SHOPPE BLACK - A RESOURCE FOR USING THE POWER OF THE PURSE
- Vivian Phillips
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
America has a long history of using boycotts as a form of economic protest—leveraging collective purchasing power to demand inclusion and to challenge how wealth is accumulated and withheld. The Montgomery Bus Boycott famously crippled a city transit system and helped dismantle legalized segregation. In 1963, the Birmingham Campaign combined sit-ins with targeted business boycotts, creating enough financial pressure to push White business owners toward integration and political reform. Even recently, last year’s 24-hour boycott of major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Target led to measurable drops in traffic and sales.
The impact of organized consumer action—especially against companies that retreat from previously stated commitments to equity and inclusion—should never be underestimated. But when boycotts move beyond short-term, ad hoc responses, the question becomes: what’s the sustainable alternative? How do we use our dollars consistently and intentionally for the good of our communities?
That’s where SHOPPE BLACK comes in.
More than just a directory of Black-owned businesses (though it’s packed with those, along with hundreds of curated guides), SHOPPE BLACK also offers thoughtful editorial coverage at the intersection of Black-owned business, capital, and culture.
Looking for coffee shops that offer an alternative to Starbucks? There’s a list. Searching for wellness brands designed specifically with Black bodies in mind? There’s a list for that too. Interested in resources around capital investment, legal issues, personal finance, or real estate? SHOPPE BLACK provides in-depth articles, guides, and tools to support all of it—and more.
My personal favorite is the Black-owned home décor section, now expanded into three volumes on the site. Honestly, I want everything.
So the next time you’re ready to use your purse to exercise your economic power—and we know you already do that by shopping at ARTE NOIR—take some time to explore SHOPPE BLACK. It’s a powerful way to turn protest into long-term practice.
This is such a powerful perspective—turning the energy of a boycott into a sustained, intentional practice of supporting Black-owned businesses. SHOPPE BLACK sounds like an incredible resource for making that happen. For me, it highlights how important it is to have the right tools to manage any kind of collection or inventory, whether it's a directory of businesses or physical products. If you're running a business featured on a platform like that, staying organized is key. That's where I've found that using good asset management software can make a real difference, helping you keep track of stock, equipment, and everything else so you can focus on serving your customers and building your community.