5 ways to support Black-owned businesses right now

Since the death of George Floyd on May 25, people across the world have been protesting and rioting for justice and the end of police brutality. While some have been placing their boots on the ground in real life, others have been showing support by using social media to highlight different places to donate, hotlines to call, and black-owned businesses to buy from. After all, while posting about racial injustice on social media channels is a great first step in supporting Black Americans, we can do more as a community to give back and lift up Black people by reaching out directly and financially supporting the companies they have created.

If you don’t know where to begin, we provided ideas on how you can support Black-owned businesses today (and always), and also rounded up a list of a few Black companies you can shop at ASAP.

How to support Black businesses

1 Provide services for free.

If you have a particular set of skills that you think could benefit a Black-owned business, offer your services for free. For instance, if you’re a graphic designer and think you can create menus for a restaurant, ask if they need help. If you’re a photographer who wants to take headshots of Black business owners, do it. All you have to do is send a call out on your social media channels explaining what skills you have to offer and how you want to help.

2Donate money.

If you already know a small business you deeply love and want to support, why not donate directly to it? Email the company to see if it has a financial account (like Venmo or PayPal) to which you can directly send money. If there isn’t an account and you still want to show support, ask if the business has an organization or relief fund that you can donate your money to instead. Either way, it’s a win-win for the company, for you, and the community.

3 Reach out to owners directly.

You can also email or DM a company/owner and ask how you can be of service. Because business owners know the ins and outs of their own companies, they’ll be able to tell you exactly what they need help with—and you never know, it might be something you didn’t even realize was needed but that you can help out with (i.e. social media services, product packaging, etc).

4 Shop their stores.

Of course, the easiest way to support Black businesses is directly shopping at their stores—in real life (when possible) or online. Not only will purchasing products or services from these companies show that you’re an ally, but it will help keep them afloat. If you don’t have anything in particular that you want to purchase for yourself, think about sending a random gift to a loved one. Your friend will appreciate the present and the business owner will appreciate your purchase.

Not sure where to shop exactly? Consider downloading the Official Black Wall Street app. This app is the largest Black-owned business discovery app in the country, with over 1.16 million users.

5Share info about the brands on social media.

If finances are tough right now, you can also show support for Black-owned businesses by simply posting about them on your social media channels. Share the companies’ stories, the owners’ histories, and the reasons that you want to support these businesses right now. Not only will this get the company names out there, it could also provide income to owners—which is incredibly important given how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected small businesses.

4 Black-owned businesses to support

1Golde

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Golde is a wellness/self-care company with the intention to bring good, healthy vibes into homes through the use of superfood essentials and beauty products. Co-owner Trinity Mouzon Wofford and her partner, Issey Kobori, created the brand in 2017 and work out of their home in Brooklyn, New York.

2Pur Home

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Pur Home, which was created by Angela Richardson, provides natural cleaning products for the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. All ingredients are non-toxic, eco-friendly, and biodegradable.

3 Pattern Beauty

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If you’re not familiar with Pattern, you may be familiar with the owner, who happens to be Tracee Ellis Ross. NBD. The actor created Pattern to help Black women fall in love with their curls again. The company uses ingredients meant to aid Black women’s hair (i.e. jojoba oil, argan oil, and shea butter), and the products’ packing materials are reusable.

4 The Honey Pot Co.

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The Honey Pot is the first plant-based feminine care system on the market. From tampons to menstrual liners and sponges, the company was created by Bea Dixon to make women feel confident and secure in the feminine products they use.

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