Seattle’s Black Black Friday Initiative Empowers Local Black-Owned Businesses
Black Black Friday is a new initiative in Seattle that encourages residents to spend money at local, Black-owned small businesses.
Statistics show that 7.9% of Seatlle’s population is Black, with less than 1% of their businesses Black-owned.
Five times as many of these businesses are closing down compared to white-owned companies.
This is why Black Black Friday was created, empowering Seattle’s Black-owned businesses by bringing the entire community on board.
Black Black Friday
Black Black Friday is organized by Intentionalist – a company that helps people support local, diverse small businesses.
Intentionalist partnered with Seattle-based creative agency DNA and local credit union BECU to launch the Black Black Friday card and interactive directory of participating Black-owned businesses.
The campaign offers the Black Black Friday Card – a digital or physical card featuring art by local Black artist Damon Brown.
The card can be used exclusively at more than 100 participating Black-owned businesses.
With BECU’s support, card purchasers can enjoy a 20% discount, making it more accessible to shop at local, Black-owned businesses.
“Black Black Friday is an opportunity for companies and brands to put their dollars where their promises have been, bringing more opportunities for growth and success to individuals and businesses that are the backbone of our community,” said Alan Brown, the founder, and chair of DNA, according to Forbes.
“And when they support Black Black Friday, it shows others in the community that they truly care about making an impact.”
Intentionalists designed Black Black Friday as a one-day holiday and an ongoing call to action for economic justice.
The cards expire seven years after issuance, allowing customers to make every Friday a day to support local Black-owned businesses intentionally.
Black Business Owners
Black Black Friday worked with a panel of Black business owners.
This included Dee Alams (City Sweats), Marquita Evans (Intentions Juice And Smoothie Bar), Efrem Fesaha (Boon Boona Coffee), Rodney Hines (Metier Brewing), and Monika Matthews (QueenCare).
“The power of this exposure has been apparent,” Matthews shared with Forbes, who has already seen new customers and expanded sales through Black Black Friday.
Additionally, one of the key stakeholders in the initiative is Douglas Baldwin Jr, former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion and CEO of Vault89.
