I have always loved small businesses and entrepreneurial content services. I appreciate the way in which small businesses often help our immediate communities and bring a more personalized feel to the service that you are provided. Small businesses are the hearts of our downtowns and they are the driving force behind many of today’s entrepreneurs. In my home state of New Jersey we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of black youth who have taken the time to perfect their crafts. I decided to gather a few NJ black influential youth athletes, content creators, small business owners and beauticians. I am a strong advocate for supporting black youth especially when so many in my own state continue to do so much good. Covid-19 has taken a large toll on businesses across the country, but it has especially taken a toll on small businesses. I wanted to not only bring awareness to them, but shine a light on black youth small businesses in a time when they need our support now more than ever.
SOBERSOCIETYGOODS – CLOTHING
Damani, the founder, believes that their presentation is what has helped to especially elevate their company. “People know us because of the effort we put in. They remember from the photoshoots and the different ways that we have been able to market ourselves” he told me. “We especially thrive on human interaction. This is where word of mouth, photoshoots and pop up shops have been especially vital for us. Due to corona we have definitely missed out on many of these opportunities and have had to expand our ecommerce and social media platforms.” Thankfully, SoberSocietyGoods was able to sell out of their most recent collection which launched just before quarantine began. Despite this, he still described to me the ways that business may not be the same after corona. He worried, “It has been hard to trust overseas companies and vendors for an upcoming line. Many people are not back in business, but are desperate for money so we have to be careful with who we place orders with.” They are currently working to produce items that will be able to donate money to some of the current organizations that are helping to fight racism and covid-19.
SEVENSREEL – PHOTOGRAPHY
You can find him courtside, field side, or even just at the location of a personal photoshoot. Sevensreel provides the highest quality images in a way that helps to capture the full glory of NJs top athletes. His pictures feature black athletes that he often surrounds with warm brown tones. He takes a large majority of his pictures from underneath to help add to the magnitude of the athletes position. He travels, photographs, and edits all by himself, but working during covid-19 has been especially hard for the one man team. Due to the nature of his shoots he has been unable to have any events to photo and video himself. He has been able to have a few personal shoots due where he can appropriately socially distance, but the shutdown of sports has made him unable to due what he loves.
HAIRBYSHAY – MY STYLIST
Eighteen. Self Taught. Hair Stylist. Entrepreneur. These are just some of the ways to describe the beautician and business owner Samantha P. While she has been in high school, Samantha has taught herself how to do protective styles on natural hair. Protective styles are styles that are used to help women of color protect their natural hair. These styles include box braids, cornrows, weaves as well as wigs. These styles must be correctly done in order to protect and grow the hair that is being covered underneath. The technique in these styles is often hard to master and can cost hundreds of dollars for the client. She was able to teach herself to do these styles and provide her services at prices that are affordable for not only other teens or age, but working moms. Due to her amazing work, great customer service and Samantha has been able to grow her clientele across not only NJ, but NY, PA & CT as well. Each month as she launches a new calendar with openings she fully books in less than 24hrs. During the holidays she had to launch at midnight to slow the rush and still had less than five openings in the morning! In addition to her hairstyling business, Samantha was able to launch a fashion and beauty collection called “Shay’s collection”. She sells clothing, custom lip glosses, sunglasses and faux eyelashes. Due to the nature 
of having a non essential business, she has been unable to continue to do hair. She told her customers, “I will be abiding by the law and opening once the governor allows me to”. Many beauticians have had to secretly accept clients to stay afloat but Samantha is adamant about her customers staying home so that she will be back to business as usual when quarantine ends.
LASTYLE, I WANTED TO INCLUDE LINKS TO TWO PSU BRANDS AND STYLISTS !
- All Clothing is Different – Clothing
- Arri’s Doll House – Hair
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH !
Everything about this post is beautiful. I love how you incorporated such powerful examples of local talents and abilities coming together and creating a greater good for the community, or providing the best business for the community they can. I really appreciate you delving into Black History Month and what it means to you personally, it deepened my appreciation to read this and learn even more about the communities! I pray they each are able to come out of the hardships that Covid has brought on small businesses.
I love this post! Totally agree with you on the personal feel of small businesses. First thing that comes to mind for me in particular is, growing up in State College and playing soccer, I used to go to Rapid Transit downtown at least once a year for new shorts, or cleats, or shinguards, etc, all the way up until I left home for my freshman year of college (not at Penn State). The guys there started to recognize me and my older brother every time I went in for new cleats!
I love this spotlight on black youth small businesses, it is so impressive that they’ve created really cool, successful businesses and at such a young age!