As the dust settles on a beautiful weekend filled with laughs, drinks, and entertainment, I want to reflect on our first vendor experience that my partner and I had accomplished together. We saw the supportive essence of our friends, family, and new customers when they came by our booth to purchase a t-shirt, bag, or candle. This invaluable experience taught us that starting Southern Cooper blog and our apparel lines was the right thing to do. I too, have a story to tell and break barriers/stereotypes of what being Black and Gay represents. As Black Gay men, we are underrepresented on TV ( in a negative light), business leaders, and throughout mainstream society. Also, you don’t see Black on Black love being openly displayed without the homophobes stating there is a “gay agenda.” (that is a whole other blog topic) Also, there isn’t much research on Black LGBTQIA small business owners, screaming where is the guide!! However, I did find from the Census 2021, “Blacks or African Americans owned approximately 124,551 businesses, with about 28.5% (35,547) of these businesses in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector, the highest percentage of any minority group.” Compared to the 577,835 Asian-owned businesses, Black or African Americans don’t add up to the $863.3 billion worth of estimated receipts that Asian Americans bring in each year. The lag in business accumulation is simple: systemic racism, access, and white people burning down black businesses (google Black Wall Street). Although the statistics don’t add up fair, my partner and I challenged ourselves to step out the box and start t-shirt/merchandise businesses and myself a blog (southerncooper.com). One day, I will be the next Food Network star or Lifestyle Brand. Remember to Dream Big or say it out loud.
Through this process, my partner and I have grown together and individually while opening our small businesses. I know he gets tired of me sometimes, nagging and agonizing over the small details. The debates and organizing lead us to Black Gay Pride. Being a vendor and supporting Black Gay Pride was an excellent launch to a lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Although the venue wasn’t at Piedmont Park instead, it was at Central Park (no one knew about this park in Atlanta). We appreciate the learning experience and those that stopped by to support us. Plus, my t-shirts didn’t come in until after Labor Day. Fortunately, there is always next year because we both learned some best practices for next time.
This business dream started last year and has probably been in the back of my mind for years. Unfortunately, the fear and anxiety combined with my parents saying, “Go to college, get a Federal Job,” hindered my imagination of being a small business owner. Yes, I went to college and got a Federal Job, as my parents told me to do. Additionally, I am 6 classes away from starting my dissertation at Valdosta State University (on what topic? Child, I am still debating). As you can tell, “I do too much”!!!
Questions I get all the time:
Why start a business during a pandemic? Why create a new business instead of focusing on your schoolwork? Or Do you think you are going to be successful as a small business owner?
My question to myself and them is, why not now??!! Life is not guaranteed!
Like many others, COVID has taken us for a tailspin and threw challenge after challenge at us. Tyrone and I both had COVID symptoms from being tired, respiratory, fever, and the ability to eat. What a diet plan!! After recovering from COVID and regaining our strength, we vowed to tell ourselves yes, within reason. We started brainstorming on how to become small business owners to supplement our income, and maybe one day, we can own a free-standing store that sells both our products. We made a plan of action and obtained our business licenses and bank accounts. We are currently working on detailing our business plan, including a 3-5 year plan. Whew, owning a business is hard work, but I learned if we take it one step at a time, we can reach our end goal.
Thank you again for all that came to support our first pop-up. We are trying to grow, so share, like, and subscribe!!
To purchase our items, go to bluffheadapparel.com and southerncooper.com (products section)
The end of a great first vendor experience.
Southern Cooper 