With the holidays right around the corner and COVID-19 still at large, online shopping has become the safest and most efficient way for millions to get their daily essentials alongside gifts for their loved ones. By far, the most popular platform for online shopping is Amazon, and with low prices and speedy shipping, it’s hard to stop oneself from loading up one’s shopping cart. But what are those low prices actually costing?

At around 1.6 million packages shipped per day (nearly 680 million per year!), it’s no surprise mass production is a pillar for this huge business. Here at Koné Consulting, we want to provide you with a compilation of diverse and ethical websites to do your online shopping this year-and every year. By promoting small businesses, like our own, who focus on ethical practices and inclusion of all cultures and races, we hope you’ll consider piling up your shopping cart with beautiful pieces made by diverse people around the world.

1. Nailah’s Shea (https://www.nailahsshea.com/)

A very special online marketplace to us here at Koné Consulting. Run by Camilia Z. Majette, who created Nailah’s Shea after her journey to find all-natural products for her children’s skin conditions. Now Nailah’s Shea partners with Women’s Center of Wake County and the YWCA Greensboro’s emergency shelter for the homeless. With each gift box purchased, a sample soap or whipped shea butter is donated to a woman at these shelters. Camilia is also married to Kassim Mbwana, of Summit Consulting, who partnered with us to complete a study of SNAP online applications for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Here, Kassim learned about our connection to West Africa and led to a consideration of partnership to open up fair trade for Shea butter from Côte d'Ivoire.

2. Miiriya (https://www.miiriya.com/)

Founder Lonnaa named this online marketplace in their native language, Bambara/Dioula, where miiriya means “Thoughts” and “Ideas.” They offer this website as a place where vendors don’t have to pay transaction fees or listing fees for their products and where shoppers can support black-owned businesses by purchasing anything from fashion and hair care to baked goods and spiritual supplies.

3. From the People-Your Indigenous Marketplace and Community (https://www.fromthepeople.co/)

Native-owned and run by Isabella Johnson and Chase McHiel, From the People was created as a way for Native peoples to gain income lost during the COVID-19 shutdown of markets, and also provide a place that prevents others from culturally appropriating Indian cultures, instead promoting gorgeous handcrafted goods by Native creators. They welcome Native American vendors from 573+ federally recognized tribes, as well as Tribes seeking federal recognition, First Nation’s Peoples, and other Indigenous Peoples around the world.

4. Package Free (https://packagefreeshop.com/)

Created as a way to make natural, zero waste products available to everyone, Package Free focuses on offering affordable, accessible and convenient options to all people. They promote buying what you need while offering a wide range of products for everyone’s individual needs. Alongside pledging to be carbon neutral in their shipping and upholding racial justice and climate justice, they’ve taken the 15% Pledge that dedicates at least 15% of their products will be made by black owned businesses.

5. Made Trade (https://www.madetrade.com/)

Created by Cayley Pater and Andy Ives, this woman-owned and family-run marketplace upholds values such as using fair trade, promoting heritage, having USA made products, including People of Color and woman-owned businesses, and using sustainable and vegan materials. Their philosophy of artistry over efficiency is shown in their place of transparency that each piece on their website was sustainably sourced and ethically handcrafted.

6. BLK + GRN (https://blkgrn.com/)

An all-natural and all Black marketplace was founded by Dr. Kristian, who wanted to connect Black women to natural products for healthier lives and provide a space where artisans could share products and stories that would have otherwise been ignored. They stand by their beliefs by bringing awareness to toxic ingredients commonly found in health and beauty products, including their Toxic Twenty List, which names all the toxic ingredients excluded from their products. If it’s not sustainably made, plant-based, or cruelty free, you won’t find it here!

We hope you will explore these options and find one that tugs at your heart strings all year round, whether it be a handcrafted necklace from a Made Trade artisan or a luscious shampoo bar from Nailah’s Shea. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!

-Madison

Koné Consulting
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS INSPIRING CHANGE
AND LASTING IMPROVEMENTS

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Diverse and ethical alternatives to Amazon