‘How You Doing?’ 6 Black Owned Businesses in the Bay Area Answer!

When we decided to start the Black Box-Oakland project, we were really excited about discovering how we could make a lifestyle of supporting Black Businesses everyday; not for just around the hype of a hashtag or, for a season, but #forlife. The 5 Black Box co-creators knew it was worth the volunteer time and labor it would take to seek out small Black-owned businesses and share them with other people. It was a self-serving project. Now after getting acquainted with over 60 new businesses, we also know that these vendors are more than suppliers, and more than just businesses. They are part of our community, and they are real people.

We asked them to share about themselves, and how they are feeling about 2020 so far.  Unlike the big corporations that many Americans support financially, these are business owners that we have access to. Your investment actually matters to them. When we support Black-owned businesses we support ourselves as well. 

---

First, they told us more about their operations.

Creative Shields

In 2009, a year after graduating from Howard University with a degree in Business Marketing, I found myself laid off from my corporate job in New York City. While considering options for future work, I decided to explore my passion for the arts- I started painting. A few months later… I made that my "real job.” 

I’m currently based in Oakland, CA.

Kalm Korner by Kehinde

Kehinde Koyejo, an Oakland Native, is owner and creator of Kalm Korner by Kehinde.She is committed to educating women of African Descent about mental and emotional health in deep, authentic, and ongoing ways to guide more individuals towards self-healing, self-preservation and self-mastery. ​Kehinde resides in her hometown, Oakland, CA with her daughter, Ololade Celeste, surrounded by a host of family and friends.

Teranga

Nafy Flatley, a native of Senegal, moved to California to attend school at the University of San Francisco. After she earned her degree in international business, advertising and marketing, she worked in Silicon Valley for start-up companies as a marketing director. In 2016 she founded TERANGA, a food and beverage company whose mission is to create refreshing and healthy drinks and snacks handcrafted in small batches using Baobab Fruit Pulp, Moringa, Hibiscus, Millet, Fonio and other unique ingredients from around the world. TERANGA products are available in various retail stores in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Nafy Flatley, founder of Teranga

Brundo Spices

Ethiopian Restaurateur Fetlework Tefferi started Brundo Spices, a Family business that is the first large scale Ethiopian spice importing company.

Spoiled Button Designs + Treats

Owned and operated by a single mom with a passion for all things baking and creating; she makes everything from centerpieces to cupcakes. Christina-cherri started this business as a way to make money after needing to quit her job and care for her newborn son in 2018 and has been working hard to build it up ever since.

The Final Sauce

Brownie and I are two sisters born and raised in the Bay Area. We grew up in Berkeley, graduating from Berkeley High 85 and 83.  I moved away from California in 2003.  Brownie had always been a successful salon owner.  She loved to cook and entertained.  The BBQ sauce started with an Aunt who used to work for a famous BBQ restaurant many years ago.  Brownie figured out how to duplicate the sauce but also added a special touch offering different flavors creating a gourmet BBQ sauce.  People who tried her BBQ sauce began to encourage her to bottle and sell the sauce because it was so good.  During that time, I was becoming disillusioned with working in corporate America.  In 2016, I decided to leave my job and move back to California to help her run the business. We have been growing strong ever since.

The Sims Sisters behind The Final Sauce

---

Do you have a favorite calming activity that you've been frequenting during lockdown? We asked them to tell us theirs.

What is your go-to 'rejuvenating' Shelter-In-Place activity?

“My garden! There is so much beauty and I am constantly reminded of the infinite presence of life and love. It’s truly my tucked away oasis and I'm grateful to be surrounded by the manifestation of the universal source.“ - @Kalm_Korner

“Yoga with my 4 year old son who leads us with animal moves and sounds. It's fun, funny, and relaxing. We also go for walks late at night.”- @Terangalife

“Nature”- @Brundospices

“Reading, writing, and playing with my children.” -@spoiledbuttondesigns

“Brownie likes to cook using fresh herbs.  While sheltered in, we decided to start a garden. We created a section of our back yard to grow vegetables and herbs. We also planted blackberries to compliment the fruit trees already in the yard.  Keeping busy with the garden and just the feeling of tranquility has helped us tremendously as we weather the shut down and plan our next ventures for the sauce.” -@finalsauce

Kehinde Koyejo (Kalm Korner) and her Daughter

---

The pandemic has affected everyone differently. We wanted a peek at what life has been like for them, and within their business. 

Can you share a little bit about what life and business has been like for you during this period? 

“When COVID-19 hit and my boutique closed its doors, I knew I would not return, so I refocused my goals and applied to Uptima, a business resource for small businesses owned by POC, to help me pivot or reimagine my business post the global pandemic. I'm spending this time planning for post COVID and what’s beautiful is that because the SIP folks have had a number of months to look at how they are living their lives and are asking themselves, ‘did the old way I was living my life serve me or not?’ And because people are adopting a conscious way of living, Kalm Korner products, our mission and vision are resonating with everyone, especially Women of African descent, which is my target market. For once in my life, I feel fortunate being black and woman in this country. It’s not a secret that there are and have been systems put in place to keep melanated people and women down. The pandemic and civil uprising has provided me and other small Black Business owners with the visibility and support we need to survive this time and rise above the ashes of the “old way” as we welcome the change we have fought for and dreamed of for generations.” -Kalm Korner

“We had to allow more time to deliver and purchase items we need for the business. Increased cost of raw material, challenges in shipping channels, sourcing raw materials has been harder. Retail sales have slowed, so we had to adapt to direct to consumer strategies and diversify product offerings. “ -Teranga

“There has been a shift to 100% ecommerce- very busy! A lot of demand from home chefs.” -Brundo Spices

Fetlework Tefferi of Brundo Spices

“Brownie is a successful hair salon owner while I work for a large brokerage firm in San Francisco.  When the sheltered in place order came, Brownie had to temporarily close her shop down. I continued to work a staggered shift at work, only going into the office two days a week.  We were able to persevere and rise to the occasion as now we had more time to work and focus on scaling the business.  We had more time to build new business relationships and work on existing ones. We were able to pivot by participating with an online marketplace, partnerships with wineries and caterers using our sauce. We also offered our vision of elevated BBQ meals that included the sauce. All of these small efforts allowed us to expand our business more as well as kept us encouraged for the future.” -The Final Sauce

“Business has been up and down. Sometimes I’m really busy, others I’m not busy at all and trying to figure out how to keep money coming in.” -Spoiled Button + Treats

Christina-cherri, owner of Spoiled Button Designs

---

Everybody has been seeing more amusing behavior recently, whether from your housemates, or from the outside world. We wanted to know what these business owners have found humorous or ironic recently. 

Funniest Things you have experienced recently?

“White people chanting Black lives matter.” -@creativeshields

“My daughter keeps expressing she doesn’t like being the only child. She said she wants a little brother or sister. Like I can just make a baby on the spot, like grilled cheese and fries.” -Kalm Korner

“Since shelter in place started, I hide in my kids room to do my zoom calls, and when they need me they will look everywhere, but in their room. “ -Teranga

“The funniest thing a number of people do is when they sample the BBQ sauce, specifically our Mango Hot sauce, the look of surprise then happiness is priceless.” -The Final Sauce

James Shields aka Creative Shields

---

Finally, an all important ask; What music have you heard recently that captures our current times?

Private Stock (album) by Cavalier -Creative Shields

“I Can't Breathe” by H.E.R. -Kalm Korner

“My Vote Don’t Count” by Yellopain -The Final Sauce

---

So there you have it! Just a brief look into how our community members are doing. Check in on your local Black-owned Business. Support them by visiting their websites and social media or ordering in our next round of Black Boxes