When it comes to gift-giving, most of us think of many of the biggest and most popular brands that are entrenched in the culture: Apple, Amazon, Adidas…and that’s just the A’s. But there are lots of mom and pop small businesses that get overlooked, and yet small business is the backbone of our economy, employing 61.7 million Americans. For those of you looking to support small business, and particularly black-owned businesses this season, here are a handful of options in Los Angeles that offer really great products and services.
Founded by Maurice Harris, a florist whose flower shop sits next door with the same name (minus the “coffee”), Bloom and Plume Coffee on West Temple Street in Los Angeles offers up more than just a cup of Joe. He wants you to have an aesthetic experience. With avocado toast, matcha green tea lattes, pastries, vegan yogurt parfaits, plus sustainable coffee tumblers and floral decorated apparel, there’s something here for everyone, plus you’re helping sustain small business.
With everything from fiction and non-fiction to photography books, cookbooks, and graphic novels, Eso Won is a black-owned independent bookstore in the heart of Leimert Park. Pre-Covid they hosted everyone from former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama to Misty Copeland and Spike Lee for author events, but now they are taking online orders and trying to weather the pandemic storm. Yes, Amazon is cheaper, but here you are supporting livelihoods and neighborhoods. And you’re helping provide access to book browsing which is important in promoting people to read.
Centered on curating products from African-American creators and entrepreneurs, Post 21 offers a storefront that showcases jewelry, beauty products, stationery, baby clothes, children’s picture books, and gift baskets, all with a modern feel and in support of promoting products they’d like to see as household names.
Restaurants have been hurting all year thanks to Covid. If you want to take a night off from kitchen duty, think of hitting up one of these establishments for take out, whether it’s Post & Beam in Baldwin Hills, to A Beautiful Life in DTLA, to Derricks on Atlantic in Long Beach or Chulita in Venice. Gift cards are good ways to help your friends try new chefs and flavors. For a full list of black-owned restaurants in LA, click here.
Constance Panton wanted to create gift boxes showcasing Black-owned brands. Four years later, she’s selling out and still going strong. Follow her on instagram @biftiesgifts year round for ideas and inspiration. We love her taste!
Born out of the idea that people needed first class cleaning service for one-off situations like real estate turnover, construction remodels, and events, PopUP CleanUP has been serving the LA area since 2015. This year the recipient of an MWELP Scholarship, a Facebook grant, and mentorship and grant from Smart Small Think Big, CEO Kenetia Lee is trying to close the gap for people of color in the janitorial arena. If you or someone you know needs Covid disinfection or deep cleaning services, PopUP CleanUP is here to help!
Power-washing Hank’s Market in South Central LA.
