TheBlackMall.com: Expanding our Store & Website
Donation protected
The Black Mall Fundraiser - DEADLINE APRIL 30TH!
Hey family! For the past 7 years, The Black Mall has used every drop of our blood, sweat, and tears to build both our brand and our community. We are growing rapidly, and we need your help! We are humbly asking that you join us in our first major fundraiser! Our collective efforts will not only expand our business which supports numerous small businesses; but, it will also build economic stability and wealth in our Black communities across the nation.
⚫What is The Black Mall?
Hi, we're Cassiopeia and Dre, the executors and operators of TheBlackMall.com! The Black Mall is an online directory of over 2500 Black businesses, NATIONWIDE, that serves the needs of all people. Additionally, TBM is a physical store/e commerce site for Black OWNED Products.
MAKING IT EASY FOR YOU TO BUY BLACK, The Black Mall is a resource for all products, services, & providers!
⚫Why was The Black Mall started?
We started The Black Mall because we were HUNGRY! Literally, we were hungry, with hunger pangs, and we wanted to support our own! We found a multitude of hidden gems in our neighborhoods, owned by US, and we wondered why other people didn’t know about them. So, we created a directory, and promoted their goods and services for really inexpensive rates! Our directory grew from 200 listings to 2500!
Next, we were encouraged to help facilitate the vendors for 'Baba Kwesi’s Kwanzaa!' Here, we found a new type of Black business owner that needed exposure, consistency, and TBM touch. We started doing monthly 'Ujamaa Markets' which recycled over $700,000 within the last 9 years in our communities. Some of our 'Ujamaa Markets' were in conjunction with some amazing events we hosted such as: Juneteenth, Taste of Black Chicago, Taste of Vegan, Buy Black Friday, Kwanzaa, & smaller markets hosted at The Chicago State University.
⚫Although that's a LOT, does The Black Mall do anything else?
Branding and Advertising has always been at the center of our services to Black businesses. Helping to develop a small homemade product become a strong competitive brand brings us pride. We have helped over a thousand brands conceptualize or upgrade their logos, labels, print media, advertising and more.
⚫How has The Black Mall dealt with its growth?
This past year, we have moved into the retail/e-commerce industry UPON DEMAND. Our vendors urged us to comply with the consumers who desired to tangibly access their products. What initially began as products displayed on a shelf in our office rapidly spilled over into displays in the lobby. Our growth then demanded that we acquire more space. We then rented out the 'Boombox,' a business space which housed 20 vendors. With more vendors, products, and customers now a part of The Black Mall village, it was inevitable that our growth led us to our own brick and mortar to house our current 82+ vendors, with about 1,000 SKUs.
Paying out $8,000/month to Black businesses & their families, The Black Mall is dispelling the curse spoken upon the community which says we don't support our own. Building this store has granted us the opportunity to bring in and reconnect with some amazing people.
The Black Mall Family includes:
Ashley, Ayoku, Chineze, Nashoba, Doni, D’Sheadra, Krissy, MaToya, Miranda, Sherell, Taharka, Quafin
⚫What's Next?
There's a list of things that will make The Black Mall the go-to for all! We'll start with this short list:
~Rebuild TheBlackMall.com website
~App development and launch
~Subscription Boxes
~Upgrades & Duplication of the TBM Store/COOP
~Distribution/Warehousing
~Product Development
⚫Crowdfunding Goal
~Licenses - $1850
~Infrastructure/Systems Development (Legal, accounting, logistic consultants) - $4,500
~Rebuilding of our Website and new app - $25,000
~Store renovations - applied for funding
~Salary - $14520 (over 2 month period)
~Marketing/PR - $5000
~Inventory/Vendors over 3 months - $9100
⚫Rewards:
$10
With this donation, you will receive a thank you letter from Cassiopeia & Dre via email. We appreciate your contribution towards economic stability.
$25
At this level, your contribution will go down in history with a listing on our website's Star Supporters page. You will also receive a thank you letter from Cassiopeia & Dre via email. We appreciate your contribution towards economic stability.
$50
Show your pride in our official "Buy Black" tee by contributing this amount to our fundraiser. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
$100
Not only will you be able to show your pride in our official "Buy Black" tee, you will also be able to save the environment with our beautiful "Buy Black" shopping bag by contributing this amount to our fundraiser. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
$200
We just LOVE GIFTS! With this contribution, you will get an exclusive gift from one of our many vendors with great products sold in The Black Mall store and on our website. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
$500
Gift Cards takes the stress out of gift giving. With this contribution, you will get a gift card that can be used on The Black Mall website or in store.
You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
TBM Vendor gift
$1,000
Ownership is the key to rebuilding our community and with this contribution, you will become one of our *owners in the TBM Co-op. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
TBM Gift Card
The first 100 contributors at this level will also get their named engraved on a plaque that will be displayed in the TBM store.
*TBM Co-op ownership/membership
Daily, weekly, monthly discounts
Discounted facility rental
Voting power
Board eligibility (stipend)
Cash back/rebate program in years the store is profitable
Hey family! For the past 7 years, The Black Mall has used every drop of our blood, sweat, and tears to build both our brand and our community. We are growing rapidly, and we need your help! We are humbly asking that you join us in our first major fundraiser! Our collective efforts will not only expand our business which supports numerous small businesses; but, it will also build economic stability and wealth in our Black communities across the nation.
⚫What is The Black Mall?
Hi, we're Cassiopeia and Dre, the executors and operators of TheBlackMall.com! The Black Mall is an online directory of over 2500 Black businesses, NATIONWIDE, that serves the needs of all people. Additionally, TBM is a physical store/e commerce site for Black OWNED Products.
MAKING IT EASY FOR YOU TO BUY BLACK, The Black Mall is a resource for all products, services, & providers!
⚫Why was The Black Mall started?
We started The Black Mall because we were HUNGRY! Literally, we were hungry, with hunger pangs, and we wanted to support our own! We found a multitude of hidden gems in our neighborhoods, owned by US, and we wondered why other people didn’t know about them. So, we created a directory, and promoted their goods and services for really inexpensive rates! Our directory grew from 200 listings to 2500!
Next, we were encouraged to help facilitate the vendors for 'Baba Kwesi’s Kwanzaa!' Here, we found a new type of Black business owner that needed exposure, consistency, and TBM touch. We started doing monthly 'Ujamaa Markets' which recycled over $700,000 within the last 9 years in our communities. Some of our 'Ujamaa Markets' were in conjunction with some amazing events we hosted such as: Juneteenth, Taste of Black Chicago, Taste of Vegan, Buy Black Friday, Kwanzaa, & smaller markets hosted at The Chicago State University.
⚫Although that's a LOT, does The Black Mall do anything else?
Branding and Advertising has always been at the center of our services to Black businesses. Helping to develop a small homemade product become a strong competitive brand brings us pride. We have helped over a thousand brands conceptualize or upgrade their logos, labels, print media, advertising and more.
⚫How has The Black Mall dealt with its growth?
This past year, we have moved into the retail/e-commerce industry UPON DEMAND. Our vendors urged us to comply with the consumers who desired to tangibly access their products. What initially began as products displayed on a shelf in our office rapidly spilled over into displays in the lobby. Our growth then demanded that we acquire more space. We then rented out the 'Boombox,' a business space which housed 20 vendors. With more vendors, products, and customers now a part of The Black Mall village, it was inevitable that our growth led us to our own brick and mortar to house our current 82+ vendors, with about 1,000 SKUs.
Paying out $8,000/month to Black businesses & their families, The Black Mall is dispelling the curse spoken upon the community which says we don't support our own. Building this store has granted us the opportunity to bring in and reconnect with some amazing people.
The Black Mall Family includes:
Ashley, Ayoku, Chineze, Nashoba, Doni, D’Sheadra, Krissy, MaToya, Miranda, Sherell, Taharka, Quafin
⚫What's Next?
There's a list of things that will make The Black Mall the go-to for all! We'll start with this short list:
~Rebuild TheBlackMall.com website
~App development and launch
~Subscription Boxes
~Upgrades & Duplication of the TBM Store/COOP
~Distribution/Warehousing
~Product Development
⚫Crowdfunding Goal
~Licenses - $1850
~Infrastructure/Systems Development (Legal, accounting, logistic consultants) - $4,500
~Rebuilding of our Website and new app - $25,000
~Store renovations - applied for funding
~Salary - $14520 (over 2 month period)
~Marketing/PR - $5000
~Inventory/Vendors over 3 months - $9100
⚫Rewards:
$10
With this donation, you will receive a thank you letter from Cassiopeia & Dre via email. We appreciate your contribution towards economic stability.
$25
At this level, your contribution will go down in history with a listing on our website's Star Supporters page. You will also receive a thank you letter from Cassiopeia & Dre via email. We appreciate your contribution towards economic stability.
$50
Show your pride in our official "Buy Black" tee by contributing this amount to our fundraiser. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
$100
Not only will you be able to show your pride in our official "Buy Black" tee, you will also be able to save the environment with our beautiful "Buy Black" shopping bag by contributing this amount to our fundraiser. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
$200
We just LOVE GIFTS! With this contribution, you will get an exclusive gift from one of our many vendors with great products sold in The Black Mall store and on our website. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
$500
Gift Cards takes the stress out of gift giving. With this contribution, you will get a gift card that can be used on The Black Mall website or in store.
You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
TBM Vendor gift
$1,000
Ownership is the key to rebuilding our community and with this contribution, you will become one of our *owners in the TBM Co-op. You will also receive:
Personalized thank you letter
Featured on our Star Supporters page
Official "Buy Black" Tee
Beautiful "Buy Black" Bag
TBM Gift Card
The first 100 contributors at this level will also get their named engraved on a plaque that will be displayed in the TBM store.
*TBM Co-op ownership/membership
Daily, weekly, monthly discounts
Discounted facility rental
Voting power
Board eligibility (stipend)
Cash back/rebate program in years the store is profitable
Organizer
Cassiopeia Case Sledge
Organizer
Chicago, IL