Mae's Bakery is located in Atlanta, GA and is owned by Kim Woodward. When I first heard about Mae's at a recent networking event, I HAD to come for a visit. Having places to meet with prospective clients is important in business. And Mae's doesn't disappoint!
The decor is very inviting with relaxing tones that make you want to sit all day. Not only does Mae's have some fantastic coffee, but they also offer a full breakfast and lunch menu with vegan options available.
Trinity Designs Inc is a Texas-based company that captures the essence of African-American sororities. 2006 saw the first doll prototype: The Essence of a Delta™. They have since expanded to 9 dolls which include Zeta, Lady Ivy and Star. There is also a recently released #SlayCancer doll which celebrates the many women who are slaying the fight with cancer.
The dolls should be looked at more like collectibles and would be a welcome gift for the soror in your life!
Thompson Hospitality, located in Reston, VA, was founded by Fred Thompson, Sr. It is the largest minority-owned food service company in the country. Thompson Hospitality provides dining services for corporations and universities in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, the UK, Germany, France and Italy.
The company is headed up by siblings Warren, Fred Jr. and Benita. Their mantra is "it isn't simply what you do in life that matters, it's who you are".
Champ Boxers is based out of College Park, GA and is owned by Jawwaad Saleem. One of the best things I like about these daily emails is when somebody tells me "I was just looking for that!" In this case, I am that somebody. While doing some spring cleaning with my wife recently, I told her "I need to find a Black-owned company that sells boxers."
Not soon thereafter I ran across Champs Boxers. It appears that the company has launched recently but that doesn't deter me - and it shouldn't deter you - because that is the best time to show our support for each other. The prices are reasonable at only $20 for a pack of 3. By the time you read this, I will probably have a couple packs and I hope you do the same!
Tony Young All-Star Karate Academy is located in Union City, GA. Tony established the All-Star Karate League back in 1989 to give competitors an opportunity to showcase their talents. Some of the kids that attend the academy may be seen displaying their skills at local community events.
If you've been considering taking up karate, tae-bo or kickboxing, check out Tony Young's academy.
Kingdom of Mel is based out of New York City and is owned by Tiffany Hill. Mel is short for melanin so you already know that this brand is African-inspired. Hill has always been fascinated with Kente cloth, ancient Egypt and Victorian era. She brings a combination of art and fashion to the Kingdom of Mel line.
The pieces that stand out are the waterproof duffle bags that display the terms "King" or "Queen" and are adorned with an outline of Africa on the end. You can also get African-inspired sneakers, watches and bracelets from this creative entrepreneur!
Since 1998, Carlos Lester has serviced the Metro Atlanta area through his Omnitech Institute that is located in College Park, GA. From its humble beginnings of the first class which was the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Certificate Program, Omnitech now offers programs in network engineering, digital media and medical assistant.
Omnitech is a great option for local students who are looking to further their education. Take a look at their website for more information.
Gabby Bows is a South Carolina company that was started by Gabrielle Goodwin and her mother. Their claim to fame is in creating a barrette that doesn't slip out of pigtails or pinups. You may have seen Gabby on The Real or read about her in Essence magazine when they told the story of how this 9-year old raised $28,000 to launch her company!
Gabby Bows are not only in some retail stores in South Carolina, but they ship products nationwide. Make sure to order some of their barrettes for that little girl in your life!
CarMarshal is based out of Dallas, TX and was created by Tracey Watts. Having spent 18 years of my career in automotive sales, I was intrigued to learn about Tracey's company when I ran across it on social media. He wanted to solve the problem he personally encountered with car shopping.
CarMarshal allows you to search for vehicles for sale. What sets CarMarshal apart is his drive to list Black-owned car dealers' inventory on his site. His ultimate goal is to partner with HBCUs and Black-owned banks to offer alumni and members access to quality automobiles across the country.
Rory Woodfaulk opened his Chick-Fil-A on Cascade road in 2017. Nestled in the middle of a thriving Black area, this Chick-Fil-A serves more than just food. Rory is proud to have nearly 100 employees on his staff which consist of high school students learning the value of hard work as well as college students who he brings on during their school breaks.
Looking to build a legacy for the community and his family, you may see Rory's wife and children elbows-deep in running the restaurant with him. Now that you know that this is Black-owned, I'm sure you will keep it on the top of your breakfast or lunch list when hunger pains hit you in South Fulton. (I included the company FaceBook page since it is more personable than the corporate website.)
Griptastik is an Atlanta-based company which has Danielle Swaby as its CEO and President. I met Danielle and her husband at a networking event recently. She used her teaching and corporate America background to launch her tape grips product for athletes.
Griptastik Premium Tape Grips are popular among gymnasts and cross fitters to prevent calluses caused by friction during bar work. Weighlifters also appreciate how Griptastik helps to prevent hand rips.
Shelly's Beauty Supply is located outside of Atlanta in Mableton, GA. I recently had to go there to grab a replacement blade for my clippers and I'm glad I did! Even though they are located about 30 minutes from my house, it was worth the drive. This is the cleanest and most organized beauty supply store I have ever been in (not like the clutter in many Asian-owned spots). They pride themselves in carrying many black-owned brands.
In addition to selling products, Shelly's is also home to the Urban Business Institute Center for Black Entrepreneur Development! So stop making excuses about how "inconvenient" it is to shop at black-owned businesses. Drive past all those shops that don't circulate money back into our community and take the trip to Shelly's!
Mack II is primarily located in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and is owned by Mack Wilbourn. Mack II is fast-food management company that owns several franchises. Their restaurants have been in the airport since 1996 and include Popeye's Chicken, Baja Fresh, Atlanta Bread, Phillips Seafood, We Juice It and Famous Famiglia Pizza.
It's not often that you can go to one spot and have your choice of Black-owned food companies to choose from. Make sure you visit the website and bookmark Mack II so when you are traveling through ATL, you can rotate through the Mack II businesses when it's time to eat!
Cigaros is located in South Fulton, GA and is owned by Conrad Dobson. This is a great place to sit down and entertain clients or just to unwind after work. You can take a seat in one of the many leather sofas or pull up to the bar for a cocktail with some friends.
And if you would rather partake in the comfort of your own home, the walk-in humidor has everything you need! They have a wide selection of blends, barrel sizes and colors. The next time you're in the mood for a relaxing evening, stop by Cigaros.
Yoga Greenbook is an online yoga course owned by Carla Christine. I first heard about Carla's business on the Black Entrepreneur Blueprint podcast. Carla was an Electrical Engineer for over 10 years when she decided that the stress and anxiety of the job wasn't worth it. She ended up finding Yoga but wanted to include more Black people in the community.
Yoga Greenbook's name was inspired by the Negro Motorist Green Book which was a resource for weary travelers to find safe lodging while traveling to foreign states. Carla provides an online Yoga course while currently living a minimalistic lifestyle in Medellin, Columbia. If you are apprehensive about trying Yoga publicly, check out Yoga Greenbook from the comfort of your own home.
Love Cork Screw (LCS) was founded by Chrishon Lampley and can be found in stores across the U.S. Each variant of wine has a unique message on the bottle representing the fun and whimsical nature of the brand. The LCS company also sells a line of candles that can be found at select Target locations.
The next time you are looking to unwind with a nice glass of wind, grab a bottle from Love Cork Screw!
BizLynks TV is based out of South Fulton, GA and was created by husband and wife team Nash & Pamela Alexander. I really enjoy connecting with like-mined people who give back to the community. Nash & Pam are those type of people!
BizLynks TV is a platform for entrepreneurs to get their businesses exposed to the market. Interviews are recorded in their studio and then placed on their platform so potential clients can learn about your company. They even provide you with an embed code - not merely a link to their site - for a very reasonable investment.
If you want a professionally recorded interview to tell the world about your business, contact BizLynks TV.
True laundry detergent started out in Georgia by three partners and can now be found in states across the country. If you are committed to keeping our dollars circulating in the black community, you'll buy this detergent. The national brands - Tide, Gain, All - all had to start somewhere so help this company grow by supporting them. As you can see from the photo, it works with high-efficiency machines as well.
You can shop with confidence knowing that True has a 100% money back guarantee! So check out the website for a store near you or just order directly from the company.
Kaufman's Furniture Gallery is owned by Steve Whitby and has locations in Lawrenceville, GA and Grand Rapids, MI. I was introduced to Kaufman's when I met Steve's wife Melanie at an Urban Atlanta networking event. We talked about the differences in the market between Michigan and Georgia, including sourcing inventory.
Steve has been in the furniture business for over 20 years and uses that experience to leverage national brands - including Ashley Furniture. Don't give your money to The Dump or The Room Store; keep that dollar circulating by shopping with Kaufman's!
The jsquared music performance center is owned by my wife Jaime Jamison. Jaime has been a musician for over 30 years and plays an instrument that not many Black musicians play - the French Horn. She is the principal Horn player with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra.
Jaime's passion is to introduce as many kids to the benefits of music as possible. She currently offers private lessons along with working with local high school and college bands. In addition to the French Horn, Jaime plays and/or teaches flute, trumpet, clarinet, saxophone, and mellophone. If you have a young person in your life who you want to introduce to the power of music, reach out to jsquared music performance center!