4 Great Black Products to Buy During the Holidays


The Black Directory represents the largest directory of Black businesses in the world, with more than 100,000 Black businesses in the United States, Africa, Caribbean Islands, Canada, and in Europe.

Started by Brian Morse in 2014, the goal of the Black Directory was simple – to create an enabling environment where Black-owned businesses can thrive. Through the Black Directory, Black businesses have been able to secure contracting opportunities with the federal government, Walmart, BP and most importantly with other Black-owned businesses.

Tarik Nasir of Iron Flame Technologies, who accessed a business opportunity with another Black Directory member in Nashville says,

"I wanted to send you a quick note thanking you for connecting my firm with a business opportunity in Nashville, TN. The partner you connected us with has already accepted our teaming agreement and we are pushing forward to leveraging your business connection into a 100-year contracting opportunity. If it wasn’t for your Black Directory, we would have never made this transformative connection. Thank you for all that you do."

As Brian says of the Black Directory, “at the Black Directory, we do not compete with each other. We believe in creating partnerships and opportunities where everyone can grow together.”

Even during Covid-19, the Black Directory has been instrumental in assisting with obtaining stimulus loans for Black businesses and currently provides a 10% discount on Black Directory membership to help more businesses gain access to greater opportunities.

The Black Directory includes numerous outstanding Black businesses such as Shoe Crazy Wine (sold in more than 150 Walmart locations in the U.S.) and Sky’s Gourmet Tacos (LA’s best taco restaurant).

Here Are Four More Exceptional Black-Owned Businesses That You Can Find On The Black Directory

Symphony Chips

Featured on Good Morning America and Tabitha Brown, Symphony Chips is a fast-rising Black-owned gourmet potato chips brand that is steadily capturing the imagination (and appetites) of Americans.

Everyone that has tasted Symphony Chips agrees on one thing – it’s a perfect harmony of crunchy, tasty chips sautéed in a heavenly blend of 28 spices and herbs. Or quite simply in the words of Tabitha Brown, “… the best potato chips ever!”

The company’s chips are sourced from all-natural materials, non-GMO, no-MSG and vegan friendly, ensuring they’re both healthy and tasty.

According to the company, Symphony Chips' mission is “to provide the world with a better potato chip experience”. But that’s not all.

Like many black businesses that are forging their own path into mainstream markets in the US, Symphony Chips remains firmly attuned to its base. The company runs Symphony Crumbs, a non-profit that brings manufacturing jobs to its community by introducing participants into the company’s production process. From there, participants are introduced to other manufacturing industries, helping them achieve trained skills in sustainable industries. Grab your bag of Symphony Chips here.

Pedilicious

Pedilicious Footwear is the brainchild of CEO and Founder, Premise Martin. The company is a fast growing wellness brand with a thriving line of natural skin care products and the immensely popular Pedilicious sandal.

Although bad hair days get all the attention, Martin’s Pedilicious sandals are giving female feet all the care and consideration they deserve. Due to a terrible pedicure experience caused by the need to hustle after a flight in paper flip flops, Martin realized there must be a better way to protect female feet (and an expensive paint job) after a pedicure.

She set out to create stylish, yet sturdy footwear that will provide comfort for female feet and keep a pedicure from smudging. The result was the Pedilicious Pedi-Cure Sandal.

The Pedilicious sandal is comfortable and durable, relieving the heels and toes of the stress brought on by high heels. Yet, the sandals are classy and beautifully finished, providing faultless protection for pedicures, and ensuring women can look as great as they feel.

Many women state that they are so fashionable that they opt to wear them for the rest of the day after their pedicure,” says Stephanie Dawkins, assistant to Premise Martin.

The sandals also have seven U.S. Patents. The company’s skin care products are sold under the Pretty Licious and Pedilicious brand, and include a range of balms, bath salts, cuticle butter and foot therapy soak. Basically, everything you need “for the health and well-being of your body and soles!” Premise also has a nail line which is included in her wellness line. Pick up a pair of Pedilicious Footwear here.

Diva By Cindy

Diva By Cindy is a hair care products company that focuses on providing a full suite of products that protect, nourish and enrich the hair. The company’s products are alcohol-free and deepened with all-natural ingredients including aloe, rosemary, peppermint and camphor.

Diva By Cindy hair care products include a range of shampoos, moisturizers, growth creams, conditioners and detangling creams that stimulate the scalp and encourages hair growth while keeping your hair silky, shiny and bouncy. Diva By Cindy hair care products are especially loved and preferred for their extraordinary detangling ability, which means, instead of being stuck on a comb, more of your hair can remain in place.

The company recently became the first natural hair care brand to own automated vending machines in malls and in an airport. Diva By Cindy is now available at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, meaning even on a short stay in Baltimore, you can still grab one of Cindy’s excellent hair care products before you leave.

Diva By Cindy is also well-known for the special way in which they contribute to their community. CEO and founder, Cindy Taiwah, summed it up in these words: “our products are a vehicle and conduit to healing. We are healing and changing the world one diva at a time. Diva is a haircare brand with a heart.”

The company runs a social impact program called the Diva Project, through which they support victims of domestic violence by providing them with a full day of hair and body care, ensuring they feel as beautiful inside as they are outside. Connect with Diva By Cindy here.

Bamenda Coffee

If you have ever wondered what exotic, full-bodied, 100% organic coffee tastes like, you’re probably thinking about Bamenda Coffee. The company sources all of its coffee entirely fresh, directly from smallholder farmers in the highlands of Bamenda, Cameroon in West/Central Africa.

The coffee is grown at high altitudes of over 4,000 feet, in extremely rich soil. The harsh environmental conditions at these high altitudes forces the coffee beans to grow more slowly, giving it time to develop the complex sugars that result in coffee far richer and darker than any you’ve tasted.

Perhaps another secret to why Bamenda Coffee tastes so great is the sheer amount of time they have been doing it. The grandparents of the owners first started growing coffee decades ago and this combined experience of over four decades results in delicious coffee grown with all the local knowledge of smallholder farmers.

Bamenda Coffee is a highly social company with tangible ties to its community. According to the father and daughter management team, Felix and Angel Leshey,

“Our coffee is organic and fair trade. We want our customers to have high-quality coffee and we want the farmers we work with to be paid reasonably”.

The company established the Leshey Foundation to help growers and their families access better education and steady incomes, thereby helping to improve and diversify the output of these communities.

The company also actively supports education for kids, community education and assists with business planning for entrepreneurs. Pick up your cup of Bamenda Coffee here.

Click here to donate to the Black Directory - Click here.

Black Directory Articles Business Careers Education Fashion