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Again it’s the holiday season, and I welcome it with open arms. The months before this season have been pretty tumultuous for all of us. Due to the pandemic, many families have lost jobs, buried loved ones and have been on edge trying to figure out how they will pay their bills from month to month. We are all getting a first-class lesson on how important it is to hold onto our coins. People have been inside on and off since 2020 due to COVID. It has been a very uncomfortable season. A shift is here, but you don’t have to go into debt to have a happy holiday. Here are some tips on enduring the holiday season without breaking the bank and shopping with some black-owned women’s businesses.

Women are likely to be marketed to more than men to purchase and receive Christmas gifts. For the man who finds it challenging finding the right skills for the women in their lives, popular wholesaler Etsy has become the go-to brand for most millennial women. They are the central hub for monogramming! Women love a good monogram. They also have lots of inspirational keepsakes to choose from. Etsy also sells merchandise from black women-owned businesses right on their site. Here is a list:

  • Kindred Essence sells candles.
  • Oonaloo sells cloth dolls for little girls.
  • Legend Influence sells Christmas ornaments.
  • All Very Goods sells decorative bandanas.
  • Gabe Jade Accessories sells African print ties.
  • Little Dot Studios sells luxury luggage tags.
  • Morning Joy Co. sells personalized cutting boards.
  • Gee Band Quilters sells one-of-a-kind quilts.
  • Archer Home Designs sells furniture pieces.
  • Be Spoke Binny sells African wax print drum lamps.

Another lovely gift for women would be an Audible subscription. I say a 90-day subscription because it is both affordable and enough time to purchase several audiobooks to listen to and see if the women in your life enjoy them. You don’t have to be a reader to enjoy an Audible subscription. There are other things to purchase besides books. There are originals, audiobooks, sleep tracks, meditation programs and podcasts. In addition to Audible, there are many black-owned online bookstores to order from. Buying books as a gift is always a good idea. Here is a list!

  • Semicolon Bookstore
  • Books And Crannies
  • ESO Won Books
  • Harriet’s Bookstore
  • Loyalty Bookstore
  • Detroit Book City
  • Sisters Uptown Bookstore
  • Mahogany Books
  • The Lit Bar
  • Ashay By The Bay

Last but not least, Target has a broad black woman-owned business section to explore. A brick-and-mortar store makes shopping seamless because, unlike Etsy, you can hold the items in your hand to see if you want to buy. With Etsy, you have to make an educated guess on how things will fit and mesh with other items you get at a store. Target has black-owned items like art, feminine products, cookware, books and hair care galore. I have bought black women-owned products from Target, and now they are in the staple category in my life. I love them! As long as they keep making these products, I will keep buying them. Happy Holidays!