August is Black Business Month - a time to recognize and appreciate black-owned businesses and their contributions to diversity and equality in the country.
Let's celebrate it by supporting and appreciating black-owned businesses this month and always!
Black Business Month was created in 2004 by Founders John William Templeton and Frederick E. Jordan Sr. "to drive the policy agenda affecting the 2.6 million African American businesses."
Approximately 10% of all American businesses are black-owned, and if we look at what statistics say about minority-owned companies, about 30% of these would belong to black business owners. They generate $206 billion annual revenue and support 3.56 million U.S. jobs. Their communities, economies, and communities are more prosperous due to their resilience, commitment, and growth. As the saying goes: "A rising tide lifts all boats."
Let's pay tribute to the contributions and legacies of black business owners and entrepreneurs.
As a brand+product photographer, I have worked with incredible black-owned businesses: great products, excellent customer experience, and inspiring personalities.
Today, I want to spotlight them.
Shop these Black-owned businesses this August and beyond.
LeneNicole. Candle Co
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE PHOTO+ART
LeneNicole. Candle Co. is a black woman-owned small business focused on creating safe, high-quality candles that embrace the collective of all things manifested but not spoken by our mind, body, and soul. That mantra inspires their motto: candles that express your mind + mood. They add a dynamic twist on luxury in a jar hoping to inspire and uplift you by cultivating your inner thoughts — one glow at a time.
LeneNicole. Candle Co. offers high-quality candles with extraordinarily concentrated scents. To create their candles, their team uses natural soy wax free of synthetic dyes, parabens, and phthalates, as well as premier quality lead-free cotton wicks hand-selected to lessen petro-carbon soot for a clean, non-toxic burn.
Every candle is crafted, poured, and packaged by hand in the smallest quantities to ensure the best craftsmanship possible.
Shop Lene Nicole https://lenenicolecandlecompany.com/
Oh D’Luxe Candle Company
Product photography by Odette Photo+Art
Oddette Staple-Brown is the creator behind Oh D’Luxe Candle Company. See? Odettes have a thing for creation!
Oh D’Luxe Candle Company was born because of her utter obsession with all things with amazing scents (another Odette thing). She believes scents play a great role in cultivating a tranquil and elevated state of mind (DUH).
Their mission statement is "to provide luxurious candles on a budget”.
All their candles are hand poured in small batches to ensure quality products. Their ingredients are 100% American-grown soy wax, phthalate-free fragrance oils complete with lead-free wicks to ensure a clean burn, and amazing scents, while also being non-toxic.
Oh D'Luxe Candles strongly believes in giving back to our community so much so that we actively donate a percentage of our profits each month to help offer educational opportunities to the youth.
Support Oddette and shop https://ohdluxecandles.com
Dayja Vu Candles And Bodycare
Product photography by Odette Photo+Art
Dayja Vu Company is a proudly black and female-owned business based in Philadelphia, PA. Everything is hand poured, hand mixed, and handcrafted by the owner, Dayja.
Only premium, high-quality materials are used in the making of the products. All candles are made from Apricot Coco Creme wax, an all-natural vegan wax. It is FDA-approved, gluten-free, toxin-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and comes from renewable sources. Their fragrance oils are also phthalate free.
Shop Dayja Vu https://dayjavucandles.com/
ACO Brand
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE PHOTO+ART
Luxury candles and home + body products for the eco-conscious soul who wants to beautify their space + create calmer moments.
Cyn founded ACO to mesh her love of interior design, nature + quiet moments. As an introvert and mom, she understands how important it is to create calm, recharge, and fill your corner of the world with beautiful things. ACO answers that call to beautiful solitude and nudges you to place yourself at the top of your priority list while creating a life and space you LOVE.
If you want to infuse more style, luxury, and calm into your every day, shop ACO https://theacobrand.com
Southern Elegance Candle Co
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE PHOTO+ART
Southern Elegance Candle Co is a proudly community-focused brand that works in partnership with other local businesses, as their wax, wicks, and containers are from suppliers in North Carolina. Their collections are sure to please and will whisk you away to a special place of joy, love, and tranquility.
Their founder and CEO, D’Shawn Russel, began making candles that would honor the joys of southern living and provide a creative outlet for her sense of nostalgia.
Every candle they make tells a story. Each one is purposefully named after a southern city, carefully hand poured, and infused with luscious fragrances.
Although the heart of what we do is steeped in southern traditions, Southern Elegance products are for anyone who wants their personal space to feel comforting and inviting.
Want to try their products? Shop https://www.secandleco.com/
Tribe Shoki
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE PHOTO+ART
SHOKi Bev is a vision forged in Ghana, brought to life in the republic of Brooklyn, and manufactured in California, New Jersey, and New York. Created by Black women passionate about travel, wine, cocktails, cannabis, and amazing food. They are a team of educators, mothers, community organizers, and business professionals with a responsibility to uplift and protect our community through inclusive commerce and unapologetic activism.
They believe representation matters and their goal is to ensure that we support political and economic measures that work to drive equity in every industry, especially the food and cannabis industries. Diversity of ethnicity, gender, thought, and worldview can only make us stronger. They are committed to being a symbol of hope, and to standing in the gap for those in search of opportunity.
Shop Tribe Shoki https://www.tribeshoki.com/
