5 Gift Ideas For Your Squad From 5 Black-Women Owned Businesses
Plus a Starter Kit for Turning Your Gift Exchange into a Year-End Sister Circle
Confession. Sometimes I’m a bad friend. And before your mind starts imagining some crazy Real Housewives of Wherever scenario, it’s nothing like that.
Sometimes I’m just too busy and checked out. Sometimes I’m one-sided and self-absorbed. Sometimes I’m forgetful. And I’m horrible at giving gifts.
But other times I’m a great friend. At those times, I’m thoughtful. I’m communicative. I’m supportive. I think we all have a bit of both — good friend and bad friend — in us.
But the goal is to make the bad friend show up less and the good one appear more often. We do that by making a habit of nurturing our friendships on a consistent basis. We are experts at pulling what we need from our friendships, but how often are we pouring into our friendships with intention?
We are purposeful about feeding our romantic relationships, yet how often do we let our friendships run on auto-pilot? Let’s change that. Let’s become more intentional. Let’s inspire our friends to do the same.
A great start for this would be for us to utilize the holiday season that we’re in to share a token of love with our friends. I’ve pulled together a list of 5 amazing black women owned businesses, and all of them have gifts available for less than $20.
These budget-friendly options can help you show your love and support to the friends who’ve been in your corner during 2020’s crazy ride. But the best thing about this list is that it isn’t just a regurgitation of Google’s top search results for “Black-owned businesses.” I actually know these women.
I know their drive, their hustle, their integrity. So I wanted to introduce you to these ladies and share with you some of the wonderful things they’ve created. Hopefully you see a gift idea that’s the perfect way to bring your friends a little holiday joy in return for all of the joy they provide you year-round!
Byrd’s Nest Box & Elevated Tea
For The Friend Who Needs Nourishment & Relaxation
Why start just one business when you have the skills and talent for two! Falani, owner and co-owner of Byrd’s Nest Box and Elevated Tea, respectively, did just that. In 2020, she launched a line of CBD-infused tea and an organic produce box — because yea, she’s an amazingly talented Black girl urban farmer.
I’ve known Falani since childhood, and every second of the time I’ve known her, she’s dripped with free-spirit energy. She is Badu meets Nina. She’s that old energy of a down-South grandma mixed with some new shit you’ve never seen before. She gardens, is a filmmaker, artist, and all-around dope person. I can almost guarantee you’ve never met anyone like her.
Her two businesses are an amazing expression of all of the creative energy that she’s embodied since we were young. Elevated Tea is perfect for the friend in your life who could use a chill pill. (Me. I’m that friend).
It’s a relaxation tool in the self-care toolbox, and could be a perfect way to provide nurturing support to a friend who could benefit from a little relaxation. This inspiring tea can be found at www.elevatedtea.co and on Instagram at @elevatedtea.co.
Her second business, Byrd’s Nest Box, is her newest venture. It is an organic produce box filled with ethically sourced fruits and vegetables. Follow @byrdsnestbox on Instagram to get a glimpse of the nutrient-rich harvest she’s grown and planted over the years. Falani’s passion for healthy, sustainable food sources is evident throughout the business.
Connect with Byrd’s Nest Box to find out more about the earthy luxury subscription box she’s dropping soon. This box will also include her Elevated Tea! Gifts from either of these companies can be a great way of communicating to your friend that you support her nourishment and well-being.
Milk & Bubbles
For the Friend Who Works Hard & Has Earned a Touch of Fun!
Milk & Bubbles just sounds like fun! It’s a mixture of soaps, body creams and all of the things that make us dance for joy on the inside. Its owner, Art, is literally the fiercest, smartest, most bad-ass attorney I know!
She and I attended law school together, and we also lived together briefly in a house that was bursting at the seams with too many women. (#studentlife)
Throughout law school, she had a reputation for excellence among both the student population and the professors. Everyone knew her. She epitomized #BlackGirlBrilliance, and she continues that trend with her entrepreneurial endeavors.
While this carefree product line is a departure from the ‘all-about-business’ version of Art that many of us came to know in law school, it’s executed with the same level of excellence that she brings to everything I’ve seen her do.
There’s body wash, body cream, bath milk, soap — you name it, she’s got it. And her products come in amazingly delicious-looking flavors like Apple Honey and Succulent Agave. The colors and swirls and designs on the soaps alone make your heart smile. (See for yourself: www.milkandhoney.com).
This is definitely the gift for the friend who’s a boss in her lane but also deserves a touch fun and whimsical to balance her out. You can follow the brand on Instagram @milknhoney or check out the website. The soaps are so pretty, I swear I just want to frame one and hang it on the wall.
Soaked
For the Friend Who Gives Her All to Everyone & Deserves to Be Pampered in Return
Who doesn’t need a soothing hot bath! (Because 2020 just…) We all need a little TLC this year, and this mother-daughter bath tea company delivers. Elan, who co-owns Soaked with her mother, is another law school classmate of mine. (We roll deep!)
She is the perfect mix of quirky, newsy, and funny, and she always knows what’s happening in the streets. She can simultaneously delve into the legal issues that pop up in Washington politics, break down an episode of Lovecraft Country, and then throw some Cardi in your face just because.
Needless to say, she’s a well-rounded person. A brand like this makes sense from someone like her because she is so in tune with what people need. Soaked is a line of handcrafted bath teas designed to be incorporated into any self-care routine. It’s made of all-natural ingredients like chamomile and hemp-derived CBD oil, each with their own benefits.
This is a perfect gift for the friend who needs a little pampering. She and her mother have a versatile product line with everything from their Soaked in Calm bath tea to their Soaked in Love option. But the most alluring of them all is the Soaked in Peace. (Can we collectively soak in this at midnight on December 31st? We need 2021 to act right!!)
You can check out her products and learn more about her and her mother’s story at www.livesoaked.com. Find them on Instagram at @live.soaked. (Hurry tho! Cuz they’re hot in these streets!)
The Righteous Tone
For the Friend Whose Fierce Energy Should Be Matched by her Earrings
In October, our favorite Instagram Auntie, Tabitha Brown, featured The Righteous Tone’s earrings on her “Very Good Mondays” IG video series, and I was jumping for joy to see it! These handmade copper earrings are as unique as their owner. Victoria is a Cali-raised, roller-skating, PhD doctoral candidate who is all about Black culture.
We met several years ago when she volunteered for my teen mentoring nonprofit, and now she’s my skating buddy! Since day one, her energy has been overwhelmingly supportive and authentic. She’s that friend who will always show up for you when you’re in the trenches — but she’s definitely coming with a reality check and some jokes for your ass!
She’s reliable and giving. She was one of our most dedicated teen mentors during her volunteer time. She became such an integral part of her mentee’s life that even after the teen moved to a new state, they kept in contact. She even went as far as to use her own money to purchase Ella Mai concert tickets as an outing for her and her mentee. If that doesn’t speak to her caring energy, I don’t know what does. She’s the real deal.
Her line of copper jewelry is no different. Every piece of jewelry is hand-crafted with real copper into unique designs that are made to “defy society’s standards of beauty, style, and professionalism.” The earring styles — Maple Drizzle, Cinnamon Bun, and Chocolate Kiss — sound as melanin-rich as her earring models.
This jewelry line celebrates the beauty of Black women. It’s the perfect gift for the friend who exudes Black Girl Magic! (Cuz she’s gotta have the earrings to match that glow!) Check out The Righteous Tone on Instagram at @the_righteoustone and or the online store at www.the-righteous-tone.myshopify.com. (PS* She’s running some amazing holiday sales!)
Amor Scents
For the Friend Whose Vibes Can Only Be Matched by the Burning Flame of a Candle
I only buy my candles from Amor Scents. I haven’t picked up a candle from Target in ages. (All the more time to overspend in the other aisles.) I first met Amor Scents’ owner, Quianna, when she was just a college student. (Now I feel old!)
She interned for my nonprofit, and was hands-down the best intern I’ve ever had. Years later, I invited her back to run our entrepreneurial teen program, and she flawlessly delivered. She brings that same level of care and attention to her business.
Amor Scents is a line of candles and wax melts with scents like “Spa Day” and “Sangria Me Please” that turn your home into an oasis. (During this extended 2020 staycation, we need all the oasis we can get!)
The candles are made with all-natural soy wax and eco-friendly fragrance oils. I’m a candle snob, and I absolutely love them. I’ve bulk ordered these candles on several occasions so that I don’t run out. I’ve given them as gifts. And because I’m special, I’ve even hounded her about making me custom orders. Her candles smell amazing, and the scents radiate throughout your home.
This gift is perfect for that friend whose energy is three-dimensional. That friend who can’t just be seen, she’s a full-sensory experience. You can check out Quianna’s scents at www.myamorscents.com and on Instagram at @amor.scents. Be sure to tell me which scent you love best!
How to Turn Your Gift Exchange Into An End-of-Year Sister Circle For You & Your Squad
Now that you’ve got your gift ideas on deck, here’s a few ideas for a meaningful way to bring it all together. My friends and I recently started a monthly sister circle, and it’s helped keep me focused on personal growth and improvement.
Even if your schedule won’t allow for a monthly sister circle, I highly recommend gathering your friends for a virtual End-of-Year Sister Circle. It will give you the opportunity to check in with your friends, keep those bonds strong, and recommit yourselves to bigger and better things in 2021.
To keep your holiday spending costs low, you can all participate in a Secret Santa Gift Exchange. Pull names, and have your gift shipped directly to the friend whose name you’ve pulled. Everyone should WAIT until the sister circle to open gifts on camera.
You can download my sister circle starter-kit HERE to get you moving on your sister circle. The kit includes:
- A Logistics Guide to Planning — what to do before the circle
- A Sample Sister Circle Agenda — to help w/ the flow of your circle
- A Goal-Setting Worksheet – to help hold each other accountable
Once you try it out, let me know how it all works for you! May 2021 be a year where your friendships help to support your personal growth and development into the person you are destined to be.
Happy Holidays!
