Top Black-Owned Businesses to Support in 2019: Celebrating Black Culture is a Year-Round Affair.

By The Jacksonville Free Press

Check out these top black-owned businesses to support in 2019 that are the epitome of excellence.

The number of black-owned businesses in America continues to increase year after year, and while there’s abundance of businesses, consumers often have a difficult time tracking them down. We’re here to change that. Check out these top black-owned businesses to support in 2019.

Apparel & Accessories

• Green Box Shop
  This clothing store focuses on social justice. It has gained attention from a few different celebrities, including Frank Ocean and Zendaya.
• Talley and Twine
  Talley and Twine features high-quality, detailed, and aesthetically-pleasing wristwatches that are affordable and unlike anything else on the market.
• Kashmir VIII
  Known mainly for her clothing, artist Kashmir Thompson uses her talent to create black pop-culture-inspired products.
• Melanie Marie
  Melanie Marine is a custom jewelry company that specializes in original pieces. It’s also an entrepreneur consulting company that has created a network for other aspiring business owners.
• Nubian Skin
  Filling a gap in the lingerie market, Nubian Skin creates products that match the skin tones of colored women everywhere.
• Love, Cortnie
  Founder and owner Cortnie uses her sewing skills to create clutches in hundreds of different styles.

Personal Care

• Kreyòl Essence
  Kreyòl Essence produces an environmentally-friendly skin and hair product line that uses all-natural ingredients found in Haiti.
• Cocotique
  This isn’t just another beauty box subscription service—it’s a beauty box subscription service that’s geared toward women of color. The beauty and lifestyle products in each box celebrate women of diverse ethnicities.
• Temple Zen Organic Skincare
  Temple Zen produces bath and body skincare products that soothe and heal skin from the damages that come with everyday life.
• Alaffia
  Offering a variety of eco-friendly personal care products, Alaffia uses their profits to support underserved communities in West Africa.

Food & Drink

• Cory’s Cookies
  Started by six-year-old Cory Neives, Mr. Cory bakes high-quality cookies that are made from all-natural ingredients.
• Cami Cakes
  Another baked goods business, Cami Cakes uses fresh ingredients to make cupcakes, layer cakes, and ice cream in a wide range of flavors.
• Me & the Bees Lemonade
  Thirteen-year-old Mikaila created this company that produces lemonade formulated from flaxseed and locally sourced honey. A portion of the profits are given to organizations that fight to save the honey bees.

These black-owned businesses are innovating industries all over the globe, and they’re also encouraging others to embrace entrepreneurship. To check out any of the listed top black-owned businesses to support in 2019, click on their respective titles. If you’re on the fence about becoming a church backdrops vendor or opening a comic book store and coffeehouse hybrid, we hope you find some inspiration within this list. For an even wider selection of black-owned businesses, check out We Buy Black—a great source that consistently updates their list of businesses.

This article originally appeared in the Jacksonville Free Press.