Black-Owned Businesses You Should Support Today and Every Day

Founded By: Rod Johnson, Pernell Cezar
Established: 2018
Headquarters: Des Moines, IA

Pernell Cezar and Rod Johnson both had established themselves in successful careers in retail merchandising and higher education fundraising before they decided to put it all on the line and go into business for themselves. They started in Des Moines, Iowa, and are now a national Coffee and Tea brand available at select Whole Foods nationwide, as well as Amazon and Target.

Coffee and Tea BLK + Bold @BlkandBold / Twitter.com

They launched BLK+BOLD as a way of providing high-quality coffee and tea while also making a social impact. The brand donates 5% of sales to organizations dedicated to eradicating youth homelessness, enhancing workforce development, and sustaining youth programming.

Founded By: Paul and Tasia Ford
Established: 2011
Headquarters: Phoenix, AZ

You may not know that there is a whole competition dedicated to hot sauce, called the California Hot Sauce Expo. In 2018, a little known hot sauce company from Arizona de-throned the previous champion for the 3rd time in a row. Paul and Tasia’s company Big Red’s Hot Sauce quickly rose to success and they are known for a hot sauce designed not only to set your mouth ablaze, but rather to provide a sauce rich with complex flavor. 

Hot Sauce Big Red's Hot Sauce @BigRedshotsauce / Facebook.com

Paul and Tasia gave up their careers and invested their life savings into this company, traveling nationwide to farmers’ markets and hot sauce expos to get their brand out there. You can support Big Red’s by purchasing directly from their website.

Founded By: Cashmere Nicole
Established: 2011
Headquarters: San Diego, CA

Cashmere Nicole is one of the most successful black entrepreneurs in the world. Her brand, Beauty Bakerie, started from nothing when she was a single mom struggling with breast cancer, doing everything she could to build a brand of beauty products specifically formulated for women with darker skin.

Makeup Beauty Bakerie @beautybakerie / Facebook.com

Since 2011, at the age of 33, Cashmere grew the company fervently and eventually landed Beyonce’s attention, as well as a partnership with US Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglass. The brand is now global and is sold in Ulta stores and other retailers around the world. 

Founded By: Jason Ridgel
Established: 2018
Headquarters: Nashville, TN

Jason Ridgel has already had a successful run heading up multiple health care companies and working in the corporate world. He eventually decided he wanted to do something more fun, so in 2018 he founded Guidance Whiskey. Guidance Whiskey is one of the few Black-owned spirit brands in the US and is already making big splashes in Nashville and around the south. 

Whisky Guidance Whiskey @guidancewhiskey / Facebook.com

Like many other big whiskey brands, Ridgel knew he had to have a, “face” of the company. He commissioned his friend, soul singer Larry Dodson, who is an icon in the world of R&B/Soul/Funk, to be the face of the brand.

Founded By: Shontay Lundy
Established: 2016
Headquarters: Miami, FL

Traditional sunscreens have not been ideal for people of darker complections, as they tend to leave a white cast on the skin. In 2016, Shontay Lundy decided it was time for Black girls everywhere to have a sunscreen made for them, that doesn’t leave white residue and is made of healthy natural ingredients. 

Sunscreen Black Girl Sunscreen @blackgirlsunscreen / Facebook.com

She has grown the brand successfully over the years and most recently received a 1 million dollar investment which led to her products being sold in Targets nationwide. Black Girl Sunscreen is the only independent, Black-owned brand carried full-time in Target’s sun care section. 

Founded By: Hana Getachew
Established: 2015
Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY

Let’s face it, the luxury home furnishing business has not been traditionally very diverse. Brands like Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Crate and Barrel are all white-owned and mostly marketed towards white people. Ethiopian immigrant Hana Getachew set out to change that. 

Textiles and Home Goods Bolé Road Textiles @boleroadtextiles / Facebook.com

After getting a degree in Interior Design from Cornell University, Hana Getachew started her company Bolé Road in 2015. She collaborates with small weaving collectives in Ethiopia to bring traditional African designs to contemporary home furnishings like pillows, blankets, rugs, and more! 

Founded By: Carly Cushnie, Michelle Ochs
Established: 2008
Headquarters: New York, NY

Designer Carly Cushnie started her fashion brand in 2008 when the world of luxury designers was dominated by white people, specifically white men. Eleven years later, Cushnie has grown up to become an international sensation and is sold in over 100 premiere stockists worldwide. 

Designer Clothes Cushnie @cushnie.nyc / Facebook.com

Her clothes have been worn by celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Lupita Nyong’o, Ava Duvernay, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Lopez, and Padma Lakshmi, just to name a few. Whereas many of Cushnies dresses are very expensive, they have recently launched a more affordable line selling dresses at only $50.

Founded By: Ashley Fouyolle
Established: 2017
Headquarters: Brooklyn, NY

In 2017, designer Ashley Fouyolle realized she was continuously bored with the wrapping paper and stationery she saw out in the world. She decided to take it upon herself to start her own line featuring bold, bright fun designs that she herself would buy. Quality was important as well and it was essential that art and functionality would intersect perfectly across her line of products. 

UNWRP @unwrp / Instagram.com

As the company grew to popularity with Fouyolle’s own designs, she wanted to collaborate with other young artists to give them a platform to create. With every product purchased on the Unwrp site, you have the option to add an additional contribution to the artist themselves. 

Founded By: Beny Ashburn, Teo Hunter
Established: 2018
Headquarters: Inglewood, CA

The craft beer universe has been overwhelmingly dominated by white men. In fact, only 0.6% of brewery employees are Black, and hardly any breweries are Black-owned. One big exception is Crowns and Hops, which is a small microbrewery located in Inglewood, CA.

Craft Beer Crowns & Hops @crownsandhops / Facebook.com

According to owners Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunters, they are, “Dope and Dank,” with Beny being, “The Dope,” and Teo of course, “the Dank.” According to them, their mission is “to create spaces that are community-centric with underserved communities of color in mind, driving diversity, economic growth and influencing inclusion.” 

Founded By: Nancy Twine
Established: 2013
Headquarters: New York, NY

Nancy Twine left a high power Wall Street job to pursue her dream of starting a business inspired by the homemade hair care products she helped her grandmother make when she was growing up. Briogeo skyrocketed to success, making Nancy Twine the youngest black woman to have launched a line at Sephora. 

Hair Products Briogeo @Briogeo / Facebook.com

Briogeo has a full line of hair care products that are all-natural and cruelty-free. The products are also designed for all types of hair and for people of all ethnicities. The company also gives back; during Covid-19 they have committed to providing 50,000 meals to those in need. 

Founded By: Michelle Timberlake
Established: 1991
Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH

Michelle named her beef jerky company after her late mother Marjorie Leona Dawson and even put her mother’s face on the bag in her honor. After all, it was Marjorie who inspired her daughter to start the company. Now, Michelle Timberlake is the world’s first and only Black woman-owned beef jerky company. 

Beef Jerky Marjorie's Beef Jerky @MarjoriesBeefJerky / Facebook.com

Over more than 20 years Michelle has boosted the brand’s presence and has even become a featured snack in gift packs to NFL and MLB athletes during training camps. Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Amir Garrett recently stated that Marjorie’s beef jerky was his #1 choice.

Founded By: André Hueston Mack
Established: 2007
Headquarters: McMinnville, OR

Like many classic entrepreneur stories, André Hueston Mack quit a high paying corporate job at Citicorp Investment Services to pursue his lifelong dream of being a winemaker. He first became a sommelier in San Antonio, which was no easy feat. On top of that, he was awarded Best Young Sommelier in America by the prestigious organization, Chaine des Rotisseurs.

Wines Maison Noir Wines @MoutonNoirWines / Facebook.com

That wasn’t enough for André however, as he soon moved to Oregon to start his own wine company, Maison Noir Wines. In addition to being an expert on wine, he also has a fine taste in graphic design which has become a huge part of his business, designing very cool wine labels and merchandise to support his brand. 

Founded By: Tara James
Established: 2016
Headquarters: Los Angeles

Tara James was always fond of the Black greeting cards her father used to get her when she was growing up. When she had a son of her own, she was inspired to create a new company dedicated to Black themed greeting cards, illustrations, stationery, and now even facemasks to help prevent the spread of disease in a stylish way! 

Stationary By Ms James @bymsjames / Facebook.com

Tara describes herself as a “bold, curious free bird who curses like a sailor and is guided by her spirit and creativity.” Her illustrations express this spirit and are full of energy, bright colors, and humor. She also does completely custom projects and commissions for those looking for more specific products. 

Founded By: Melanie White
Established: 2009
Headquarters: New York, NY

Being able to navigate the waters of the constantly changing social media landscape is one of the key factors of success for any young entrepreneur today. Serial entrepreneur Melanie White learned the ropes of digital marketing early as she started a lifestyle blog dedicated to apparel, jewelry, and accessories. She soon launched her own fashion and jewelry business and has grown it to a company featured in hundreds of fashion and lifestyle publications. 

Jewelry Melanie Marie @mckennaramona / Twitter.com

In addition to managing her multiple brands and social media presences, Melanie also somehow finds the time to be a mentor and consultant for young entrepreneurs. Her blog is full of great advice and tips for anyone trying to become an influencer and grow a business from the ground up.