猫咪社区

It鈥檚 that time of year again鈥攁lthough holiday shopping this year looks different from holidays past.

The novel coronavirus has severely affected the U.S. economy, and costing millions of Americans their jobs. The economic downturn has also hit small businesses. found that nearly 317,000 small businesses closed between February and September, or about 1,500 each day. Meanwhile, .

Despite the economic impacts of the pandemic, the that holiday spending will grow between 3.6% and 5.2% this year. And while patronizing Amazon might get us the latest gadget at a reduced price, dozens of small businesses need your dollars more鈥攅specially those owned by people of color. 

Historically, people of color in the United States have navigated unfair systemic and institutional disadvantages, including economic inequities. Genocide and forced removal of Native Americans, enslavement of Africans and African Americans, and the internment of Japanese Americans have all had lasting effects on the ability of these communities to build collective wealth.

Businesses owned by people of color to the economic impacts of COVID-19 because the pandemic has , according to a September poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The survey found that 60% of Black U.S. households have reported serious financial problems, while 72% of Latino and 55% of Native American respondents are also facing financial problems.

These harsh realities offer all the more reason to shop at small, POC-owned businesses this holiday season. Here are eight to get you started. 

Tea is a great gift for anyone, really. Owned by herbalist Shanae Jones, Ivy鈥檚 Tea Co. offers a number of herbal teas that can replace coffee, relieve flu symptoms, and even help with anxiety. Jones鈥� teas are organic and locally sourced. They also sell teacups for a good cause: a portion of the proceeds will go to Buy from a Black Woman, an organization that helps empower Black women entrepreneurs.

Founded by Native siblings Rico and Crystal Worl, Trickster Co. carries a variety of products, from clothing to jewelry to home goods. They aim to promote 鈥渋nnovative Indigenous design鈥� with their products, with a focus on art of the Pacific Northwest cultures. Trickster company is part of a larger whose work intends to 鈥淸push] the economy of Native art into the modern era.鈥� 

At the intersection of Native American history and pop culture is The NTVS (The Natives). Founded by Natives Aaron Silva and Sam Rosebear, this urban clothing and accessory company aims to preserve the importance of Native culture and history in today鈥檚 world. The NTVS鈥檚 team is made up of people from various tribes鈥攅ven their artists and models are Indigenous. Some of the featured designs have deep meanings and address serious issues鈥攍ike the 鈥淢y culture is not a costume鈥� shirt鈥攚hile others are lighthearted and humorous鈥攍ike the Stormtrooper helmet design with a Native twist. The company even offers a 鈥渟tocking stuffers鈥� tab on its website to make holiday shopping that much easier.

Nikkie Davis is a formerly licensed cosmetologist who started making her own skin care and bath products to help soothe her son鈥檚 eczema. She became passionate about creating products without harsh chemicals, and in 2010, Bubble Babez Bath Co. was born. She sells whipped body lotions, candles, facial oils, and so much more. All of her products are cruelty-free and handmade鈥攕ometimes you can even watch her make and test products on her Instagram stories. 

Instead of buying books from large retailers, consider buying from smaller local bookstores, like this Philadelphia-based store. Uncle Bobbie鈥檚 has a curated selection of books for people of all ages, and its mission is 鈥渢o provide underserved communities with access to books and a space where everyone feels valued.鈥�

Alexis Tellefsen makes handmade, small-batch ceramics out of her studio in New York. She offers mugs, plates, pots, candleholders, and more, all beautifully crafted in her simplistic and elegant style. 

Based in rural New Jersey, the family that started Zach & Zo毛 Sweet Bee Farm initially set out to help their son鈥檚 asthma using raw honey, and became fascinated with beekeeping. After months of research, they decided to take the plunge and become a family of beekeepers. Now, the family sells all different kinds of honey on their site, including lavender, ginger root, and even matcha.

Shop textiles, accessories, and even face masks at Show & Tell, a queer Black-womxn-owned shop. The shop provides a curated collection of sustainably made products alongside its handcrafted collections including pillows, scarves, apparel, and more. 

This article is an updated version of a 猫咪社区! article published in 2018.