Georgia Gifts & More is based out of Atlanta, GA and is owned by husband and wife team Daren and Karen Gayle. They launched the business 9 years ago as an e-commerce company but opened a brick and mortar when customer demand drove them to do so. The Gayle's are very passionate about the quality of their products as well as the community. Georgia Gifts & More employs 4 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees.
One look at their showroom and you can see why people flock from all over Georgia to buy from them. They have everything from custom baskets to shot glasses to candies. The Georgia theme goes beyond the Peach; you can get Falcons, Georgia Tech, Coca-Cola, Delta, Porsche and other company items that have Georgia roots. Check out Georgia Gifts & More online or in-person and tell the Gayle's I sent you!
I have to thank one of my colleagues for turning me onto this company. We Montage is a custom wallpaper company that was founded by James Oliver. What makes this product so special is that you can upload your photos which are printed on the wallpaper! Your collage can cover an entire wall or be as small as 3' x 2'. And don't worry about leaving your personal touches when you move because the wallpaper is removable!
We Montage has been featured on the TODAY show as well as DIY network! Let's support this Brother when we are decorating our homes, offices or dorm rooms.
Kani Saburi Ayubu (pictured on the right with his father) is the founder of The Black Art Depot that is located in Atlanta, GA. He started the company in 2004 with the goal to be the #1 supplier of African-American art, gifts, collectibles and African decor in the world. The Black Art Depot is focused on giving back to the community as members of the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce and Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce.
The company serves as a platform for you to buy everything from Bible covers to Christmas decorations to home decor and everything in between! The Black Art Depot also features collections that showcase Barack Obama, Black Love, Black History and Black Panther (both the Party and the movie). Make sure to check out The Black Art Depot for all your artistic desires.
This Farmers insurance agency located off Cascade road is owned and operated by Sandra G. Williams. I came across Sandra's agency while shopping for a new insurance agent recently. After visiting 2 other Farmers offices, I walked into Sandra's office and was impressed from the start. Her staff is professional, which is a testament to how Sandra operates.
With over 25 years of business experience, Sandra knows how to take care of clients. And did I mention that she increased our coverage while reducing our premium?!!
Todd Richards owns Richards' Southern Fried Chicken that is located in the Krog Street Market section of Atlanta, GA. My wife and I went there several months ago when she heard about a great Black-owned restaurant in the Market. As we sat at the counter, we were fortunate enough the sit next to Todd's father who displayed his genuine pride in his son's success. (He also cleared up the pronunciation of their last name..."ree-shards".)
And once we received our order we understood why his father was so proud! The chicken had a unique yet flavorful taste to it and was complimented well by the traditional southern sides. You may have to get yours To-Go as the counter is usually packed with those who are taking in the atmosphere of Richards'.
Yes that is Biggie and Pac. I would have never imagined anything like this; now this is originality!! The 1998 Deck was created and designed by Khia! Jackson. My wife and I ran across this entrepreneur at the Black Friday Festival and was so impressed that we bought 2 decks (1 to play with and 1 to keep). She was even so nice as to sign both decks (which is what you see on Tupac's face). These cards pay homage to classic hip hop in each suit. Artists include Biggie, Pac, Nas, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Foxy Brown, DMX, and more!
If you consider yourself a card player or a hip-hop head, you gotta get a deck! They can be found in some stores as well so check her website for a retailer near you.
Lacretia Carroll (pictured on the left) owns Matrixx Auto Group in Union City, GA. Many of you may recognize her as one of the sponsors at the Black Business Forum. Lacretia has tackled the historically male-dominated industry head on by owning and operating her own car lot. But this is not your traditional lot.
You won't pull up and have to trek through a sea of cars to get to her office. Matrixx Auto specializes in getting you the car that YOU want! Matrixx has access to nearly 100,000 vehicles through its sources. So whether you are looking for a Mazda or a Maserati, Matrixx Auto Group can find you what you need.
4QL Solutions gets its name from delivering during clutch times for your business. Ebonique L. Barber is the owner of 4QL Solutions. Her passion for making sure your deliveries are done professionally and timely is evident with every interaction. 4QL Solutions can provide assistant with delivering payroll checks, medical supplies or picking up that last minute part for your shop.
When you get a chance to meet Ebonique, congratulate her hometown Astros on winning the World Series!
Mark Stoddard is the founder of Live It Wear It which is based out of Toronto. His collection is shared with Dr. John Carlos' line. If you don't recognize Dr. Carlos by name, you definitely recognize him from his raised black fist demonstration at the 1968 Olympics!
I met Mark at a Black Friday/Black Saturday event hosted by The Village Market last year. What blew me away about his designs was how he utilized the underside of the brim of the hat as a canvas. You have to check it out for yourself!
Venis L. Sims is a broker and owner of Edgewood Realty Group. She has been a licensed agent since 2006 and focuses on property management as a member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers. Her HERO squad of agents caters to public safety employees, healthcare, education and military HEROS.
Venis is an active member of the community both here in Fayette County as well as in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Edgewood Realty Group caters to the need in our community to build generational wealth so keep them in mind for all your housing and investment needs!
Husband and wife team Joe & Maranda Dowell own Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry that is based out of Atlanta, GA. But don't let the name fool you - this is not your traditional "fish" fry. Their recipe can also be used on other seafood as well as vegetables. You may recognize them from Shark Tank fame where they shared the story of losing everything except 2 grills in Hurricane Katrina.
They were able to strike a deal with Daymond John after he connected with Joe's story of personally selling his product in the streets for over 10 years!! Joe's Gourmet Fish Fry is now available in over 1200 stores including Winn-Dixie, Publix and Wal-Mart. Support the journey of this family by getting yours today!
Jaqueline D. Harris, MD, MPH is a board certified Family Physician practicing in Fayette, Coweta and Fulton counties. She specializes in managing diabetes, hypertension and adolescent along with women's health. Cross Care Direct focuses on direct primary care which is an innovative payment model which provides access to healthcare with a simple, flat, affordable membership fee. No insurance company involvement!
Dr. Harris is committed to healthcare by "focusing on the care, not the coverage".
Sheila Mants is the owner of Added Pizzazz which is located in Fairburn, GA. Sheila can frequently be seen at networking events in and around Atlanta, which is where I first ran into her. She is very passionate about providing customized solutions for your next special occasion.
Added Pizzazz offers both indoor and outdoor options. Your guests will enjoy the reception style or the seated dinner setup of your choosing. Or you can wow them by utilizing The Mants Estate which is a 5-acre ranch with a lake. Check out Added Pizzazz's website for more information on securing the space.
CertaPro Painters of Fayetteville is owned by Sean Collins. Sean is an Army veteran who prides himself in adding the personal touch to painting. He makes sure that his staff provide exemplary customer service and quality of work for both residential and commercial jobs. I can personally attest to this as I hired his company to pressure wash our house.
Sean is originally from Louisiana and is an avid Saints fan (so don't take it out on him all you Falcons fans out there). He has been a personal friend of mine for several years and I would definitely recommend him!
Melissa is the Founder & CEO of The Lip Bar that is based out of Detroit, MI. Now ladies, I won't attempt to bring you any personal experience with these products. But what I will tell you is that this is the first Black-owned lipstick brand that I've ever ran across. Their lipsticks are focused on your health by being absent of any harsh chemicals as well as vegan & cruelty free.
Melissa launched the company in 2012 after being frustrated with the beauty industry. She reminds woman through a minimalist approach that they are beautiful just the way they are and just a pop of color on the lips can give you enough confidence to tackle the day. Look for The Lip Bar products at your local Target!
Benson Watches was founded by Marcel Benson and is based out of Oxon Hill, MD. Benson watches are another option for those of you who have seen my Talley & Twine watch that I regularly sport. Their timepieces include multiple face color options and can come with leather or stainless steel bands.
I have been following Benson watches for a little over a year now. I was excited for him when I heard that Dave Anderson, aka The Business Bully, was partnering with him! It's always great to hear when Brothers pool their resources and experience to grow a brand! Check out the collection on the website.
All N One Security Services is located in South Fulton, GA and is owned by Mary Parker. She founded the company in 2001 after spending over 30 years in automotive manufacturing and security. Due to her business success - which includes triple digit growth in her first 6 years - she has been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women of Atlanta, been featured in Who's Who in Black Atlanta, received the Women Flying High Award and many more!
All N One provides security solutions for private, corporate and government entities. Those solutions include security technology, security personnel (both armed and unarmed) and traffic services (flaggers, traffic control plans, etc.). So whatever it is you need to protect, All N One has you covered!
Ladami, Inc. is located in College Park, GA and is taught by Ladrick Williams. A native of Panama, Ladrick has more than 35 years of experience as a bilingual instructor. His course will have you Speaking Spanish Phonetically after 8 weeks of instruction.
We know that leaning a second language, especially Spanish, can afford us some economic opportunities. Ladrick is actually having a free lunch and learnon March 31, 2018 from 1:30 - 3:30. Mark your calendar if you want to get introduced to his instructional style. And if you miss it, check out the website for more information.
Phillip Ashley Chocolates is based out of Memphis, TN and carries the name of its owner. If you're looking for the everyday chocolate to satisfy your taste buds, this ain't the place! Phillip Ashley is a Designer Chocolatier who sources his ingredients from local vendors. He then consults with his clients to create a flavor that is specific to them.
Some of those ingredients include spirits that are infused in the chocolates, orange marmalade, honey, sweet potato and french blue cheese! Corporate clients include Nike, Westin, the National Civil Rights Museum and FedEx - just to name a few. Look for them at your local Neiman Marcus.
SERVPRO of Panthersville is located in Decatur, GA and is owned by Nadine Marsh Coleman and her husband (a couple of their team members are pictured). I met Nadine at a networking event and was shocked to hear that they are the ONLY Black-owned SERVPRO franchise in the state of Georgia! Their affiliations include the Atlanta Black Chambers, the NAACP, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United Negro College Fund.
Many people don't think about disaster relief until they are scrambling to put their lives back together. SERVPRO provides cleaning and restoration due to loses caused by fire, water, mold and storm damage. They service both residential and commercial spaces. In addition, they offer professional cleaning. SERVPRO of Panthersville would be a great connection to have if you are an insurance agent, for instance. And for the consumer, make sure to request that your insurance company use this local Black-owned franchise if the need arises.