Fam, this is not a drill: Unless you and your nearest and dearest have decided to forego gift-giving during this swiftly approaching holiday season, you should get started shopping—now. No, not because of any tired tropes about our own, culturally specific timetable, but because, as noted by the homie and VSB Senior Editor Panama Jackson, the infrastructure known as the supply chain has been seriously compromised by nearly 20 months of a global pandemic—and, like the coronavirus itself, anyone can get it.
Actually, depending upon the product—which could range from Panama’s beloved and suddenly price-gouged Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula to the piece of furniture I will have waited over five months for by the time it (hopefully) arrives in December, the real risk is that these days, anyone can’t get what they order within a reasonable time frame. That’s likely not a risk you want to take during the holidays, especially if your gift is already an inadequate substitute for your abnormally prolonged absence from loved ones.
We know, we know…since this is our second holiday season spent in the pandemic, shouldn’t the supply chain be in better shape than last year? Fashionista’s Dhani Mau explains why it’s actually worse, especially when shopping online.
In the United States, we’re expected to spend $910 billion online — a 10% increase over last year. That may seem fairly small, but not when you think about the year we’re comparing it to: In a pre-vaccine 2020, the pandemic pushed more holiday shoppers to e-commerce than ever, and online spending grew 33% compared to 2019. According to Taylor Schreiner, director of Adobe Digital Insights, that’s essentially the equivalent of two normal years of growth.
The $910 billion estimate is “stronger than we would have expected 2021 to be had we made an estimate pre-pandemic,” he tells me: “This trend [towards e-commerce] was happening anyway. We just fast forwarded about a year from where we would’ve been. We’re roughly 45% up on 2019.” That means shoppers aren’t rushing back to stores just because it’s safer now — at least not to browse and shop or elbow competitors out of the way on Black Friday.
Add to that the “Great Resignation” of 2021, “which has thinned the nation’s labor pool and slowed the economic recovery,” notes the Washington Post, adding: “Workers are now harder to replace, especially while many companies are scrambling to meet heightened demand for their products and manage hobbled supply chains.” These workers include many in the retail, manufacturing and shipping sectors, meaning that in addition to increased difficulty procuring the raw materials needed for a variety of covetable goods, there are also less workers on hand to produce and sell them—largely because even with pandemic price-gouging, those revenues weren’t trickling down to the laborers whose skills are much-needed.
So, what does this mean for you getting your capitalist groove on this holiday season? Well, with two months to the day until Christmas, we advise you start shopping now if you want your gifts to arrive on time—even if it means adding “Do Not Open Until Christmas” tags to all of them. As always, we’re here to help ease you into the pre-holiday spirit—even before you’ve even passed out candy or ordered your Thanksgiving turkey (which you should also lock down, if you haven’t already). Since we know buying Black isn’t just a socially conscious fad for our crowd but a moral imperative, here are a few Black-owned marketplaces to peruse, just to get you started—and please, get started. We’ll be back with our usual series of curated lists in the days and weeks ahead.
Agnes & Lola
From apparel and accessories to home goods and collectibles, this African lifestyle brand’s curation is impeccable, blending continental pride with joy-inducing products.
Aspire Marketplace
This marketplace curated by Aspire TV is the perfect spot to find stocking stuffers from Black-owned businesses—from the purely practical to the absolutely inspired.
Black Owned Everything
Zerina Akers may be best known for her Emmy-worthy work in Black Is King, but she’s also the founder of Black Owned Everything, a destination for Black style-lovers, made to last well beyond “when the trend is over.”
Blk + Grn
We’ve been on team BLK+GRN for a minute, because where else can you find a bevy of Black-founded, clean and green products all in one place? Founded by a doctor, this an emporium created with wellbeing in mind.
CrateJoy (Black-Owned Boxes)
Listen…we love thinking outside the box, but sometimes, it’s great to think in it. With that in mind, we have to give CrateJoy credit for offering a wide variety of Black-owned boxes, so you can gift by special interest—and keep the goodness coming all year long!
Da Spot
Boasting over 25 independent BIPOC brands, Da Spot is indeed the spot to find something unique and fun for the streetwear lover in your life—with a distinctly New York perspective.
Goodee
For high-end goods they won’t find anywhere else and will keep for a lifetime, Goodee’s got more than you can imagine, from dinnerware sets to skateboard decks.
Kaiem
Want a diasporic perspective at an unbeatable price point? Kaiem has a tightly curated selection that won’t break your budget—meaning you can gift several loved ones on your list in one stop.
Love Dot
For sustainable goods curated from around the globe, our love runs strong for Love Dot, which specializes in high-quality apparel and accessories made consciously and with care.
NiLu
If you can’t get home to Harlem, get your beloveds something from Harlem-based boutique NiLu, where the vibes are always good, and the goods always have a vibe.
Peace & Riot
From kids’ stuff to card games, Peace & Riot came to play—and we love the playful spin they put on gifting. If you’re in need of the perfect Secret Santa gift or want to be the fun auntie, uncle, or houseguest, we highly suggest grabbing some goodies here.
Sanctuaire
Sanctuaire’s perspective is decidedly luxe and firmly centered on self-care, making it the perfect place to select a gift for the over-doer in your life. Treat them the way you’d want to be treated—and while you’re at it, treat yourself!
Souk Bohemian
Are they Black and Bohemian? Souk Bohemian’s the place for the nomadic type, bringing a minimalist yet global perspective home. Get into it.
The Folklore
The Folklore isn’t to be confused with Taylor Swift’s album of the same name, as it centers designers from across Africa and the diaspora, bringing cutting-edge fashion to a single, highly discerning destination.
The Silver Room
If you’re from the Chi (like this writer), you already know The Silver Room is the platinum destination for uniquely quirky yet always covetable goods. From books, to jewelry to clever apparel, there’s a reason this crew throws the best parties in the Second City.
Thirteen Lune
Created by the founder of the eponymous Nyakio skincare line, Thirteen Lune brings a world of personal care and accessories home…with a distinctly upscale touch perfect for gifting.
Union Los Angeles
For the streetwear lover, there’s nowhere more new and next than Union Los Angeles, which hosts everything from the latest sneaker drops to the hottest collabs—from predominantly Black designers. It’s a movement; don’t miss out.
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