‘Black business mag boosted my enterprise’

Business owners featured in past editions speak about the difference it has made.

By

Vic

Motune

THE LEGACY of The Voice’s founder, Val McCalla, as a staunch advocate for the Black community on issues such as police brutality, and inequality in education, housing and employment, is widely acknowledged.

However, he was also a passionate supporter of Black entrepreneurs and understood the vital role that businesses play in empowering the Black community and creating generational wealth.

His legacy in this area was seen in the launch of The Voice’s Black Business Magazine in December 2018.

Our inaugural edition was launched in the pre-George Floyd period where pressure for change was building following other killings of Black men by the police in the US. It was clear things had to change.

Equality activists in this country argued that racial inequality and a lack of political influence was one of the key outcomes of a growing gap in wealth and income between Black people and other communities.

The pioneering Black Business Magazine was aimed at addressing that gap by providing a platform for Black-owned businesses.

The first issue featured businesses in a diverse range of fields such as eco-fashion, hospitality, books, haircare, toys and cosmetics. It also showcased entrepreneurs who were creating new twists on traditional African and Caribbean cuisine.

Subsequent editions of the magazine featured stories of how Black-owned firms adapted to the challenges of the Covid pandemic and inspiring accounts of entrepreneurs who found ways to get around the lack of financial support from banks and grow their companies.

This year marks the Black Business Magazine’s fifth anniversary. And according to many of the entrepreneurs who have been featured in the publication, it continues to be a vital resource for Black-led businesses and the consumers who want to support them. Dating service company Melanin Matchmakers has ap- peared in several editions of the magazine. Its founder Dayo Israel says the publication’s support has been instrumental to the success of the business.

“As a dating service that focuses on the Black community, having The Voice’s Black Business Magazine is something that has been so important to us because it’s helped us to connect with people who are interested in supporting Black-owned businesses.

“It’s also given us national exposure. As a company, we’ve always believed there’s a growing demand for more personalised and meaningful connections and the magazine has really helped us get the word out about what we do. Through it we’ve been able to reach a much wider audience than we would have on our own.”

Israel continued: “We’ve seen more people wanting to support Black-owned businesses recently, especially since protests over the murder of George Floyd.

“The Voice’s Black Business Magazine has definitely been an important part of that movement and it highlights the many great Black-owned businesses that are out there and gives people the information they need to support them.”

Despite the rise in the number of Black-owned businesses in recent years, they still face significant challenges when it comes to building awareness of their products and services.

Advertising is crucial for any successful business, allowing it to reach new customers, increase sales, and establish brand awareness. But the costs involved mean it is out of reach for small companies with limited budgets.

Recent research by Clear Channel UK, Channel 4, and the BACKLIGHT agency found that while Black and minority ethnic entrepreneurs felt advertising is crucial to growing their business, 22 per cent of those surveyed said they face significant difficulty in paying for advertising space, compared to 10 per cent of White entrepreneurs.

Caroline Henry-Ledgister, cofounder of Leicala Natural Products, a skincare company that uses natural ingredients, believes that The Voice’s Black Business Magazine has been crucial in tackling this problem in a way that is affordable.

“The magazine has been so beneficial for us because it’s given us exposure we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she says. “It’s helped to raise awareness about the products we sell at a reasonable price. People have learned about us and got in contact after seeing the article about us in the magazine. It’s given us the opportunity to educate them about what we do and how our products can benefit them. As a result, many people have become customers and have continued to support us.”

Monique Kufuor, founder of The Black Owned Business Exhibition (BOBExpo), now the UK’s largest event for consumers who want to buy culturally diverse products, also says the magazine’s support was crucial after its launch in 2018.

“When we launched we were based in Manchester. Appearing in The Voice’s Black Business Magazine has helped us get noticed beyond the north-west” she says. “The national exposure it provided has been really important for us. People from all over the country who are interested in supporting Black-owned businesses have been able to get in touch with us more easily because they heard about us through the magazine.

“That’s helped us build relationships and make a real difference to our business.”