Support Black Businesses

Black Businesses

by Hunter Morrison

he Shop Black Pop Up Shop all started with a vision.

Queen Esther Spivey, owner of Queensheemee Boutique, started her business in 2018. Right away, she noticed that other small black-owned businesses that were just starting out had no collective space to showcase their products and services. During this time, Spivey was enrolled in cosmetology school. In response to her starting one business and soon starting another as a hairstylist, Spivey thought to herself: “I need to think of how we can come together collectively in a sacred space where we can all feature our businesses."

And thus the Shop Black Pop Up Shop was born. “The whole idea is to showcase and to let our community know that we’re here to serve you,” Spivey said. But the Shop Black Pop Up Shop offers so much more than that. The event also offers resources to local small business owners who are just starting out. Spivey said. “It’s really to encourage the community to come together collectively to step in where someone may be lacking.”

This event allows the community and local business owners the opportunity to network, celebrate, shop and support locally black-owned businesses.

The Shop Black Pop Up Shop specifically features black-owned businesses that make a positive impact in the Pensacola community. Featured businesses include Miko’s Sweets Eats and Treats and MorningStar Jewelry, but Spivey hopes to extend to those that are just starting out. “We try to create the space for new businesses to come out so that we can get them into the feel of what it is like to actually run and operate a business,” Spivey said. Many businesses showcased at the Shop Black Pop Up Shop are online based, so this event allows those businesses to promote themselves without having to use social media or the Internet.

In total, the Shop Black Pop Up Shop has hosted 45 locally operated black-owned businesses since the event’s start in 2019. Each year, the event showcases 15 to 20 small businesses. This time around, the Shop Black Pop Up Shop will be hosting a smaller event than in past years due to COVID-19, but Spivey still hopes to bring a relaxed atmosphere to the event. In addition to showcasing locally black-owned businesses, the event will offer its guests free snacks, a live DJ for entertainment and swag bags for all.

Ultimately, the Shop Black Pop Up Shop’s goal is to grab the community’s attention. “As a whole, it’s to inform the community that, ‘Hey, we’re here, and just so you know, we’re black-owned,’” Spivey said.

The services offered from these highlighted businesses benefit not only the black community but also a wide range of other demographics. The Shop Black Pop Up Shop creates a collective space for black business owners to come together and showcase their goods and services to the community.

Looking forward, Spivey hopes to grow the Shop Black Pop Up Shop. One of her goals for the future is to provide the public with valuable business resources and information.

“We really want to start affording financial literacy classes to show how to grow and organize your business,” Spivey said.

Spivey also hopes that the Shop Black Pop Up Shop will one day be a non-profit organization with a goal of giving back to black-owned businesses and the communities that support them.

In response to COVID-19, the Shop Black Pop Up Shop will be taking measures to keep guests and business owners safe. All attending guests must RSVP by purchasing tickets on eventbrite.com/e/the-shop-black-pop-up-shop-tickets-120029006991. You can visit the Shop Black Pop Up Shop’s Facebook page for more information. All guests are also required to wear masks to ensure the safety of business owners and fellow guests. Social distancing protocols will be enforced inside the venue at all times. “We really want to start affording financial literacy classes to show how to grow and organize your business.”

The fourth ever Shop Black Pop Up Shop will take place on Nov. 28 from 11 am–3 pm. This free event will be held at Anything Events and Rentals located at 5330 Michigan Ave., Suite 1B. Please remember that an RSVP and proper face covering are required to attend this event. Come out and support local black-owned businesses and the community at this unique and fun event.