Amazon promotes Black-owned businesses for Black History Month
Amazon is supporting Black-owned businesses during Black History Month and throughout the year with a number of initiatives.
Following are several ways Amazon is assisting Black-owned businesses on its site and enabling customers to easily locate and shop them, including year-round efforts and promotions specifically timed to coincide with Black History Month:
Buy Black Store
The e-tail giant is promoting Black-owned businesses via its Buy Black Store, a dedicated digital storefront where customers can shop products by category and learn more about Black Amazon sellers.
Black-Owned Business badge
Customers can determine when a current featured offer product is sold by a Black-owned business by the presence of a Black-Owned Business badge, a tool Amazon released as a pilot in summer 2022. The Black-Owned Business badge currently appears on detail pages for eligible product offers in the U.S.
Black Business Accelerator
As part of its commitment to support and amplify Black-owned businesses, Amazon launched the Black Business Accelerator (BBA) in 2021, backed by a $150 million commitment over four years to empower sustainable entrepreneurship for Black-owned businesses on its site.
The e-tail giant created the initiative to explicitly target barriers to access, opportunity, and advancement created by systemic racism across America, in partnership with its Black Employee Network and a coalition of strategic partners.
BBA provides access to financial assistance, strategic business guidance and mentorship, and marketing and promotional support to help both current and aspiring Black small business-owners grow their businesses and maximize the opportunities of selling on Amazon.
‘Behind the Storefront’ video series
The current installment of Amazon’s video series, Behind the Storefront, highlights two Black-owned businesses that sell in Amazon’s store and provides an inside look into how both small businesses have led their teams, inspired their communities, and persevered despite challenges.
The featured businesses are Los Angeles-based luxury fragrance brand Terminal B and Fort Lauderdale-based streetwear brand Dungeon Forward.
Black History Month episode of the ‘This is Small Business’ podcast
A special Black History Month episode of the This is Small Business podcast airs Tuesday, Feb. 13 and highlights Teri Johnson, owner of Harlem Candle Company. She discusses why she started Harlem Candle Company, how she’s been able to grow and promote her candle business, and what she sees for the future of her brand.