Black-Owned Friday

November 19, 2022

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. Unfortunately, Covid-19 took a toll on a vast number of small businesses. Small businesses have rallied together to create Pink Friday, the Friday before Black Friday, to encourage shoppers to shop local before spending it all with big box retailers. According to Forbes.com, "black-owned businesses were some of the hardest hit by Covid-19." Black-owned businesses have closed at double the rate of white-owned businesses due to the pandemic.

Black-owned Friday

Toward the end of 2020, Google searches for "black-owned businesses" exploded. As a result, Google has partnered with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. to celebrate and support Black-owned businesses with "Black-Owned Friday." It occurs on the same day as Black Friday; however, the goal is to make it a day to search, support, and shop at Black-owned businesses.

Ways to support

Search

Google has made it possible for black-owned business owners to add a tag on their business profile that states "identifies as Black-owned." Open your Google Maps or type in the search bar on Google, "black-owned businesses near me." If you don't shop or share today, can you plan to visit their business or use their services sometime in the next month? If you do none of the above, increasing your awareness of your surroundings is a step in the right direction.

Shop

Take your search further by placing an order with the small business you found. If you need help seeing small businesses to shop with, Target supports Black-owned Friday and curates a collection full of Black-owned brands. Click here to shop! If you are a black-business owner, keep reading, you won't want to miss Target's supplier diversity program.

I hope you have found some amazing finds by following the steps above. Do you want to share about a friend's business, one down the street, or the bomb product you just bought? You never know what your one share on social media or referral by word-of-mouth can do for a small business. So take a few minutes and share about one black-owned business with others.

Support some of my favorite black-owned businesses

ShaToya, owner of Handmade by Toya

Toya is based out of beautiful Miami, FL. Her customer service and prints are unmatched. But, even if you don't need a cart full of screen prints, her Facebook group is a community you want to be a part of.

Support here. Shop here.

Akela, owner of AK Makes

Akela is another FL-based business; however a bit further North in Gainesville, FL. This soon-to-be mom of 2 works in the medical field by day while running her t-shirt business by night. If you can catch her live on social media, you are in for a treat! Grab your next graphic tee with her.

Support here. Shop here.

Mary-Ashley, owner of It's Made by Mary

Mary-Ashley is based out of Worchester, MA. There is a good chance MA has whatever you need, from tees to tumblers! If you need wholesale items, she can take care of you. Click below for more info on Tie-Dye with Tom tees (her son)!

Support here. Shop here.

Ereeka, owner of SweeTees Creations

Ereeka is based out of Richmond Hill, GA. I will never know how this mom of three (twins included) does it. Ereeka has a knack for customer service and offers tees, mugs, door mats, jewelry and more! Check out all she has to offer below.

Support here. Shop here.