Celebrating Black-Owned Businesses on Whatnot
Every day Black sellers on Whatnot are going live, bringing people together, and helping elevate the world of live shopping. To honor the Black community on Whatnot and celebrate Black History Month in the U.S., join us in shining a spotlight on a few Black sellers as they share their incredible stories, thoughts, and inspirations.
Vintagecurator sells vintage decor, estate, and jewelry categories and has been reselling since 1999.
She met her husband Peter in 2016 and discovered they had a shared interest in flipping and reselling furniture, so they began their new reselling venture together. Together, Tiffany and Peter have 7 children, 3 of whom help with packing and shipping for their business. Transitioning into live selling on Whatnot was intimidating at first, but the community has made their leap of faith worthwhile as they continued to show up, support, and connect to make it not only a monetary transaction but an experience and a friendship. According to Tiffany, persistence, organization, and positivity are key to being a successful business owner.
“In 2024 being a black business owner means getting to be your true authentic self and share unique aspects of our culture and experiences on a global level. We enjoy bringing new ideas and perspectives to the platform, meeting new people from across the country, and sharing the common love of anything vintage.”
612xsneakerhead sells Sneakers on Whatnot and has been collecting for over a decade.
Unfortunately, he lost a big part of his collection that was held in a storage unit during the George Floyd protests a few years ago. However, his love for sneakers would not be diminished by this event, so he began reselling to earn money to rebuild his collection. Now, 3 years and thousands of sales later, he has done just that. His advice to future business owners is to believe in themselves and accept adversity as part of their growth.
“Being a person of color and a business owner in 2024 means the world to me. I remember times as a child having dreams to have my own businesses but being unsure if those dreams were obtainable because you did not see many Black business owners on the forefront. Now in 2024, I have an established business, and I am able to enjoy the journey with my children and teach them things to set them up for success in their future endeavors.”
Solleigh sells Men’s Fashion on Whatnot and started reselling when she realized her passion could translate into a purpose-driven income.
Her live auctions are a space to connect with the community by selling affordable clothing, finding pieces that bring back memories and nostalgia, and creating an upbeat, high-energy stream that brightens peoples’ days. Her business has grown from just a hobby to a positive force and a safe space for her community. Solleigh says that a big secret to being a business owner is to get out of your own way so you can learn and grow.
“Being a Black business owner to me, means I am a juxtaposition of the past, present, and future. Utilizing the freedom and rights that my grandparents and ancestors fought for, incorporating the hard work of my parent’s generation, and the innovation and creativity of my own generation. It means I’m an example of a different way, some young black kid who thinks their dreams can’t come true just because they’ve never seen it done, I’m here for them!”
Repurposeresale sells Women’s Fashion on Whatnot and has been in the reselling business for over 25 years.
With an eye for fashion and endless creativity, she has made a huge impact on the community and has even found a lot of inspiration through the relationships she’s built with her buyers and other sellers. She defines the 4 pillars of her success to be community, patience, knowledge, and consistency.
“A feeling of accomplishment, achievement, and inclusivity is how I feel being a black business owner on Whatnot. Show after show, I continue to be amazed at the amount of love, support, and patronage for me and my business. The best is yet to come in 2024!!!”
Kuddiekicks sells sneakers & streetwear on Whatnot and brings the heat to every show.
The inspiration behind his venture into reselling stems from the desire to possess items that retain their value and get even better over time. Having faith and being consistent in one’s mission are his two key drivers for success.
“I started off with only $50 three years ago and now people call and text me whenever they need new footwear or clothing. without the support from all my customers and family members, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Cynthiaporter sells Beauty and Fashion on Whatnot.
Whether it's giving a client a new look or style to boost their confidence, making them feel pampered, or offering them advice on how they can bring out the best look in themselves, she finds that it’s helping others that is truly rewarding. Some words of advice from Cynthia would be to listen to your customers, adapt to change, and hire smart people who can help and advise you.
“My biggest goal is to make women feel pretty inside and out. Be bold, confident, and worthy. So to me being a Black-owned business means doing our part to change the narrative, change our family’s lives, and to change our community.”
We are proud to support Black sellers as they grow their businesses and make the Whatnot community stronger. Be sure to continue the celebration of all Black-Owned Businesses by following, bookmarking, and supporting their businesses this month and beyond. 💛
