SACRAMENTO – In an alternative to the traditional holiday shopping frenzy, the seventh annual Shop Black Friday event focused on Black businesses, bringing shoppers and vendors together for Small Business Saturday.
We bring locally owned Black businesses to the forefront and give shoppers an opportunity to experience the culture.
From African-inspired clothing to food and art. This is more than just a holiday festival shopping event, it’s a culture and a lifestyle.
Inspired by the legacy of Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this 7th annual Shop Black Friday event in Sacramento celebrates the need for Black people to become more self-sufficient and shares experiences like Tarilyn Tracy’s. Organizers say they will support a wealth of entrepreneurs.
“This is a gel candle,” Tracy said. “These are made of regular wax and are in a gel form that you can design inside the glass.”
She has been running her business, Night Star Candles and Gifts, for 20 years.
“The community is supportive and seems to recognize that there are a lot of black vendors here,” she said.
And there are up-and-coming Black entrepreneurs and chefs like Sacramento native Jacob Smedley. He started his own business, “Your Midnight Chef.”
“I do pop-ups,” Smedley said. “I’ll also prepare the meal.”
This is his second time participating in the event, taking his love of cooking to new customers.
“I’m grateful for every opportunity and every sale, especially since we’re just getting started,” Smedley said. “I like to give that experience to everyone. Sometimes people who don’t even have money say, ‘Oh, that smells good,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, here it is, give someone this. Tell me.’ I think.”
An alternative event to Small Business Saturday that brings diversity and bridges the gap between cultures.
If you’re not done shopping this weekend yet, you’re not alone.
Experts predict that Cyber Monday could generate up to $12 billion in sales and set records.