The next guest joining the “Power of The Black British Pound” series is Writer and Educator Sahid. Sahid uses his blog to share his thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics, from mental health to reminding us to celebrate ourselves.
My definition of being a conscious consumer is an individual caring more about the purpose of the brand/organisation rather than the product in itself. A conscious consumer wants to be able to contribute to a meaningful project which usually aligns with their own morals and values.
Supporting black-owned businesses benefits sellers, buyers and the wider community. Firstly, products and services produced by black people for black people allows greater care and quality to be accessed to the buyers. For instance, hair products created by black women for black women’s hair is more reliable and allows content centred on the intended individual.
Secondly, it is advantageous for black-owned businesses to be supported as it appeases the supply and demand for diverse needs in society. I believe that the market is big enough for many businesses to thrive, particularly small businesses with unique ideas. However, they are overlooked due to the big corporations monopolising the current markets. Black-owned businesses offer affordable prices for products and services that benefits all members of society no matter the status of the individual.
I have always been supporting black-owned businesses and I believe that came from both my mum and the community I grew up in. Starting with my mum, she installed her beliefs onto my siblings and I which was to look after our own. We are a Sierra Leonean family and we grew up with that culture. Foods, clothing and particular products were purchased from people that were also from Sierra Leone and this was something I was always surrounded by and continued to do as I became more independent.
In regards to community, I grew up in South East London, Peckham. My whole area was predominantly black. Shop keepers were black. Barbers were black. Everywhere black. I felt a sense of belonging living and contributing to the area and due to this, I understand the importance of supporting those that are like-minded. These two factors were my inspiration to supporting black-owned businesses.
I think black-owned businesses should look for more feedback from their consumers that they are not necessarily familiar with. Feedback from friends/family is always nice, however they do not represent the wider community and for businesses to expand they need to hear about their product from any and everyone.
I’m used to supporting people with their projects via word of mouth, however there are many threads on twitter that are suggesting black-owned businesses to support. So, I say utilise social media as much as possible, so many hidden gems to choose from.
I think research is important if people want to start being conscious consumers. Always check the brand name, their purpose and how you benefit from the product. What I tend to find is that there is more care for my personal needs when I shop at black-owned businesses due to being a black man and looking for what I need.
Socials:
Twitter: @SB_VERSE
Blog Site: https://sbverse.wixsite.com/sbverse
SAABIRAH LAWRENCE 