Retail Spotlight

A Look at Black-Owned (From page 26)

online,” she observed. “I’m a people person. When you come in here, you get a live person to help out, a fitting room to try things on your body. And you can shop at the last minute for something.”

Adadevoh-Woods believes her shop should be a welcoming space; with smiles and small talk, she strives to put at ease shoppers who might feel self-conscious in a small store.

After two decades in the suburbs, Adadevoh-Woods wanted to be part of Detroit’s urban renaissance and moved into the 1,000-squarefoot downtown storefront. She sells a mix of fashion, home décor,

“When you support a Black business, you’re essentially supporting the dream. It’s important to keep the small businesses going; Ray-Ban doesn’t need it as much as we do. For me personally, it’s supporting a legacy I want to leave behind.” shoes and Judaica (Jewish ritual and art objects). “I’m all about inclusion,” Adadevoh-Woods said of this last category, noting that many Jewish patrons have become friends over the years. “I saw the need. I thought, why not?”

Adadevoh-Woods is originally from Ghana via London, and her boutique reflects a modern, cosmopolitan Black outlook.

“Global lifestyle and functional art that is wearable and usable” is how she described her wares, sourced from artists, trade shows and her own jewelry studio. “People love unique. A lot of what I carry is one of a kind, or if it’s a garment, we may just have four — in small, medium, large and extra large.”

Where possible, Adadevoh-Woods buys from Black vendors, “but they are few and far between,” she noted. In today’s retail environment, costs are high, profit margins often low, and small-scale production a difficult proposition.

Because of the racial wealth gap, Black entrepreneurs often face steeper financial challenges than their white counterparts. “A lot of Black-owned businesses feel they’re being left behind,” Adadevoh-Woods said. “They may not have family money, and getting loans can be more difficult.” That’s why Adadevoh-Woods is active in local fundraisers and organizations: “We need to help this community so we can help others.”

That’s the message that Jasmine McDonald , owner of Babes of the Wave in Los Angeles, would like to promote as well. McDonald launched her business in 2019, selling sunglasses and accessories online and complementing her e-business with pop-up sales events. Sunglasses and fashion studs are her top selling items; McDonald includes a personal thank-you note with every purchase she ships.

In lieu of actual models, Babes of the Wave posts pictures of clients wearing their purchases on social media. They in turn will tag her business online, developing relationships that go beyond transaction. Honest communication, McDonald said, is the core of customer service; if an order is running late, she’ll call to let the customer know.

Three years in, Babes of the Wave has a devoted following of customers from diverse backgrounds. “When you support a Black business, you’re essentially supporting the dream,” said McDonald. “It’s important to keep the small businesses going; Ray-Ban doesn’t need it as much as we do. For me personally, it’s supporting a legacy I want to leave behind.”

Like other Black business owners, McDonald wishes there were more Black vendors to support. “I’ve never

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