Want to continue to shopping at Black-owned business this holiday season? Are you looking for one of a kind gifts?
Following the billion dollar hit on Black Friday, holiday sales are still declining as more Black shoppers use their spending power as a form of protest. Major credit can be given to the proponents of the #NotOneDime movement, which was thorough in its abstinence of non-essential shopping from Thanksgiving until November 30.
Now, throughout #BlackDecember, Black consumers can continue boycotting major retail stores and spend their dollars with Black-owned businesses. These stores will help you find whatever it is you’re looking for this holiday season.
Lifestyle
Black travelers will love taking advantage of Akwaaba, the upscale vacation home-stays owned by husband and wife team Glenn Pogue and Monique Greenwood. The story goes that the power couple “fell in love with inns when they stayed at their first bed and breakfast back in the early ’90s.” Monique enjoyed her experience so much so, that she found her passion in the inn-keeping business. She now serves as president and CEO of the company.
There’s seriously an African American Dollar Store with all sorts of budget friendly gifts and Black-inspired prints (such as the one above) and collectibles. Let the online cart overflow begin.
Nothing can ever replace a classic game of spades, sure. But Cards for All People co-creator Latesha Williams tells The Huffington Post, “We’re completely disrupting Spades & Bid Whist.” The website gives a quick rundown of the rules. Orders are being taken early since the current stock is already sold out.
Art
Keturah Arial is a young visual artist. Click here to shop for her dynamic illustrations, prints, tees, sweatshirts, mugs, and other goods.
Nicholle Kobi is an artist from France known for her fashionable brown girl illustrations. Her work is available here.
Beauty
Balm & Co is handcrafted by writer, author, and all-around businesswoman Alex Elle. Balm & Co is her first all-natural body and skin care line. She uses a aesthetically pleasing yet careful mix of minimalism and art to display her range of products. Follow @alexelle and @thebalmco on Instagram for more information.
BeeLux is an all-natural honey skincare and home care line. You can also follow the BeeLux blog TheLuxbee. to discover the benefits of using natural beauty products.
When Tristan Walker created Bevel, he wanted to reinvent the way the Black community approached health and beauty products. The luxury shaving line promotes a hair removal system that targets razor bumps and irritation for those with coarse curly hair. Walker reportedly turned down a half billion dollar offer from Schick, Gillette, and Procter & Gamble to ensure that his company remained Black-owned.
If this product looks familiar, it’s because you might have seen it at your local Target or Whole Foods. Camille Rose Naturals is an all-natural line of hair and body care products created by Janell Stephens.
Fashion
Love, Cortnie is a line of handbags created in 2009 by a young entrepreneur named Cortnie, who decided to take her grandmother’s sewing skills and apply them to her idea for creating statement clutch purses. Love, Cortnie’s bags are made from high-end fabrics such as leather, calf hair, and shearling.
Nakimuli is a brand by Tennille McMillan. According to the site, “NAKIMULI has created their own fashion revolution: one that embraces a love of self at any size, inspires sisterhood, individuality, comfort, and lots of fierceness.” The shop features beautiful women of all sizes in eye-opening, bold, and one of a kind African prints.
Nubian Hueman features ethnic fashion apparel, accessories, and beauty brands, along with art of all mediums. The African inspired brand uses a blend of traditional aesthetic and contemporary design.
If you use your clothing to make a statement Philadelphia Printworks is your oyster. Philadelphia Printworks is a screen printing company based in North Philadelphia dedicated to encouraging a culture of activism.
Rachel Stewart Jewelry is a brand by NYC-based artist and jewelry designer, Rachel Stewart. Her pieces are both historic and modern with an all-around range of materials. From wood to wire, each piece makes its own statement.
Founded in 2006 by Rose Battle, Ultimate Model Management, Inc. has grown to become one of the largest Black -wned modeling agencies in Atlanta. The company has a wide range of talent with a roster of promotional, television, commercials, runway, spokes models, voice-overs, narrators, professional dancers, etc.
Hue-Man Bookstore is an online bookstore co-founded in 2013 by Marva Allen. The e-bookstore focuses on the African diaspora market and offers a varied selection of reading material from antiques to travel. Hue-Man also has a philanthropic spirit with its community outreach events.
For all the moms out there, Cyndi Price can relate to the struggle of finding the right products to keep children safe. So she created Loo-Hoo to provide an all natural alternative to the harsh chemicals in laundry materials. Loo-Hoo wool dryer balls are sustainable, biodegradable, and reduce dry time.
This isn’t your average couch cushion. The Llulo brand brings the classic essence of African style to all areas of design. Their mission is to “connect fashion and lifestyle consumers around the world with Ankara fabrics and other cultural influences.”
Simple Scents Candle Company “specializes in high quality home fragrances which include hand poured candles, aromatic oils, aroma sprays, scented aroma bags and signature electrical oil burners that are unique and second to none.” Simply Scents by Shanquita Greggs is also a manufacturing company that provides home goods to private entities. Simple Scents even hosts various school programs and a fundraising program to help charities and local schools.
Rideau Vineyards, owned by Iris Rideau, is one of the few black woman-owned vineyards in the United States. Located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, Rideau produces wines that highlight Rhône varietals, such as Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, which you can purchase at the vineyard or online.
The Lip Bar was created by Melissa Butler, who sought to challenge the standards of beauty and the way women of color view lip color. The Lip Bar proudly boasts its uncompromising view on beauty and health by offering “a unique blend of natural ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and jojoba oil, designed to moisturize, soften and amplify lips.”
FlyJane is an online retailer specializing in the hottest apparel, shoes, and other accessories.
Li Li’s Creations was founded by Malacia Anderson. She creates handmade, made to order, one-of-a-kind clothing with African inspired prints. Her Etsy page has a five-star rating with stellar reviews.
