Black Business Month is an annual campaign held in August to celebrate the achievements and contributions of African-American business owners. BBM was founded in 2004 by the National Black Chamber of Commerce to support black business growth and development. The organization sponsors local, regional, national, and international events that provide networking and entrepreneurship education opportunities.
The National Black Chamber of Commerce works with other minority chambers of commerce and community leaders to promote a common goal: “to encourage Blacks to become owners rather than employees.” While many businesses close after one generation or fail to transfer from one family member or friend to another without fail, BBM encourages those who make it through the difficult years with their business intact. To share what they’ve learned with younger entrepreneurs. Read down the post to learn about different ways through which you can support black businesses.
How Can My Business Support Black Business Month?
Black Business Month is a period to celebrate the achievements of Black-owned businesses. But it’s also a time to support those businesses with your money.
There are multiple ways to deliver your support for Black Businesses. Here are just a few.
Shop Local
Visit the shops and restaurants owned by Black Americans during August. Many options will likely be near you if you live in an urban area. If not, visit sites like Etsy or Etsy’s Black Owned section to find retailers online.
Get the Fleet Serviced
African Americans own many transportation companies. If you own a fleet of vehicles, consider taking them to an automotive shop owned by someone from your community for maintenance and repairs during this month. This will help create employment opportunities for people who may not have access to other opportunities in their community. As well as give back to someone who has invested in building their business from scratch.
Use Black Directories
Black business directories are a great way to find local businesses owned by African Americans. They include information about the business, such as contact information and hours of operation. Additionally, these directories often feature reviews from past customers who have had positive experiences with these businesses. Suppose you’re looking for a vendor or service provider that specializes in serving the black community. In that case, these sites can help you find them.
Follow the Hashtags
Hashtags are used on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram to identify content related to a specific topic or event. Several hashtags have been created for Black History Month and Black Business Month, including #BHM2019, #BlackBizMonth, #BlackBusinessMonth, #BlkShopSmall, and more! To ensure that you don’t miss out on anything related to Black History Month or Black Business Month, follow all of these hashtags on social media. This will allow you to see all new posts related to these events as they happen throughout August.
Partner with a Neighbor
Businesses located in the same neighborhood or community can find ways to partner on events, promotions, and networking opportunities throughout the year. This is particularly true during Black History Month in February when many communities host events celebrating black history and culture.
Hold Vendors Accountable
If you’re planning an event during Black Business Month, ensure that your vendors are prepared to support black-owned businesses. If not, consider using services like Black Owned Business Network (BON), where you can find vendors who specialize in supporting the black community.
Make Space
Consider hosting an event at your place of business during Black History Month or another month throughout the year that celebrates black culture.
If your organization is like most, you like to reach as many of your customers as possible. Not only will this benefit your bottom line, but it will likewise move traffic to your business. A direct way to do this is to advertise during Black Business Month, and it’s a perfect way to get the buzz out about who you are and what you do.