Today we’d like to introduce you to Alivia Duncan.
Alivia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Brown Sugar & Tea LLC was originally just a blog where I would share my poetry and articles. These pieces of writing always reflected Black Culture, positive lifestyles, and community. These three values were very important to me. I then incorporated my media services into the blog, making Brown Sugar & Tea a multipurpose platform.
June 2020, George Flloyd was murdered by police and his death caused outrage and sparked protests across the nation. His death was what opened my eyes to activism. During this time, Clark Atlanta University, among many other institutions, was dealing with sexual assault allegations and was doing a poor job at it. Being a victim of sexual assault and being a friend to many girls who have been assaulted, I knew that my voice needed to be heard, though speaking out on social media did not seem to be enough.
I began to take my angry tweets and put them on t-shirts. I wanted to be strategic while at protests by making sure my voice, my posterboards, and my clothes all shared a message. Not too soon after pictures of my shirts surfaced on social media, I began receiving messages from people wanting shirts like mine. From here, the Brown Sugar & Tea Boutique was created and has now grown into a brand bigger than myself.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing good in life is ever easy and this journey with Brown Sugar & Tea made me realize this very quickly. I had no idea what I was doing, where I was going with it, or how to run a business, but I did know why it needed to be done. My first time making shirts was when I had my first orders. Probably wasn’t the ideal time to practice, but I had no other choice. Trying to make sure the material would stick to the shirts, the shirts didn’t burn, and the slogans were straight are just some of the very important aspects that I had to focus on when making shirts.
After I managed to master the task of making the shirts, I quickly ran into another obstacle. I had no customers. While working a full-time job, I struggled with balancing my job, my business, activism, and my well-being. As a mass media arts and communications student, I understood the importance of marketing. At this point, I realized that something would have to give. I decided to shift from protesting to advocating and spreading awareness on social media.
This allowed me more time to focus on myself and my business. As time progressed, I continued to put more relevant slogans and messages on my shirts, catching the attention of my soon-to-be customers. Eventually, I made the risky decision to quit my full-time job and follow my business. This, too, brought many obstacles. I needed my business to bring in steady money to pay my bills, which means I had to do more on my part. This required a lot of research, a team, thorough plans, etc.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Brown Sugar & Tea – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Brown Sugar & Tea LLC is a Black-owned business with the mission of appreciating Black Culture through media while raising awareness of the issues in the Black community, as well as highlighting its positive attributes. Our vision is to inspire, educate, empower, heal, and spark conversations.
We specialize in selling pro-Black clothing, beauty products, bonnets, and jewelry. We also provide clothing customization and media services like multimedia management, graphic design, event hosting, and freelance writing. We are not just a business, we’re a brand. Though we offer many products and services, we pride ourselves on being known for our dedication to amplifying Black Culture, being active in the community, and promoting positive lifestyles. From our Babe Squad Ambassadors to our Loyal Babe customers, Brown Sugar & Tea is the epitome of Black Culture. We don’t just talk about it, we are about it.
In the years to come, I see Brown Sugar & Tea LLC becoming a strong platform in the Black community, a popular clothing store, and a highly requested media services provider. There is no limit to the things that God has planned for this brand.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I really do believe that Atlanta is one of the best cities in the US to start, build, and manage a business of any kind. There is something for everyone here. Though Atlanta has its negative qualities, there are definitely supportive people and amazing opportunities here as well.
If someone was just starting out with a business in Atlanta, I would recommend that they do a lot of strategic thinking and planning. It is very easy to get distracted here, but the resources and opportunities are endless. Black-owned businesses and even just small businesses are highly valued throughout the city and are supported by the community. Just about everyone I know is a small business owner of some kind or knows someone who is, so definitely ask for guidance if you’re just getting started. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll learn.
Pricing:
- T-Shirts start at $20.00
- Hoodies start at $35.00
- Lashes range from $6.00 to $12.00
- Jewelry range from $8 to $20.00
- Bonnets are $12.00
- Hats are $12.00
Contact Info:
- Website: brownsugarandtea.com
- Email: brownsugarandtea@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brownsugarandtea
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrownSugarAndTeaLLC
- Other: https://instagram.com/brownsugaababee
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