A new shop celebrating and promoting Black-owned businesses opens at Westfield Stratford City this weekend.
The Black Pound Day team opens a pop-up shop in the centre on Saturday (4 February), selling products from more than 50 businesses including skincare, haircare, books, toys, homewares, cosmetics and accessories.
Black Pound Day is an initiative encouraging people to shop from and spend money with local and online UK Black-owned businesses, empowering Black entrepreneurs. For every pound a white household makes, Black Caribbean households earn just 20p, and Black African households earn 10p, according to Black Pound Day — an economic imbalance that it wants to rectify.
It was founded by So Solid Crew member Swiss, in 2020. He said:
Black Pound Day has always been rooted in what our community needs by increasing the visibility of Black-owned businesses. The opening of our second store in Westfield Stratford City is our response to calls from our community to continue this work. We are excited to bring the Black Pound Day shopping experience to east London in partnership with the Westfield team who continually support the movement.
Since June 2022, there's been a permanent Black Pound Day shop in Westfield White City, and there's also an online directory of 1,500 Black-owned businesses across the UK.
The pop-up can be found at Westfield Stratford City, Unit 1066A (opposite Hugo Boss) from Saturday 4 February. Check the Black Pound Day website and Instagram for further information.
