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THE NORTH MIDLANDS
UK BLACK BUSINESS GUIDE 2020-21
Swiss: ‘Let’s use the pow
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as thousands of people across the UK have been supporting Black Pound Day ( first Saturday of every month). The event’s founder Swiss tells The Voice about his vision for the event and how he sees it’s future
the number one trending topic on Twitter in the UK. Several businesses also shared on social media how they had experienced their biggest growth in sales this year following the day. Black Pound Day is now set to become a regular event in a bid to
For Swiss however, now is the right time for the black community to take action on it. “I first conceived the idea about 12 years ago” he says. “I had a passing thought about us galvanising ourselves and pouring back into our community economical-
“WHO MADE this product?” “What materials were used?” “Who is profiting from it?” These are just a few of the questions often asked by conscientious consumers mindful of a company’s impact on the environment or the way it treats it staff. However, for an increasing number of buyers who are thinking about these wider issues, another important question is also being asked: “Is this a black-owned business?” In the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests across the world that followed the death of George Floyd in May many have been thinking about new, effective ways to challenge racial inequality in all areas of life. One of the most prominent people to do is So Solid Crew’s Swiss.
Financial boost
He is the founder of Black Pound Day, an event aimed at celebrating black-owned businesses and giving the black community a financial and emotional boost, after the anger at racial inequality in the UK evident at the protests which followed Floyd’s death.
Support
Thousands of people across the country will be backing blackowned businesses as part of Black Pound Day The inaugural Black Pound Day attracted support from high profile figures such as chart-topping singer Jess Glynne among others. And #BlackPoundDay becoming
VISION: Black Pound Day founder Swiss
encourage more Britons to buy products or services from blackowned businesses and invest in them.
‘Economic activism’
The idea of supporting black businesses is a form of economic activism that has long been discussed in the black community.
ly. It was a strong inspirational thought I shared with my friend’s older brother and that’s where it stayed. “It had always been lingering and I’m still surprised that no one actually came up with the idea of having a day where we’re all thinking about going to support our own businesses and using that
as a way to galvanise our community in thought and action.
Inspiration
“I wanted to do my part to create something positive out of this. I followed the inspiration I as given and here we are, many people getting behind this movement. I’m just so happy that people have been open to it. Black Pound Day does what it says on the tin, it’s a very simple concept to understand. “It’s a day where we unify all cultures, not just black, we utilise the emotional energy of recent months and turn that into an economic power as opposed to allowing those emotions to come and go as we know emotions do and nothing comes of it.” Was he surprised at the positive reaction to the first Black Pound Day? “I was very surprised. Anyone would be after putting their own brainchild out there and seeing it stir up so much interest in the community. Apart from songs I don’t think I’ve had an idea that has stirred up the emotions and the forward thinking of my community in that way.
The day can help our community shape an economic agenda. When we have control of our economic agenda we can move from a position of power we can make decisions from a position of power and achieve effective outcomes. Economic unity means we can effect change politically. This is really important.
SWISS, FOUNDER OF BLACK POUND DAY
