August is National Black Business Month, and SheaMoisture ensured that the celebration of entrepreneurship was amplified this summer with their launch of Business That Bonds. Collaborating with the Black women’s platform, She Did That., their mission is to expand opportunities for small business owners through financial support and visibility at culturally significant events.
SheaMoisture and She Did That. hosted a private dinner at Healthy as a Motha, a plant-based Dominican and Trinidadian-owned restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where business owners established a stronger community through chats of the ups and downs of owning a business. Some of the companies present were Cloudy Donut Co, Brooklyn Tea, The Gentlemen’s Factory, IBest Wines, Essie Spice, CeeCee’s Closet, and more.
Launching at CURLFEST 2024, Business That Bonds is an effort to remove barriers for Black-owned businesses while expanding access and contributing to their growth. Through business bonding, they’re able to hold each other accountable and spread awareness of what’s being created by these entrepreneurs. “Teamwork makes the dream work,” there’s no better way to dream than to see all cultures represented and flourishing small businesses.
“This partnership is synergistic in ways that will not go unnoticed by our community. I’ve always respected SheaMoisture’s commitment to Black entrepreneurs and featured its launch of the New Voices Fund in my documentary, She Did That.,” says Renae Bluitt, She Did That. Founder. “To be standing alongside the brand today in our mission to empower Black founders is a dream realized that will positively impact our community for many years to come.”
Black-owned businesses are essential to the community’s growth and togetherness, and are a factor in establishing financial success in the culture. According to Pew Research, owning a business is an economic success for 22% of Black Americans. A success that many deemed unattainable in the past but is now a motivation for financial freedom, as well as creating products and services that resonate with the Black culture and consumers.
“Economic uncertainty and challenges to diversity, equity, and inclusion threaten the lifeblood of
Black businesses, with women-owned businesses getting hit the hardest,” says Simone Jordan, Head of Purpose at SheaMoisture “SheaMoisture is committed to uplifting Black-owned entrepreneurs and is excited to partner with She Did That. to provide access for local businesses at some of the biggest Black cultural moments this year.”
Through this initiative, SheaMoisture plans to connect with over 75 small Black-owned businesses by the end of 2024, supporting them at events such as CultureCon, the She Did That Holiday Bazaar, and more. And even though there are only a few days left in the month, Black-owned businesses should be celebrated and supported all year.
Learn more about SheaMoisture’s support of Black-owned businesses here.
