When you think of the year 2020, what is the first word that comes to mind? Is it “frustration,” caused by the social unrest that has seemingly reached the ultimate tipping point this year? Or is it “exhausting,” due to the feeling that this nightmare of a year is never going to end? This year has been one for the books, but surprisingly enough, none of those words came to mind when I asked myself that question. Instead, I immediately thought of the word “innovative.”
The number of creative projects I have seen from peers and those on social media has left me in awe. From trying new hobbies to seeing friends learn new skills to discovering new recipes—such as homemade chocolate mousse—this is the year of innovation. However, amidst all this innovation, the eruption of small businesses developed by African Americans is what has caught my attention the most.
According to USA Facts, the 2018 Annual Business Survey found that Black or African Americans owned 124,004 businesses in 2017 which only accounted for 2.2% of the 5.7 million businesses in the United States. Putting that into perspective made me realize just how few small black-owned businesses there are, not to mention how little representation there is for others aspiring to have their own small businesses.
It made me immensely curious to search for some, and little did I know that I would encounter small black-owned businesses owned by students right here on campus.
Already juggling school and handling extracurriculars, these inspiring young women have managed to add being small business owners to their resumes as well, and they make it a point to handle everything “like a boss.” They are passionate about their projects, and they are not afraid to let everyone know. Read below to see precisely how these ladies are killing the small business game while being full-time students.
BeautyThat Waist Trainers – Taylor Tarver
Q: What sparked the name of your small business and what service/product(s) are you offering?
TT: BeautyThat was a name created for my YouTube Channel back in 2013. My overall message is “Don’t forget to BeautyThat,” meaning to beautify everything in your life. My product is BeautyThat Waist Trainers, which [are] used to enhance workouts, strengthen the core, and increase posture and back support. My product, unlike others, is made of breathable material, easy to adjust, and reasonably priced. I cultivated this business with the hope of spreading awareness of health and fitness, along with body-confidence and positivity for Black women in my community.
Q: Amid juggling school, what inspired you to take the initiative to begin a small business?
TT: I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset and wanted to expand the name of my brand into a physical product. There are plenty of college women who are on similar fitness journeys as me, and because I knew my product would be helpful for us, I was determined to get this solution out there. Balancing work and education will always be a challenge, but knowing I’m helping others keeps me going.
Q: As a small business owner, what are some of the most rewarding things you’ve experienced thus far?
TT: The testimonials I receive on a regular basis have been the most rewarding feedback. What inspires me to keep going is not only the progress I am experiencing using my product but knowing that it’s working for others too. I have sold to college students, mothers, grandmothers, and so many women on different paths of life, and hearing each of their unique stories on how the BeautyThat Waist Trainer has enhanced their fitness journey makes the hard work worthwhile.
Q: As a young black woman, what piece of advice do you have for young girls of color who want to be entrepreneurs?
TT: Believe in yourself. Half the time, we are our own worst critic and our own worst enemy. Do not let negative thoughts like “everyone does this,” “my product isn’t as good as…,” etc. creep into your mind. No field is too saturated. The key is bringing YOU into your product/service. You are what makes it unique. Find a way to stand out among the crowd. You got this!
Blinks by Bambi – Essence Thomas
Q: What sparked the name of your small business and what service/product(s) are you offering?
ET: The name of my business is called “Blinks by Bambi.” I wanted to create an easy, catchy and memorable name that customers could identify my business by. Blinks by Bambi is a small, affordable eyelash boutique that also provides apparel, accessories, cosmetics and more!
Q: Amid juggling school, what inspired you to take the initiative to begin a small business?
ET: We can all agree that being a full-time college student is very expensive. Therefore, I wanted to find a way to build my personal savings and make it a fun and rewarding experience! I aimed to create a business that catered to a wide demographic of students in a college setting. I knew that a plethora of women on campus would benefit from my products, regardless of the occasion or event they needed to attend. Therefore, I decided to create “Blinks by Bambi” to provide women in college an affordable, creative and expressive outlet that would promote self-care [and] boost overall confidence and positive self-esteem one sale at a time.
Q: As a small business owner, what are some of the most rewarding things you’ve experienced thus far?
ET: Some of the most rewarding experiences I have witnessed so far as a small business owner are seeing the impact my products have made on my customers’ overall well-being. I love it when my customers send me finished looks and feedback about wearing my products. One of the most rewarding experiences to date as an entrepreneur is when one of my customers explained to me that my products have really boosted her self-esteem. She stated that she felt so much happier and confident in her own body and that my genuine customer service really impacted her life in a major way. Her comments have really pushed and inspired me to keep going as an entrepreneur.
Q: As a young black woman, what piece of advice do you have for young girls of color who want to be entrepreneurs?
ET: As a young black woman, college student and entrepreneur, I would advise young women of color to push forward with any dream, idea or concept that comes to mind, regardless of what anyone else may think or say! Find the beauty and creativity within yourself and use that to fuel your inner passion for your business. Remember, you are unstoppable, you have what it takes, and the sky is the limit!
KM Branding – Kristen Louder
Q: What sparked the name of your small business and what service/product(s) are you offering?
KL: The name of my business is KM Branding. My first and middle name (Kristen MiKayla) [are] really catchy. I wanted a name that was catchy…yet links back to me. “KM Branding” does just that. I create graphics such as logos, flyers, price lists, website design and YouTube content with my business.
Q: Amid juggling school, what inspired you to take the initiative to begin a small business?
KL: I began to take the initiative to begin my small business because, over the years, I found myself loving to create content as well as help others with their brand. Before my business, I had a lot of DMs about personal branding, so I channeled it into a small business. I produced it around COVID when a lot of things began to shut down and I stopped working and began school remotely.
Q: As a small business owner, what are some of the most rewarding things you’ve experienced thus far?
KL: The most rewarding thing as a small business owner is observing my growth. That’s through my designing, dealing with customers, and my branding and presentation. Also, the amount of support from my friends and family. I’m very thankful.
Q: As a young black woman, what piece of advice do you have for young girls of color who want to be entrepreneurs?
KL: JUST DO IT! As black women, we are leaders! We are so slept on. We need to show up and show out for our future generation continually. Remember the “why” in which you are doing it and put your all into it.