Today we’d like to introduce you to Emeka Anyanwu.
Emeka, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
While practicing law at a local hospital, I was afforded the opportunity to pursue an MBA. Though the MBA program focused on leadership within the healthcare industry, it reignited my desire to create my own business. While wrapping up a second degree in the program, I took notice of the lack of product selection and quality customer service in mainstream beauty retailers. I could not find foundation shades that matched well with my skin tone, and I encountered employees who were unable to assist me or uncomfortable assisting me (though not when serving others who did not look like me). As I began to realize I was not the only Black person to have these types of experiences, I also began to notice these exciting emails about Black-owned brands being offered shelf space in mainstream retail stores. While I was thrilled for these brands, I wondered why it felt like these occurrences were so rare. Was it a lack of Black-owned brands or a lack of opportunity? So, I did my own research and was surprised by just how many Black-owned brands existed in the beauty industry.
In September of 2018, I began to seriously consider taking the leap and pursuing my new interest in increasing consumers’ awareness of and access to inclusive cosmetic, beauty, and grooming brands founded by Black entrepreneurs. Winning first place at the National Black MBA Association – DFW Chapter’s Ground Zero: Pitch Competition in November of 2018 was the confirmation I needed to continue forward.
In April of 2019, I officially launched Aˈme-kə, an online retail space for inclusive cosmetic, beauty, and grooming Brands Made with Melanin in Mind. Our mission is to increase beauty consumers’ awareness of and access to inclusive cosmetic, skincare, hair care, bath & body, and male grooming BRANDS MADE WITH MELANIN IN MIND and founded by Black entrepreneurs; while also creating a platform for building a self-affirming community for those invested in seeing each other thrive and flourish in beauty, business, and life! We are currently a retail partner for over 20 brands (including Golde, ROSEN Skincare, Bolden, Omolewa Cosmetics, Hue Noir, Curls, Frederick Benjamin Grooming, and more); and the host of various events, including #MelaninMonday Mastermind Meetings and various shopping and beauty experiences.
In December of 2019, I was the recipient of the 2019 Empowering Visionaries Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the National Black MBA Association – DFW Chapter, and in June of 2020 I left the company where I had been practicing law for nearly a decade to focus my time and energy on Aˈme-kə full-time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like many Black women entrepreneurs, access to additional sources of capital has been an obstacle. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed some of my planned efforts for building brand awareness by attending and being a vendor at various events.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Aˈme-kə is an online retailer of cosmetic, beauty, and grooming brands founded by Black entrepreneurs. What sets us apart in the beauty retail space, is the fact that we as a beauty retailer primarily focus on cosmetics and skincare; while also exclusively selling inclusive brands founded by Black entrepreneurs and including in our mission the creation of a community and platform to uplift Black lives and businesses. This means we provide product selection and services that meet the needs of everyone, without leaving out Black consumers as often is the case in mainstream retailers. It also means that providing opportunities and resources for the Black community and Black-owned businesses has and will always be part of our foundation and mission.
Additionally, as a one-stop-shop for those looking to specifically support and shop beauty brands founded by Black entrepreneurs, we provide an opportunity for consumers to support multiple Black-owned businesses at once and keep the Black dollar in the Black community for a longer amount of time. Meaning funding and revenue that we receive continues to go towards supporting other Black-owned businesses, whether towards events like the #MelaninMonday Mastermind meetings or to Black-owned beauty brands when we purchase additional inventory.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would not change anything. I am an avid learner and believe every challenge and failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ame-ke.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amekellc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmekeLLC
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-jSO78ROAKBmLDJoWTkUSw
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