The ‘Amazon of Black women-owned manufacturers’ involves Atlantic Station

The Sistah Store, a life-style retail retailer that promotes manufacturers based by ladies of shade, will conduct the grand opening of its second location in Atlantic Station on Juneteenth weekend. The 4,040 sq. foot retailer will characteristic merchandise from over 75 native and nationwide manufacturers.

“The Sistah Store is a sanctuary for sisterhood,” mentioned CEO and founder Aisha Taylor Issah. “It’s a stunning haven that showcases the services and products of Black women-owned manufacturers from all around the nation. It’s a protected house the place sisters can come and store merchandise and find out about companies that have been created by ladies that seem like them and who’ve them in thoughts.”

Taylor Issah sees her enterprise as a stepping stone for entrepreneurs trying to enter the retail world, however who might not have the means to take action. Most of the manufacturers present in The Sistah Store are having their merchandise bought in a retailer for the primary time. One thing Taylor Issah likes to see is different founders with the ability to broaden their model and enhance their income.

Earlier than changing into an entrepreneur herself, Taylor Issah additionally labored in public administration and have become an ordained minister. 

“Entrepreneurship actually discovered me; it was nothing that I ever dreamed of or envisioned,” she mentioned.

Taylor Issah left her place in metropolis authorities in New York to discover different roles, when the rise of the coronavirus ended her contract and allowed her to be an entrepreneur full-time. In 2017, Taylor Issah created The Sistahs in Enterprise Expo (SIB EXPO), which is the father or mother firm of The Sistah Store and Sistahs in Enterprise College.

In response to their web site, the SIB EXPO is the nation’s solely multi-city small enterprise expo and created particularly to have fun and educate entrepreneurial ladies of shade, by offering a platform the place ladies of shade can showcase their services and products whereas gaining sources and knowledge.

“We held our first tour in 2018; [we] had a particularly overwhelming response from each market that we went to,” Taylor Issah mentioned. “And so we knew we have been actually on to one thing and that we had created one thing that didn’t exist.”

The pandemic hindered Taylor Issah’s capacity to attach with others in individual, which brought about her to pivot her model to permit her to proceed to assist different Black founders.

“The Sistah Store was the reply to that, as a result of it allowed us to nonetheless present that platform to provide them house and alternative to showcase their services and products,” Taylor Issah mentioned. “And took us into this entire new world of retail. And naturally, we even have the e-commerce aspect.”

Taylor Issah particularly selected Atlanta for The Sistah Store’s second location as a result of she feels as if it has been a house away from house for the SIB Expo. Even the New Jersey retailer options many Atlanta-based manufacturers.

“Because the very starting after we have been on excursions, we knew that we wished to come back to markets that had the demographic that we served, which was Black ladies entrepreneurs,” Taylor Issah mentioned. “Atlanta was a no brainer. And so it’s been on our schedule and one among our main markets because the very starting.”

The Sistah Store options merchandise for everybody, together with garments, books, skincare and extra.

It’s Taylor Issah’s objective to proceed increasing the SIB Expo and The Sistah Store to have the ability to serve the entire main city markets.

“We’re basically aiming to develop into the Amazon of Black women-owned manufacturers,” Taylor Issah mentioned. “A one-stop store the place individuals can discover every little thing.”