Celebrating AAPI-Owned Businesses on Whatnot
In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we want to give a big shout-out to all the amazing AAPI business owners leaving their mark on the Whatnot community. We commend and celebrate their entrepreneurial endeavors, inspiring hard work, and their ongoing success. In this blog post we’ll highlight the stories, achievements, and awesome contributions of a few incredible sellers on Whatnot:
Fashionica a first-generation Filipino American with a love for thrifting and vintage designer clothes and bags.
Before starting FashioNica, she would spend her time in local thrift shops searching high and low for hidden treasures to add to her closet. Fast forward to today, she now has the honor of sourcing pre-loved designer bags at accessible prices not only for herself but for a community that stands behind sustainable luxury. When FashioNica came to fruition, it was almost "perfectenshlag" (cue "The Office" fans). Nica defines her small business as an archive of curated bags she’d wear herself that she’s sourced and helped bring back to life for someone new to enjoy. For Nica, being an AAPI business owner in 2024 means embracing both the joys and responsibilities that come with the role, knowing that one can make a meaningful impact through business decisions and community involvement. Her advice to future business owners is to be comfortable wearing many hats and multitasking as you're starting out, but know when to ask for help when it’s time to expand. Being a small business owner —you are not only the CEO, but you’re also the marketer, the bookkeeper, the strategist, the client-consultant, and the shipper. In the early stages, it's crucial to embrace these roles as they challenge you to grow, think critically, adapt, and deeply understand every facet of your business.
“It’s about representing my Filipino heritage with pride and breaking stereotypes about what leaders look like in the business world.”
Genghis_shawn is a full-time comic retailer who was inspired to take the leap into live selling on Whatnot after visiting the Whatnot SDCC Hero House where he met other sellers and members of the Whatnot team.
After being mentored by a fellow comic book seller, ThatSpiderManBooth, he was able to gain the knowledge and experience needed to get started and thrive on Whatnot. Growing up, Shawn has fond memories of tasty Asian cuisines as his family consists of various cultures. His father is Filipino and Guamanian and his mother is Indonesian & Chinese. Given his diverse background and interests, he treasures being able to connect with his audience on similarities they may have such as cultures, traveling, favorite animes, and so much more. His advice to future business owners is to be proud of who you are, appreciate those who support you, and show up as the best version of yourself when you engage with the world cause you never know who you’ll inspire.
“I love being able to share not only my love for comics and collectibles but also about my culture and also learning about other people’s culture from all around the world.”
Emilydazzlingdesign is a passionate jewelry creator and the owner of Dazzling Design NYC.
Although she had a successful career in the financial services and technology industry, she decided to venture into her passion for jewelry thanks to the amazing Whatnot community. Emily has been lucky enough to find a supportive, vibrant, and nurturing community of buyers and other sellers on Whatnot to surround herself with. As an AAPI business owner in 2024, Emily says she will continue thriving in excellence, bringing exquisite products to the community, and extending a helping hand to fellow sellers wherever possible!
“Who says your passion cannot be your profession?”
Sappys, otherwise known as Sappy’s Sports Cards, has been in the sports cards business for 15 years.
After seeing Whatnot's growing business and presence at various conventions, he decided to give it a chance and immediately saw that live auctions were a game changer. As a half-Korean seller, Joseph says that it means a lot for him to represent the Asian community and set a good example for future generations looking to have successful businesses. His advice for others is to not give up when things are tough and to be consistent. If it were that easy, everyone would do it so you need to continue to work hard, build your brand, and foster trust with the community.
“It means a lot to me being able to represent the Asian community as a successful business owner and hopefully it shows others that it’s possible to accomplish.”
Bestdeals101 is a beauty seller on Whatnot who has been selling full-time since late last year.
Resham grew up helping her father, who has been selling perfume and jewelry for the past 25 years, during the holidays which is where she found her love for the retail industry. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Resham and her father had to quickly pivot as shopping malls were closed, and the income from her father's business was halted. This is when they started to put their effort into online selling, and have since expanded into beauty and cosmetics, moving an immense amount of inventory on Whatnot. Resham’s biggest motivation is to not only make her parents proud but also to be able to retire them so they can finally relax and embrace life after doing so much for their family. Her advice to other business owners is to not give up, explore different things, and don’t be afraid to take risks. What’s next for bestdeals101? She is working on expanding into higher-end products as well as creating her own brand of candles and perfumes that she hopes to bring to Whatnot for her community to enjoy.
“Being an AAPI business owner and succeeding in this country as a minority definitely isn’t easy but being able to have the support of my family was the only way I could’ve achieved everything I have.”
We are proud to support AAPI sellers on Whatnot as they grow their businesses and enrich the community. Join us in celebrating AAPI-Owned Businesses by following, bookmarking, and supporting their businesses during the month of May and all year round. 💛
