Black-owned companies have been arduous hit by coronavirus closures. In honor of Black Historical past Month, PIX11 talked to 3 Black enterprise house owners from New York Metropolis to see how they’re getting by practically one yr into the COVID-19 pandemic.
Watch our full interview here.
Meet:
- Janelle Williams, Proprietor of Gentle the Candle Co.
- Shelly Marshall, Proprietor of Island Pops
- Sunshine, Proprietor of Completely happy Cork
Gentle The Candle Co./ WPIX
Q: Your tag line is “The candle that retains on giving” — what impressed you to need to use the proceeds out of your merchandise to offer again to the group, particularly low-income faculties?
Janelle Williams, Proprietor of Light The Candle Co.: I used to be impressed to make use of my funds to assist my college students as a result of I really believed that no pupil must be left behind or be with out. I work in a low earnings college district and one thing as small as a pencil could be a tough merchandise for college students to acquire. Having the ability to present them with issues that may assist them succeed is essentially the most fulfilling factor I may do. If I may do extra, I’d!
Q: How can the PIX11 viewers assist help your corporation?
Janelle: By sharing my social media, web site and spreading the phrase! If one particular person tells one other particular person, there’s no restrict to the place we are able to go. The extra individuals find out about my enterprise, the extra I can develop and assist my college students in methods I by no means thought had been doable!
Island Pops/WPIX
Q: In what methods have you ever infused your Caribbean tradition inside your corporation to ship a one-of-a-kind expertise to your clients?
Shelly Marshall, Proprietor of Island Pops: All of our flavors tie again to some reminiscence from our childhoods. We be sure that we fastidiously craft the story behind every taste to our clients. We inform of us that we do not promote ice cream, however somewhat promote nostalgia. When a buyer is available in, they depart with considered one of two issues: a nostalgic eager for the islands based mostly on their very own recollections OR a wanting/craving to go to the islands in the event that they’ve by no means been there.
Q: How can the PIX11 viewers assist help your corporation?
Shelly: We promote via nationwide transport, NYC native deliveries, or in-store service. You may help us by buying a present card or product from us at your comfort or you’ll be able to merely unfold the phrase to household and buddies. Give a pleasant Yelp or Google overview or a easy Instagram shout-out — it helps and goes a great distance.
Completely happy Cork/WPIX
Q: How do you go about sourcing the Black-owned merchandise that you simply promote all through your retailer such because the wines and equipment? Have you ever confronted any challenges whereas doing so?
Sunshine Foss, Proprietor of Happy Cork: At first, I’d discover manufacturers on-line via searches. Nonetheless, we’re happy to see that individuals are getting in contact to get their very own manufacturers into our retailer. These manufacturers weren’t beforehand represented via distribution, so it was an enormous problem to get distributors to know there was a need for these merchandise.
Q: How can the PIX11 viewers assist help your corporation?
Sunshine: Go to the shop, take a look at the web site; we ship and ship. Comply with us on social media, share our story and present us some love.
