Shop Black: Black-Owned Business to Support
Juneteenth is an annual celebration held on June 19th commemorating the announcement made on that date in 1865, proclaiming the state of Texas free from slavery.
While the first Juneteenth was celebrated more than 150 years ago, the Black community is still impacted by the ramifications of slavery, and the generations of systemic racism that have followed.
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, the milestone feels especially poignant. It is painfully evident that the work of dismantling racism is not yet over, and the change America needs is not yet here, but the call to action is loud and clear: support Black communities.
Buying from Black-owned businesses puts power directly into the hands of Black entrepreneurs and creators. This year, in honor of Juneteenth, we’ve put together this list of amazing Black-owned businesses you can support today—and every day.
Inspired by these amazing Black-owned businesses? Create your own eCommerce website.
1. Ruby Love
What is there not to love about Ruby Love’s leak-proof period underwear and swimwear? Ruby Love’s mission is to empower the wearer of their clothing no matter the time of the month, with an environmentally sustainable alternative to mainstream, disposable menstrual hygiene products.
Ruby Love’s popularity speaks for itself: over $22M in revenue to date is proof that people love this brand. Period.
Ruby Love makes it easy to keep coming back for more with a points-based rewards program that encourages customer loyalty. They also provide discounts when you buy more than one item at a time with Ruby Love Bundles, and offer up thoughtful collections like their First Period Kits.
The Spice Suite has become a flavor sensation, selling spices that founder Angel Gregorio sources from her travels to exotic spice markets all over the world.
Each month, Angel puts together a new SpiceBox set, which often sells out within minutes of being posted to her social accounts. In addition to the SpiceBoxes, The Spice Suite sells a selection of cooking accoutrements, and The Little Black Spice Book, full of unique, spice-centric recipes.
Another reason to love what Angel is cooking?
Her support of Black women entrepreneurs. The Spice Suite offers up their Washington, D.C. storefront as a free pop-up shop for local businesswomen of color. To date, the storefront has hosted over 450 pop-up shops. “This space has transformed from just a spice shop to a dream incubator,” said Gregorio in a 2020 interview.
"The notion that you have to have a seat at the table before you bring somebody else is false.You can absolutely bring people along as you climb your ladder to success…” - Angel Gregorio
Shoppers can purchase the items from the pop-up shops online, where they are featured on The Spice Suite’s SPICEGIRLIN' Marketplace page.
3. COTA Skin
Cota Skin is a female-owned and operated company based in New Orleans, Louisiana, committed to providing the perfect skincare regimen for all skin types. Newcomers to the product line can take the Skin IQ Quiz on their site to determine which products are best recommended for them.
The Skin IQ Quiz provides real value to customers by pairing them with the right products for their skin, while simultaneously adding to the company's subscriber list and growing its customer base.
COTA skin uses email marketing to keep their customers in the loop about new products and sales that they’re running, which in turn help drive sales. COTA's thoughtful approach to educating customers about their products while finding a way to keep in touch is just one of the reasons to admire this brand.
Another reason? CBD.
While skincare enthusiasts will see many familiar, beloved ingredients in their products, like argan oil, collagen, salicylic acid & Vitamin E, COTA skin is innovating by adding CBD to your beauty regimen. CBD is a powerful antioxidant, with hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties that make it a valuable player in skincare.
Check out their best-selling COTA Cleanser, Men's Skincare Products, and wildly popular Instagram for some skinspiration.
Evolve Clothing Gallery is a menswear boutique showcasing edgy, high-fashion clothing and accessories. The store offers up items from both emerging designers, and a select roster of established brands. With a brick-and-mortar store in Somerville, NJ, their clothes perfectly represent the urban-elegant vibe of NYC streetwear.
“Our goal is to stay unique, always stay above and beyond, and to always bring those exclusive wardrobes to our clients” - RanD Pitts, Evolve Founder
Aside from their amazing products, Evolve Clothing Gallery also deserves a shout-out for their adaptability, or moreover, their ability to… evolve.
In 2020 the clothing shop was forced to close their brick-and-mortar store because of COVID-19 restrictions and had to quickly adapt to selling exclusively online until restrictions eased. Evolve has done an admirable job creating an online experience that feels very true to their brand.
A Wix Chat option on the homepage makes customer service tangible for online shoppers, and they offer free shipping domestically for all orders over $150.
When Evolve was able to reopen their retail location, they integrated their online store to their POS system, and now offer customers the option to buy online with free in-store pickup.
This increased variety in purchasing and delivery options have contributed to Evolve’s incredible growth, which founder RanD Pitts placed at an amazing 30% week-over-week since launching their online store.
Shop Evolve Clothing Gallery for their selection of inspiring footwear, bags, and tastefully curated sunglasses.
Love to plan? Have a soft spot for stationary? Look no further than Ivory Paper Co. for beautiful paper products, stickers, and daily planners.
Founder Alitzah Stinson always held a love for stationery and planners, but never could find the right planner to fit her busy lifestyle as a CEO and Influencer. After years of jumping from planner to planner and never being satisfied, Alitzah launched Ivory Paper Co. named after Alitzah's daughter, Eleanor Ivory.
Ivory Paper Co. planners are customizable by start date, length, and optional personalization of your name or title on the cover.
In addition to using their site to sell products, Ivory Paper Co. hosts a popular blog, with topics ranging from profiles of Stinson’s daily looks, to company updates, to broader topics surrounding organization and efficiency.
This content enhances the human side of online shopping. It also serves to draw in potential buyers, keep clientele connected to the brand, and builds brand loyalty and trust. Content marketing with blogs is an important part of a solid SEO strategy—content is often what facilitates clicks and drives search traffic to a domain.
6. Ultasmile
Ultasmile has created an innovative three-sided toothbrush that you didn’t know you need, but are certain to love.
People rave about their product, and Angelia Morrison, co-owner and CEO of Ultasmile, has amassed an impressive following on social media with her bright TikTok campaigns. Some of Morrison’s TikTok videos have amassed over 2,000,000 views, with one video alone bringing in nearly $40,000 in sales.
Advertising on social media can be a potent tool for online businesses. Ultasmile’s use of video content is especially effective in helping educate consumers about their unique product, which may need to be seen to be understood.
The Ultasmile three-sided toothbrush is a fresh new take on toothcare, and their success has been amazing. Coming up with ecommerce business ideas
as creative as this one might seem intimidating, but people interested in getting started with eCommerce don’t have to reinvent the wheel, or the toothbrush for that matter, to start selling successfully online.
7. The Conjure
The Conjure, by Lala Inuti Ahari sells a selection of candles, body souffles, bracelets, and stones all made and selected with special energy and intention imbued to them by Lala, who is “known worldwide as a master conjurer, root worker, Vodou divinity specialist, spirit keeper and healer.”
Spiritual healing has deep roots in Ahari’s family, with generations of healers in her ancestry. Her lineage on one side dates hundreds of years back to slaves in Virginia, and on the other side, deep in southern Texas.
Lala has amassed an impressive following on social media, with over 230K followers on Instagram. On the site, visitors can also book sessions with The Conjure Academy, a series of online courses dedicated to teaching about Lala’s practice.
Her candles sell to clientele all over the world, and skeptics need only read the many rave reviews of her products to know that people love The Conjure.
Pretty Melanin is a Black-owned shop offering up all natural high-quality skincare products geared toward Black women.
Founder Esther Joseph launched the organic product line after struggling to find products that worked for her own skin, and realizing that an all natural approach is what her skin needed. After extensive research, Joseph created a product line with no preservatives, chemicals or fragrances, stating, “You can't treat natural skin with unnatural skin remedies.”
All of their products are produced in the UK, and are certified Vegan and Cruelty-Free.
"Every jar is handmade with love, in hopes of being able to also be the solution to another black girl's skin problem. Because a pretty face and pretty melanin go hand in hand." - Esther Joseph
Pretty Melanin lets the results speak for themselves, with a dedicated review page filled with before and after pictures of customers, bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers.
Adopting a new skincare regime can be scary, especially for people with troublesome skin, so photos of incredible skin transformations coupled with testimonials serve as a strong form of assurance and social proof for potential buyers.
Selling good products is only the beginning of a successful online business. The Black-owned businesses we’ve highlighted here have built strong eCommerce brands through a combination of selling products that people love, and smart marketing that has built a community of loyal customers.
Wix eCommerce is a platform that can help you grow your business, as it has for this list of incredible Black-owned businesses. Join these amazing entrepreneurs and create your eCommerce website or learn how to become an entrepreneur.
Brielle Gordon
Marketing Writer, Wix eCommerce
Brielle is a Colorado native with a passion for innovation and helping to mobilize entrepreneurs. Brielle is a marketing writer for Wix eCommerce, which powers over 700k online stores worldwide.
