As holiday shopping ramps up, a new gift guide put together by both the NAACP of Rutland and Windham is hoping to give Vermonters an idea of how they can support their BIPOC neighbors and business owners this season.”The highlight of this is featuring and centering individuals who aren’t typically featured and centered,” Mia Schultz, NAACP of Rutland President, said. Schultz, along with NAACP of Windham President Steffen Gillom, said they want to give BIPOC-business owners, artists, and services a bigger platform. This could especially help those who have services or make products, like skin and hair care, that better serve individual needs. “You never saw those promoted or even available in the small business category,” Gillom said. “You did see this market but you were kind of saying well what about people like me?”One local business featured in the guide is Omega Jade Enterprises. Run by Omega Jade herself, the artist and owner sells music, merchandise and candles. Her products represent her wide array of interests.Along with online sales, she also has a stand up at The Trading Post, a store front offering up space for small businesses, inside University Mall in South Burlington. She is the only black-owned business there.”Because I do hip hop and because I happen to look like this that here personally it’s a little harder sell,” Omega Jade said. ” it’s our own little network of supporting people and finding others that support us as well.”Aisha McLaren’s business, Soul Simone, is also featured in the gift guide. For the past year, she’s been making and selling earrings using copper and brass.The Fairfax businesswoman is hoping that this guide keeps her busy filling orders for the holidays and, at the same time, she also plans to give other BIPOC businesses her support.”When you buy from me its not just oh thanks for buying my earrings,” McLaren said. “It really does make a difference to our communities, especially our BIPOC communities to keep it local.”
As holiday shopping ramps up, a new gift guide put together by both the NAACP of Rutland and Windham is hoping to give Vermonters an idea of how they can support their BIPOC neighbors and business owners this season.
“The highlight of this is featuring and centering individuals who aren’t typically featured and centered,” Mia Schultz, NAACP of Rutland President, said.
Advertisement
Schultz, along with NAACP of Windham President Steffen Gillom, said they want to give BIPOC-business owners, artists, and services a bigger platform. This could especially help those who have services or make products, like skin and hair care, that better serve individual needs.
“You never saw those promoted or even available in the small business category,” Gillom said. “You did see this market but you were kind of saying well what about people like me?”
One local business featured in the guide is Omega Jade Enterprises. Run by Omega Jade herself, the artist and owner sells music, merchandise and candles. Her products represent her wide array of interests.
Along with online sales, she also has a stand up at The Trading Post, a store front offering up space for small businesses, inside University Mall in South Burlington. She is the only black-owned business there.
“Because I do hip hop and because I happen to look like this that here personally it’s a little harder sell,” Omega Jade said. “[The gift guide] it’s our own little network of supporting people and finding others that support us as well.”
Aisha McLaren’s business, Soul Simone, is also featured in the gift guide. For the past year, she’s been making and selling earrings using copper and brass.
The Fairfax businesswoman is hoping that this guide keeps her busy filling orders for the holidays and, at the same time, she also plans to give other BIPOC businesses her support.
“When you buy from me its not just oh thanks for buying my earrings,” McLaren said. “It really does make a difference to our communities, especially our BIPOC communities to keep it local.”
