August is National Black Business Month! Did you know Black business owners account for about 10 percent of U.S. businesses and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses? Black businesses are essential to the people and communities they serve and operate in. Here are just a couple of easy ways to support Black-owned businesses during the month of August and beyond.
Be Intentional
Small businesses and entrepreneurs have been longtime economic drivers and wealth builders in our society. Supporting Black-owned businesses throughout the year can help stabilize a community and create more opportunities for meaningful savings, property ownership, credit building, and generational wealth. It is important to be intentional about providing support beyond the holidays and throughout the year. Support can come in the form of making a purchase, referring others, engaging on social media with tags, shares, and comments, and subscribing to the company’s email list.
Write and Share a Review
Support your favorite Black-owned businesses by leaving an online review on sites like Google, Yelp, and more. Share your review on social outlets as well. By expressing your support through a review, your favorite businesses can rise in rankings for localized searches for services and products.
In honor of Black Business month, we’re thilled to showcase just a few of our members from coast to coast!
Hera Hub Member Highlights
Washington DC
Kim Hall, Founder of Sip+Tipple
In 2021, Kim started Sip+Tipple to build a community of members interested in exploring spirit flavor profiles – understanding what we like and why – and to make it easy and convenient to find and purchase Black-owned brands. Providing a uniquely curated experience for each member is the essence of who they are. They believe that your next shopping experience should be created with YOU in mind. They do the work for you. The end result? Spirit recommendations that match your flavor profile, cocktails recipes curated just for you and invitations to exclusive events designed with you in mind.
Website: sipandtipple.com
Leah Todd, Owner of Feast in a Basket
Feast In A Basket is an exceptional resource for every catering requirement. They are dedicated to providing the finest cuisine to support large and small events of all types, from corporate meetings to receptions to weddings. Well-respected in the industry, Feast In A Basket is known for its passion for providing the ideal catering solutions to meet client needs. Simply put, they help customers impress their guests with exceptional food and courteous, professional staff. Specialties include corporate and social catering, intimate dinners for two up to large groups of 800 and meals for busy professionals.
Website: www.feastinabasket.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/feastinabasket
Carlsbad
Sonja Robinson, Climate Equity Public Policy Advocate of SUN Sustainable Urban Network
Sonja Robinson is the executive producer and host of S.U.N Sustainable Urban Network, a weekly radio broadcast addressing environmental and climate justice as it intersects social, racial, economic justice and equity. She is a community advisor for local, state and federal governments. She is also the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee Chair for NAACP San Diego.
Temecula
Laytricia Towery, Principal Interior Designer of 918 Design Co
918 Design Company is a Commercial and Residential design firm located in the beautiful Murrieta Valley in California. Laytricia Towery, Principal Designer/Owner, has a passion for both design and helping others realize their vision of a beautiful and functional space. By combining the two, 918 Design Co. was born. Laytricia has over 20 years in the home and design industry and earned her Bachelors of Science in Interior Design. 918 Design Co. has combined design and relationship building to successfully meet the needs of the customer in a growing business. 918 Design Co specializes in Commercial, Hospitality, and Residential interiors and space planning.
Website: www.918designco.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/918designco
Kimberlee Smith Austin, Founder, CEO & Strategist of Made2BFit, Made2nspire, Solutions Consulting Group (SCG)
With more than 25 years of strategy experience, Kimberle has coached thousands of business leaders to peak levels of success, performance, profitability, fulfillment, and health. As a highly regarded expert and facilitator working extensively across the world with a variety of businesses including Oracle, IBM, Deloitte, Cardinal Health, City of Chicago, Chick-fil-A, LaSalle Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Kimberle works with professionals with a focus on helping her clients improve their performance and results in business and life.
With more than 25 years of strategy experience, Kimberle has coached thousands of business leaders to peak levels of success, performance, profitability, and fulfillment. As a highly regarded expert and facilitator working extensively across the world with a variety of businesses including Oracle, IBM, Deloitte, Cardinal Health, City of Chicago, Chick-fil-A, LaSalle Bank, Habitat for Humanity and many more. Kimberle works with executives, emerging leaders, and entrepreneurs with a focus on helping her clients improve their performance and results in business and life.
Website: www.kimberlesmithaustin.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlesmithaustin
Troy A. Small, Owner of Copperwater Consulting Inc.
Copperwater Consulting Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in Murrieta, California. Copperwater was formed in 2017 to provide business and government contracting consulting. Copperwater helps small businesses to start, grow, and expand via the government contracting marketplace. In June 2022, Copperwater Consulting won a five-year contract with Riverside County to provide Business Consultant services via the Orange County/Inland Empire Small Business Development Center Network (OCIE SBDC). Under this contract, Troy provides no-cost consulting to eligible small businesses and connects them to free, local resources. Troy is a small business advocate and government contracting ambassador with 28 years’ experience in the Acquisition Career Field. Troy is a retired Contracting Officer and USMC veteran with 20 years of honorable service.
Website: www.copperwaterconsulting.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/troy-a-small-mba
Seatrice Foster, Owner of Trinity Capital Development
Seatrice started her career in Real Estate in 2001 as a Residential Loan Officer at a local mortgage brokerage in Joliet, IL. In 2005 she began originating owner occupied and non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans specializing in restaurants, multi-unit residential and condo developments.
San Diego
Gertrude L. Green, Executive Director of Hands-On-Technology Education Foundation
Hands-On Technology Education is a company committed to empowering youth through mobile technology and the practical application of Computer Science. Through After-School programs and Summer Camps, Hands-On Technology aims to accelerate the understanding of Computer Science in elementary and middle-school age students.
Website: www.handsontecheducation.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mobiletech4kids
Joan Maze, Founder of Life In Seven Coaching and Consulting
Life In Seven, specializes in helping women currently working in higher education transition out of their careers in education and find fulfilling work in other fields. Before starting her own business, Joan was a leader in higher education for 23 years working in various student affairs roles culminating in her last role as a dean of students. She now uses her expertise in leadership development, strategic planning, and change management to help her clients build customized strategies to help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joan-maze
