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Serving Others Through Retail and Beyond

As an American citizen living abroad, it is gut-wrenching watching what is happening in the US. I have been trying to figure out how I would like to use my voice and my words. As someone who is anti-racist and an ally, I want to contribute in a meaningful, respectful way.


I do not condone violence, but I acknowledge I will never understand the pain people of color go through. I am not going to try and tell anyone how they should act.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King, Jr.

The purpose of this article is to offer help by leveraging my area of expertise - retail - to highlight black-owned businesses and list resources to find these businesses in your community.

If you have read any of my blog posts related to travel, you will know I love learning, experiencing, and immersing myself in other cultures. In fact, it is why traveling is my favorite hobby; however, I do not think I would have this love and appreciation if I did not experience other cultures as a child.


People of color have always been an active part of my life. I have been learning and experiencing other cultures since the day I was born - in the United States. The US has a depth of different cultures. Cultures that are very obviously not respected, experienced, or taught to everyone. Thankfully, my parents have the same, equal love for all races, genders, nationalities, and sexual orientations. I was taught love is love, and it is what I still believe today.


Learning and education - not just in the traditional form - are essential to understanding other cultures. It is now more important than ever to become educated and start learning about the different cultures in the United States. I will admit that I am not the most educated I could be in this regard, I have more to learn, and I will ensure that I do.

It is now time to become an active ally. Grab a coffee with someone who's different than you.

I challenge that wherever you are in the world, you become more educated on the different cultures around you locally and nationally. It is one thing to love travel and cultural immersion, but it is wrong to not appreciate the varying cultures that are around you every day.

If you read this About section of this website, you will find:

"Retail means serving others. The hope is that through this blog and website, the positive aspects of the retail industry can be showcased."

I truly believe that the customer service experience within the retail environment is based upon serving others. There have been times in my career working in retail sales where I have felt like I made a friend just by serving someone while they shopped. Shopping can be a very fun activity, and there's a large majority of retail workers who have a lot of fun.


I know of amazing stories from other coworkers, where they have had a moment with a customer that was touching. While working for Talbots in South Carolina, one of my coworkers had a long-standing shopping relationship with one particular customer. When this customer was diagnosed with cancer, she made private appointments so she could shop in peace during a challenging time when her body was changing. I remember numerous coworkers coming out of the fitting room crying because of how moving the moment was. These are the moments you don't often hear about regarding the retail industry.


Today, the news highlights how the protests and riots in the United States are damaging and ruining small businesses. This is devastating, and I cannot imagine what these business owners are going through. It is their livelihoods, their future retirement plans, their legacy.


While on Facebook, I stumbled upon a post one of my friends shared about a small business that was destroyed and looted in Richmond, Virginia. This store, Experimax, is a black-owned small business. Leonard Blue, the owner, is a US veteran and an active member of his community. I have not been a customer of this store, but from what I have read, I believe it is the type of small business that the community needs and that the US needs more of. Leonard Blue and the destruction of his store were an unfortunate byproduct of the protests and riots. You can read more about this story and donate here.


Reading about Leonard Blue and his store made me really sad. Soon after, I decided that my next blog post would highlight ways to help the community - especially POC - within my area of expertise - through retail.

On May 25, 2020, the Washington Post stated that "the number of working African American business owners in the United States plummeted more than 40 percent as the coronavirus shut down much of the economy — a far steeper drop than other racial groups experienced, according to an analysis confirming fears the pandemic would deepen inequalities in the business world" [1]. This number has most likely increased due to the protests, which makes it even more important to highlight these business owners.


There are many great articles out there that highlight the ways you can support black-owned businesses. Some that I have found particularly helpful include:

One article I found that I believe will be the most helpful has been posted by Yahoo! Finance and Refinery29, and it lists the following apps and websites that help locate and promote black-owned businesses:

Some other resources/businesses I have found if you are located in Virginia Beach or Virginia (my hometown):

If you are in Australia, these resources are helpful:

  • Black Business Finder - Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Business Directory

  • Banaam - "Banaam uses applications, based on Indigenous frameworks and cultural principles, to equip and empower individuals, teams, and organisations."

  • Meeanjin Markets - two-day festival highlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, art, music, and artisan products in Southeast Queensland

  • Cooee Traveller - Planning and management service for Indigenous Tourism within Australia

  • Indigenous Business Australia - "IBA serves, partners and invests with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to own their future."

  • Supply Nation - an online directory for verified Indigenous-owned businesses

  • Common Ground - "Sharing First Nations cultures, histories and lived experiences."

If you are living in a different country, I encourage you to research businesses that directly impact your community and are owned by local community members.

The next time you are shopping, I hope you utilize one of these resources. If you are unable to locate a black-owned business in your area, I challenge you to approach a retail worker who is a person of color and ask for their help.

If you have a particular business or resource you would like to highlight, comment below.

Resources:

[1] Number of working black business owners falls 40 percent, far more than other groups amid coronavirus - The Washington post


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Email: kendal.riner@gmail.com
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