Shop 200 Black-Owned Businesses at This Virtual Black Friday Market
This summer, in the midst of protests stemming from the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others, Memphis businesswoman Cynthia Daniels made history with a virtual shopping event on Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth Shop Black brought together 100 Memphis Black-owned businesses for a virtual market. Now, with the biggest shopping day of the year around the corner, Daniels is taking it one step further. The Black Business Friday event will feature 200 Black-owned businesses from 65 cities around the country spanning categories from home to clothing, beauty, food, and more. It's never been easier to support Black business owners—and get all your holiday shopping done.
"With Juneteenth Shop Black Virtual Experience being so successful, I wanted to create the same type of event for Black Friday, allowing people to shop safely from the comfort of home on the busiest shopping day of the year," explains Daniels. "More than that though, I wanted to continue the momentum from the Juneteenth event—building awareness and providing access to Black businesses is a mission of our company all year long."
Though Daniels has always been a champion of Black-owned businesses, she notes that supporting these companies (especially small, independent ones) is more important than ever in a year when the coronavirus pandemic has dealt huge blows to many retailers. "Every dollar spent with a Black-owned business helps them sustain during the pandemic year-round," she explains. "It keeps them from closing their doors permanently."
Daniels is also glad to see a recent rise in greater support for BIPOC companies—and wants to ensure that continues. "We’re experiencing a social justice uprising that reinforces the importance of representation," she says. "How you spend your dollar to support a diverse group of makers, artists, creatives, and producers is a big part of that movement, and can make the difference for small business owners to remain open."
So, how does it work? Interested shoppers can sign up here through Eventbrite and will be emailed the Black Business Friday website on 11/27, when they can browse all the companies and shop right through the central hub.
Daniels hopes this type of virtual shopping experience is something that might last even when shops are able to (physically) re-open. "Instead of waiting in long lines or shopping in crowded stores, the family can grab some hot chocolate and take turns exploring new businesses in a virtual space," she explains. "Virtual shopping also means people can connect to makers and shops they would not have had access to otherwise. For instance, Black Business Friday can connect someone in Los Angeles to a Memphis designer—we’re offering the platform for Black businesses to make those new customer connections and introduce their unique products to a wider audience."
Now that sounds like a good reason to shop!
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