am·pli·fy : to increase the strength or amount of; to make larger or greater
Over the past few months, one of our main focuses has been to amplify the voices of Black women around the world. With a diverse community of our own, we reached out to you on Instagram to share YOUR favorite Black, female-owned small businesses that you know and love!
This is part of an incredible round-up series featuring some of these women and small businesses that you can support online now and in the future…in so many different industries from skincare products and fashionistas, to podcasters, foodies, accountants, fitness and more!
Our mission has always been to empower women to chase after their entrepreneurial dreams – and it’s time to amplify our support for our Black community. Plus, it’s just one small way we can all do our part towards bridging the gap and supporting small!
So without further ado, here are five incredible Black, female entrepreneurs who have turned their passions into a successful design business!
Luci Nixon Elders | Founder of Hello Luci
Business:
Hello Luci: A Florida-based online creative studio that helps modern creatives build an online presence through authentic branding, website design, and holistic resources. Hello Luci launched in 2018!
About the Founder:
Luci is a lifestyle influencer, blogger, and creative entrepreneur. Known for her bubbly personality and love of coffee, she is passionate about her Tampa Bay community, adventure, and helping small creative businesses elevate their online presence!
Quote:
“When your brand speaks, I listen and put down the foundation.” — Luci
Use These Services:
Instagram:
What We Love:
Not only is Luci passionate about creating beautiful designs for her clients, but she also loves helping other designers grow and learn! We love that she shares her resource toolbox full of her favorite tools for creating an impactful business as well as her blog where she provides awesome design, business, and blogging tips!
Sugar Taylor | Founder of Sugar Taylor Co.
Business:
Sugar Taylor Co.: A multimedia design company specializing in events, branding, and interiors!
About the Founder:
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Sugar now lives in the greater D.C area with her husband and children. She is a self-taught multimedia designer and has been a full-time multidisciplinary designer for the past 10 years!
Quote:
“I truly believe that everyone has something to contribute to the greater creative energy that holds our inner peace together.” — Sugar
Use These Services:
Instagram:
What We Love:
From glass blowing and pottery to painting and jewelry making, we absolutely love that Sugar offers art therapy classes every Sunday evening via Zoom! To help others access their creativity and learn real artistic skills, Sugar has created an intimate setting where women can share their stories and have a place for connection while learning a new art skill! You can check out more information about her art therapy classes here!
Le’Trice Penn | Founder of Lepenn Designs
Business:
Lepenn Designs: An award-winning, full-service invitation and stationery design studio based in Metro Detroit, Michigan.
About the Founder:
Le’Trice is a proud self-taught graphic designer. Aside from designing, she is devoted to spending time with her husband, two sons, and her husky named Storm. She has a weakness for sweet treats, telling corny jokes, and catching a good movie!
Quote:
“I often look back at my past work and can see without a doubt my growth and how far I have advanced from where I started! I’m so thankful for my humble beginnings and how it all shaped me into where I am now.” — Le’Trice
Use These Services:
- Invitation Design
- Day-of-Event Stationery Design
- Branding + Logo Design
- Business Collateral Design + Printing
Instagram:
What We Love:
While working with her Lepenn Designs clients, Le’Trice realized that she should create a new line of stylish invitations that could benefit everyone and not just those seeking custom couture invitation designs. From this, The Plume Collection was born, a ready-to order invitation division allowing her clients the opportunity to do as little or as much as they want to their wedding or event invitations at an affordable price.
Latanya Farquharson | Founder of De Luxe Designs
Business:
De Luxe Designs: A Toronto-based custom wedding, event, and small business stationery design studio.
About the Founder:
By day, Latanya is a legal professional working in the hustle and bustle financial district in downtown Toronto. In addition, she enjoys working even harder to execute stationery designs that are unique and one of a kind. She’s passionate about sustaining her legal career and small business all while living a fun-filled life of travelling, playing soccer and hanging out with friends and family. She loves anything vintage and tea!
Quote:
“The longer you take to capitalize on your great idea the less time the world has to embrace it. If you have an amazing idea that you think the world should know about, don’t wait on someone to magically offer you a seat at the table. Build a table and create opportunities for people who share the same vision as you.” — Latanya
Use These Services:
Instagram:
What We Love:
When you book your wedding stationary design with De Luxe Designs, they donate a portion of the proceeds to SKETCH!
SKETCH is a community arts enterprise based in Toronto. They engage diverse young people who are navigating poverty, living homeless, or otherwise on the margins to experience the transformative power of the arts, build leadership and self-sufficiency in the arts, and cultivate social and environmental change through the arts!
Ndidi Ayoola | Co-Founder of Oda Creative
Business:
Oda Creative: A Texas-based creative design agency offering branding, web design, luxury invitation design, and custom illustrations.
About the Founder:
A free spirit with a warm and bubbly personality, Ndidi loves to push boundaries creatively, resulting in one of a kind creations and experiences. In her spare time, she loves making memories with her family, reading sci-fi, fantasy or YA novels, and playing RPGs on the Xbox!
Quote:
“You know that idea that’s been on your mind? That ‘thing’ you’ve always wanted to do? Start working on it! It may seem larger than life but each step that you take in working towards it takes you one step closer to accomplishing it.” — Ndidi
Use These Services:
Instagram:
What We Love:
Not only does Oda Creative offer design services, but they also sell unique custom art and illustrations. We are so in love with their pieces! Check out their shop here!
