Holiday Season Prep
The holiday season can get pretty stressful when focusing on finding the perfect gifts, matching them to the perfect person, and on top of it all, who to buy them from. Kennita Hickman decided to ease the worry of fellow community members with her very first holiday guide published through her business Catera. The holiday guide features 13 Black-owned businesses from Milwaukee and surrounding areas.
Catera is a Milwaukee-based artist management company that focuses on building the careers and voices of artists in the city.
“It’s not about shopping local or shopping minority, it’s about shopping quality,” said Hickman. “It was really about not just Black businesses for the sake of Black businesses, it’s quality Black businesses. So my question is if you’re looking for “X”, would you consider buying from a Black or another minority brand?”
Everything in the guide is naturally Hickman-approved, and she has tried everything she suggests to the community.
Inside the Holiday Guide
The holiday guide features businesses from almost every aspect of life from accessories to stationery to food and beverages, ensuring users can find something for themselves, or a loved one. The holiday guide was from a list of over 200 businesses Hickman had compiled during her journey of turning to Black-owned businesses since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to get around product shortages of the time.
“I think the holiday guide for me is a way to share that list with other folks. I think we are in such a heavy influencer culture, that influencers may not necessarily like the project they’re paid to talk about. I spent my own money, so I’m able to give feedback from a really honest and unbiased perspective.”
– Kennita Hickman
The 2024 Holiday Guide Featured Businesses:
- Jameela Jewelry
- SPGBK Watches
- Paisley Paper
- Elevation Lifestyle
- Soap Distillery
- The Lip Bar
- Some Chocolates
- Lush Popcorn
- Honeybee and Sage Wellness and Apothecary
- Tranquil Blends
- Estelle Colored Glass
- Atmosphere by Vinyette
- Vela Negra
Keeping the Dollar in the Community
Hickman lives the lifestyle she talks about, making it a point to buy as much as she can from local, Black, or BIPOC businesses. She aimed to make her first holiday guide user-friendly for beginners, including details like the location, if the businesses are woman-owned, and links to their websites and social media.
According to a 2022 Diverse Intelligence Series report by Nielson, the Black community has a buying power of nearly $2 trillion, making it a key demographic that companies attempt to sell to. Hickman views purchasing from local Black businesses as a revolutionary act that strengthens the community and keeps wealth within it.
“Anytime that you can shop local or shop minority it is a very tangible way to say what you value,” said Hickman. “I think that giving your money to minority and local businesses is just how the economy continues to grow and I think it’s how we help other people’s dreams come true.”
To access the Holiday Guide click here.