ShopBlackCT.com, Connecticut’s rapidly growing, free online directory of Black-owned businesses has teamed up with YWCA Hartford Region to amplify and elevate local beauty brands and help shoppers grab discounts in celebration of the CROWN Act passing.
ShopBlackCT.com has developed an online CROWN Act Discount Guide to allow consumers to easily connect with CT Black-owned beauty and cosmetics businesses that are offering special discounts through the end of March.
“The CROWN Act has passed in CT making us the eighth state to pass this transformative legislation,” shared Melinda Johnson, Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy for YWCA Hartford Region. “ShopBlackCT’s invitation to celebrate this legislative accomplishment during Women’s History Month with community economic investment is the kind of innovation that bridges legislative progress with community advancement.”
“This is a historic moment for Connecticut, and what better way to celebrate than to help connect consumers with Black-owned businesses that specialize in beauty products,” added Sarah Thompson, ShopBlackCT.com founder.
ShopBlackCT.com features more than 150 beauty and cosmetics businesses from 26 cities and town from across Connecticut, plus brands that are exclusively online, and now features more than 1,400 businesses overall in categories including automotive, fitness, contractors, restaurants, salons and many in between. The not-for-profit site is free to browse and free for businesses to list and receive support from.
The volunteer-run platform has helped connect consumers with businesses and businesses with each other. It’s been visited by tens of thousands of people and has grown more than sevenfold since its launch on July 1.
“They have dedicated their time and their resources to create a platform that has been very instrumental in the growth of my business and the growth of many other Black-owned businesses in Connecticut,” shared Shawnee Rochester of Escape Massage & Esthetics Studio in Manchester. “A lot of times us small business owners don’t have the means to get our names out there, but this platform was created to do that. It was so needed.”
Chef Jay Lewis of Fud, Inc. and Baby J’s Spices added, “The positive image, the positivity coming out of ShopBlackCT.com is so powerful and [it’s] such a great movement.”
Visit shopblackct.com/crownact to access a list of CT Black-owned beauty and cosmetics businesses that are offering a discount with promo code “CROWNON” now through the end of March. Visit ShopBlackCT.com to browse more than 1,400 CT Black-owned businesses or find ShopBlackCT.com on Facebook or Instagram at this link.
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Sarah Thompson, founder, www.ShopBlackCT.com,
860-969-1711, sarahthompsonct@gmail.com
About ShopBlackCT.com:
ShopBlacKCT.com is a volunteer initiative and rapidly growing not-for-profit site featuring more than 1,400 Black-owned businesses in Connecticut. The mission of ShopBlackCT.com is to challenge structural racism and transform the legacy of economic and social inequity in the U.S. by providing a platform to drive business to and awareness of local Black-owned businesses.
A diverse team of volunteers give their time, energy and talent to keep this site running and relevant. This effort is 100% about giving, lifting others up and expecting nothing in return. Team members do not profit anything off the site nor is the site used for any financial or personal gain. Accessing or submitting listings to ShopBlackCT.com is free and additional support is provided to business owners through pro bono digital marketing, writing and photography services. Businesses never have to pay for any services to receive support from ShopBlackCT.com.
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