, the sheer number of offerings can get overwhelming (which is a good thing!). I would suggest making a plan to get through the courses at a pace that works for you.
If you're more of a textbook learner, Tiffany has authored several books and notebooks on personal finance which are available for purchase on Amazon.
Rondel Holder, founder of Soul Society 101, started making waves in the Black travel space before it became a movement. The jetsetter started his blog in 2012 to share his travel experiences and tips, creating an online community for other young Black professionals interested in globetrotting. The social media page has amassed over 75,000 followers, and the brand has expanded to include a podcast and events.
Holder's online blog is still alive and well. However, his deep-dive tutorial on how to travel well and travel often lies in his masterclass entitled, The Ultimate Guide to Travel. The online course breaks down using loyalty programs and credit cards points; understanding travel trends and seasonality; and, which online resources he uses to book travel on the low.
I recently tuned in to a Mimconnect webinar hosted by the travel expert and his gems were priceless. In addition to building an extensive travel brand, he has established quite the name for himself in the media space, so I trust that his expertise is well worth the investment.
I would tell you why moving your money into a Black-owned bank is vital, but OneUnited Bank puts it best:
“Black buying power in America today is over $1.2 trillion dollars. When focused on improving our neighborhoods and supporting Black-owned businesses that are more likely to hire Black people, those dollars become a powerful force. We want you to stand up and represent. We want you to be part of the movement – to BankBlack® and #BuyBlack – to demonstrate our economic power. Yes…Black Lives Matter. Black Money Matters.”
The financial institution was originally founded in 1968 as Unity Bank & Trust Company in Boston, MA. It became the largest Black-owned bank in the country after combining four smaller Black-owned banks, and establishing physical branches in Los Angeles, Boston, and Miami.
In spite of having offices in just three cities, the institution allows consumers to sign up online via its 'Internet branch,' and has made more than 30,000 ATM locations available to customers nationwide.
The product offerings include debit, ATM, and credit cards in addition to mobile and online banking services. The bank, too, provides financial education courses and workshops as part of its 'Get #FinanciallyLit' initiative; the course topics include financial basics, retirement planning, and preventing elder fraud, just to name a few.
Have you patronized any of the businesses listed above? Which are you most excited to support?