CALLIE: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'’M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT, WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS.

WOMEN OF COLOR ARE THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP OF ENTREPRENEURS IN THE U.S., BUT CHALLENGES LIKE LACK OF FUNDING LEAD TO POOR SURVIVAL RATES.

BLACK WOMEN START BUSINESSES AT FOUR TIMES THE OVERALL POPULATION RATE, BUT MANY DO NOT SURVIVE LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS.

LACK OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL DUE TO STRUCTURAL RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION IS THE MAIN OBSTACLE.

BUT A NEW SURVEY BY GOLDMAN SACH'’S 10,000 SMALL BUSINESSES VOICES PROGRAM REPORTS WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALSO "NOT A PRIORITY" FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO, HOW ARE WOMEN OF COLOR FINDING NEW WAYS TO RAISE CAPITAL AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEMSELVES TO GET THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE?

JOINING US THIS EVENING, MARIA VASCO, CEO AND FOUNDER, UVIDA, BOSTON'’S FIRST ZERO-WASTE STORE BASED IN BROOKLINE.

JOELLE FONTAINE, CEO, FOUNDER AND DESIGNER OF KRAUEL.

SHIRONDA WHITE, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, CUPCAKE THERAPY.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

I THINK THE FIRST THING WE SHOULD DO IS HAVE EACH OF YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS ALL ABOUT.

MARIA: SO, UVIDA IS A ZERO WASTE STORE, SO WE FOCUS ON SELLING HOME ANY ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS WITHOUT PLASTIC PACKAGING OR WASTE.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES LIKE KITCHEN, BATHROOM COMMEND MAKEUP, DOG CARE AND BABY CARE --, BATHROOM, MAKE UP MY DOG CARE AND BABY CARE.

JOELLE: KREYOL IS A HIGH FASHION BRAND THAT WORKS WITH ENTREPRENEURS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR.

WE HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS, BUT THE BUSINESS ITSELF SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR ARTISANS, AND WE WORK WITH THEM LOCALLY AS WELL AS IN HAITI AND BALI.

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER WOMEN.

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SHIRONDA: CUPCAKE THERAPY IS AN ALLERGY FRIENDLY CUPCAKE COMPANY AND WE HAVE MORE THAN 100 OPTIONS OF THE BACON, SUGAR-FREE AND GLUTEN-FREE CUPCAKES.

CALLIE: THAT TASTE GOOD.

RIGHT?

SHIRONDA: OF COURSE.

[LAUGHTER] CALLIE: PRETTY MUCH ALL OF YOU ARE SOLO ENTREPRENEURS, WHICH TURNS OUT THAT THAT IS REALLY HOW WOMEN OF COLOR START THEIR BUSINESSES, AND SOMEHOW THEY CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESSES.

MARIA, AND BY THE WAY LET ME ALSO SAY ALL OF YOU ARE HIGHLY CREDENTIALED.

BEFORE YOU CAME INTO YOUR BUSINESS IS COMING YOU BROUGHT IN OTHER SETS OF SKILLS AND ABILITIES, AND YOU GRADUATED FROM UMASS BOSTON IN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM.

MARIA: YES, MY SENIOR YEAR THEY WERE OFFERING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHOLARSHIP AND I WAS ABLE TO PROPOSE A BUSINESS IDEA.

AND EYE PROPOSED BOSTON SHOULD HAVE A PLASTICS FREE PRODUCTS STORE PETER ONCE I WAS AWARDED THE $5,000 GRANT, ULTIMATELY IT HELP ME DECIDE TO START THE BUSINESS SO I STARTED DOING POP-UPS ON MY CAMPUS AND AND THEN GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

BUT THAT IS WHY I AM A SOLO ENTREPRENEUR, BECAUSE I DIDN'’T KNOW I WAS GOING TO START THE BUSINESS UNTIL I GOT MY GRANT.

CALLIE: YOU HAVE A DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.

NORMALLY I DO NOT CALL OUT WOMEN'’S AGES, BUT YOU ARE ONLY 24.

AND IN THIS CONVERSATION THAT IS RELEVANT.

JOELLE,'’S LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED.

JOELLE: I WAS DESIGNING FOR MANY YEARS, JUST OUT OF FUN, RIGHT?

THEN THE EARTHQUAKE HAPPENED IN HAITI IN 2010, AND AT THAT TIME I WAS THINKING ABOUT -- I WENT TO SCHOOL FOR ARCHITECTURE AND I WAS THINKING, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ARCHITECTS AND DOCTORS.

I THOUGHT, WHAT DO I HAVE IN MY HAND RIGHT NOW?

I HAD FASHIONED.

WE RAISED $10,000 TO SEND BACK HOME.

AND WHEN I WENT BACK HOME I REALIZED THAT THEY WERE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ARTISANS IN HAITI WITH REALLY GOOD SKILLS, BUT NO OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR GOODS.

SO THAT IS WHY WE STARTED THE COMPANY, WORKING OUT HOW TO WORK WITH ARTISANS IN HAITI.

WE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS IN TERMS OF PRODUCING GARMENTS THERE.

IT WAS HARD BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO, WE STARTED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS TO WORK WITH ARTISANS HERE, AS WELL AS IN HAITI, AND IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPACES.

THE BUSINESS ITSELF THEN BECAME A PLATFORM.

SO, WE STARTED OUR FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR -- WE DID A TEST DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2020 WITH THE RED SOX FOUNDATION AND BLOOMINGDALE'’S.

AND THAT WAS THE WAY TO GO.

EACH SEASON, I CURATE A COLLECTION OF GARMENTS.

MY MOTHER AND I DO THE BUSINESS TOGETHER.

SHE SEWS EVERYTHING.

WE SOURCE ACCESSORIES AND HOME GOODS FROM DIFFERENT SPACES.

CALLIE: OK.

YOUR MOTHER IS ALSO INVOLVED IN YOUR BUSINESS.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED, BECAUSE COVID ALSO HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

SHIRONDA: I HAVE AN MBA FROM BOSTON UNIVERSITY IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP, SO I KNEW I WANTED TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR.

I STARTED MY FIRST BUSINESS IN MY SECOND YEAR OF BUSINESS SCHOOL, WE WERE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION AND FULL EMPATHY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, EVERYTHING STALLED IN TO LOST ALL OF OUR BUSINESS.

NOTHING HAPPENED AGAIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH COVID.

AND SO, I BAKED, JUST AS A HOBBY, BECAUSE I NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO.

FRIENDS WOULD ASK ME TO BIG FOR THEM.

AND I WOULD SAY, I DO NOT BAKE, I DO THIN TECH.

BUT I SAID IF YOU WANT TO ORDER, FIND.

AND THEY STARTED ORDERING.

FRANCIS STARTED ORDERING.

AND THEN WE ENDED UP IN BOSTON MAGAZINE ON WHERE TO FIND THE BEST CUPCAKES IN BOSTON.

THEN THINGS TOOK OFF.

IT WAS UNEXPECTED.

CALLIE: NOW, YOU MENTIONED COVID BECAUSE IT WAS VERY INFLUENTIAL IN HOW YOU STARTED YOUR CUPCAKE BUSINESS AND REALIZED IT REALLY COULD BE A BUSINESS, RIGHT?

SHIRONDA: YES.

CALLIE: I WANT TO KNOW FROM BOTH OF YOU HOW COVID IMPACTED YOU.

YOU STARTED YOUR BUSINESS IN COVID, WHICH IS -- WOW, THAT WAS GREAT.

SO TALK ABOUT HOW COVID IMPACTED YOU.

MARIA: I DID START THE BUSINESS DURING COVID, BUT I ALSO OPENED A PHYSICAL BRICK AND MORTAR IN THE PANDEMIC.

I GRADUATED IN MAY OF 2020 AND I FOCUSED ON ONLINE SALES BECAUSE WE HAD A PANDEMIC, BUT WE DID GET TRACTION.

SO, ULTIMATELY I NEEDED STORAGE.

I KNEW MY VISION WAS TO PROVIDE A PHYSICAL STORE FOR MY CUSTOMERS, BECAUSE MANY TIMES WHEN I WOULD DO POP-UPS, PEOPLE WOULD SAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN A HAIRBRUSH MADE OUT OF BAMBOO OR LIPSTICK OUT OF BAMBOO, A TOOTHBRUSH OUT OF BAMBOO.

CUSTOMERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THESE KIND OF PRODUCTS IN PERSON BECAUSE IT IS NOT MAINSTREAM FOR ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS TO BE NONPLASTIC.

SO THAT GAVE ME THE IDEA SHOULD PROVIDE A PHYSICAL BRICK AND MORTAR SO PEOPLE COULD COME IN, SHOP WITH NO PRESSURE, SEE THE PRODUCTS AND ALTERNATELY MAKE A SHOPPING DECISION.

SIX MONTHS AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE IS WHEN I DID MY FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR.

THAT WAS IN THE NORTH END OF BOSTON.

I'’M CURRENTLY STILL THERE.

I JUST OPEN BROKEN LINE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.

CALLIE: HOW DID COVID SHAPE YOU, BECAUSE YOU STARTED YOUR BUSINESS EARLY ON?

JOELLE: WE COMPLETELY PIVOTED.

WE REALLY FOCUSED ON CUSTOM MADE TO ORDER IN THAT TIME, BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT WITH COVID.

CALLIE: BECAUSE IT REQUIRED A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

JOELLE: EXACTLY.

AND EVERY THOUGHT OF A BRICK AND MORTAR, BUT THAT IS WHEN WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT.

IN 2020 COME CAN WE GET OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BLOOMINGDALE'’S.

DOING OUR VERY FIRST LIFESTYLE POP UP.

AND THEN IN 2021, WE TESTED OUT A BRICK AND MORTAR IN BULL MARKET.

WE WERE THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, AND WE GAINED 100 NEW CUSTOMERS IN THAT MONTH.

IT GAVE US THE DATA WE NEEDED TO THING ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO OPEN UP A BRICK AND MORTAR.

SO LAST JUNE, WE OPENED UP OUR FIRST AT BULL MARKET.

CALLIE: EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE FUNDING.

WE BEGAN THE CONVERSATION BY SAYING THAT SO MUCH OF THE FUNDING, TRYING TO GET CAPITAL AND TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF AROUND FUNDING, IS REALLY JUST VERY MUCH BASED OFF OF -- OF COLOR.

BUT ALL THREE OF YOU ARE 100% OWNING YOUR BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

YOU DO NOT HAVE OTHER INVESTORS.

ALL FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

SHIRONDA:, TELL ME ABOUT THE FUNDING SITUATION FOR YOURSELF AND WHY YOU DECIDED THAT THIS -- AT THIS MOMENT ANYWAY, TO BE 100% OWNING YOUR COMPANY.

SHIRONDA: WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY THROUGH GRANTS.

WE HAVE RAISED MONEY THROUGH PITCH COMPETITIONS.

I LEARNED THROUGH MY FIRST COMPANY IT IS EASY TO RAISE SMALLER AMOUNTS OF MONEY ON YOUR OWN, SO PITCH COMPETITIONS, ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS, WE DID RAISE $100,000 FOR MY FIRST COMPANY.

FOR CUPCAKE THERAPY, WE STARTED WITH RAISING MONEY.

THE REASON IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME IS JUST THE OWNERSHIP.

BEING ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS ON MY OWN ABOUT THE COMPANY.

WHEN YOU BRING INVESTORS IN, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE GREAT IDEAS, SOMETIMES THEY TAKE YOU IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN YOU WANT TO GO.

AND FOR US, AS WOMEN OF COLOR, I HAVE SEEN US LOSE CONTROL OF OUR BUSINESS WHEN WE BRING INVESTORS IN.

I HAVE HEARD OF AMAZING EXPERIENCES, AND NOT SUCH GOOD EXPERIENCES, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHILE WE ARE ESTABLISHING OURSELVES THAT WE ARE SEEKING OUT NON-DILUTED FUNDING.

CALLIE: AND YOU THINK THAT THIS CAN WORK FOR YOU?

SHIRONDA: ABSOLUTELY.

CALLIE: MARIA, YOU HAVE GONE SORT OF THE SAME WAY AS SHIRONDA:, WHY?

MARIA: AGAIN, I WAS A STUDENT, SO I DID NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT FUNDING.

I WANTED TO FIGURE OUT IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BOSTON NEEDS.

OBVIOUSLY I WAS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR, SO I COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BUSINESS ITSELF.

SO I STARTED GETTING TRACTION.

THE FUNDING WAS NOT THE MAIN TOPIC ON MY MIND.

BUT I THINK IT IS NOW MORE, BECAUSE WE ARE BIGGER, WE HAVE MORE TRACTION, AND NOW I AM CONSIDERING FUNDING AND LOOKING TO RAISE.

BUT SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN 100% BOOTSTRAPPED AND ALL OF THE FUNDING WE HAVE GOTTEN IS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, DONATIONS, CUSTOMERS REALLY SUPPORTING THE BUSINESS, SAYING WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO CONTINUE ON.

SO, I DEFINITELY HAVE HAD A TWO-YEAR TRIAL TO SEE IF THE BUSINESS WORKS.

AND I AM HAPPY I HAVE NOT SOLD ANY PART OF THE COMPANY BECAUSE IT IS A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS.

SO, SOMETIMES AN INVESTOR COULD TAKE IT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, AND WHILE WE ARE STILL SMALL AND EARLY IN THE PROCESS I DID NOT WANT TO SELL OUT YET, BUT IN THE FUTURE I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BECAUSE WE ARE BOOTSTRAPPING AND IT IS DIFFICULT.

IT IS NOT AS EASY AS EVERYBODY THINKS.

CALLIE: WITH YOU, JOELLE, YOU ARE DOING A SIMILAR THING BUT YOU ALSO ARE PART OF A HAITIAN COLLECTIVE, PARTNERING WITH A WOMAN WHO OWNS THAT.

EXPLAIN THAT SITUATION.

JOELLE: WE PARTNER WITH HAITI DESIGN CO., AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH ARTISANS, SO THEY CREATE A LOT OF THE ACCESSORIES WE WORK WITH.

WE SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR THEM TO SELL THEIR GOODS.

IN TERMS OF FUNDING, LIKE MARIA WE HAVE BEEN BOOTSTRAPPING.

AND WE HAVE TAKEN ON SMALL LOANS HERE AND THERE, BUT IT HAS ALL BEEN SELF-FUNDED.

WE HAVE HAD INVESTORS COME AND WE DECLINED BECAUSE I THINK THAT FOR ME IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, I THINK IT IS HARD TO HAVE SOMEBODY EVALUATE YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU HAVEN'’T YOURSELF FIGURED OUT WHAT YOUR BUSINESS IS GROSSING.

SO I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT MY BUSINESS IS WORTH.

BUT THE SAME WAY, AS WE ARE GROWING RIGHT NOW, JUST THIS YEAR, I AM RESEARCHING AND LOOKING INTO FUNDING BECAUSE WE WANT TO GROW.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE MORE ARTISANS.

I SEE THE BOUTIQUE KREYOL BEING MORE LIKE ANTHROPOLOGY, THIS SPACE -- CALLIE: LIKE THE STORY.

JOELLE: YEAH, WHERE YOU CAN COME GET ACCESSORIES.

AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE MADE BY ARTISANS AND ARTISTS OF COLOR.

SO, FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IT IS TIME FOR ME TO THINK BIGGER AND FOR ME TO REALLY LOOK AT THE EVALUATION, BUT ALSO LOOK AT INVESTORS THAT FIT THE VALUE SYSTEM THAT WE ALIGN WITH.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THIS YEAR.

CALLIE: LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE GETTING TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW, BOOTSTRAPPING YOURSELF.

AND BY THE WAY, I WATCH "SHARK TANK" AND THAT THEY TAKE EVERYTHING, SO I SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH THAT.

JO, WHAT IS A LESSON YOU CAN SHARE WITH OTHER ENTREPRENEURS THAT YOU WOULD DO AGAIN OR WOULDN'’T DO IT AGAIN?

JOELLE: THE BIGGEST LESSON IS TO UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK.

I HAVE BUILT A GREAT NETWORK OF NOT ONLY MENTORS, BUT FRIENDS WHO ARE ALSO ENTREPRENEURS, WHO WERE ABLE -- WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, SHARE RESOURCES, HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

AS I AM THINK YOU RIGHT NOW OF RAISING FUNDING, I AM GOING TO MY MENTORS, ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND WE THINK THAT WE ARE IN THIS BY OURSELVES A LOT OF TIMES, BUT THERE IS SUCH A GREAT LOVE OF KNOWLEDGE -- WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OUT THERE AND PEOPLE WILLING TO HELP YOU.

SHIRONDA: I THINK THAT I HAVE LEARNED TWO LESSONS.

DO NOT BE AFRAID.

SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT BORROWING IS EXPENSIVE.

MY FIRST REACTION IS, SO IS TAKING ON INVESTORS AND GIVING UP EQUITY.

IF YOUR COMPANY IS WORTH 50 TIMES MORE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY YOU COULD LOSE VERSUS IF YOU BORROWED AND PAID IT BACK, AND YOU STILL OWN THE COMPANY 100%.

SO, I THINK THAT THAT WAS A PERSPECTIVE I HAD THAT OTHERS DIDN'’T AGREE WITH, BUT IT WAS A LESSON.

THE SECOND IS FIND A GOOD PARTNER ORGANIZATION.

WE JOINED A LOCAL BUSINESS ALLIANCE AND THEY ARE PHENOMENAL.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT BORROWING MONEY, BUT LEARNING HOW TO BE A GOOD BUSINESS, GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT INVESTORS, DO NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE MONEY, LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED TO YOU PROFESSIONALLY.

MARIA: I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT THE TOP THINGS I WISH I COULD CHANGE IS DEFINITELY PAYING YOURSELF FIRST.

I FELT LIKE I ALWAYS POURED EVERYTHING BACK INTO THE BUSINESS, IT EVEN THOUGH IT HELPED THE BUSINESS GROW FASTER IT LEFT ME SPREAD THIN, NOT PAYING MYSELF AND NOT VALUING MYSELF.

I WAS PUTTING ALL MY VALUE INTO THE BUSINESS.

THERE'’S PROS AND CONS TO IT, BUT STARTING FRESH I WOULD SAY PAY YOURSELF FIRST, EVEN IF IT IS A SMALL PROFIT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, VALUE YOURSELF, AND PROTECTOR MENTAL HEALTH.

I WISH I DID THAT AT THE BEGINNING.

ANOTHER THING IS HIRE PROFESSIONALS THAT WILL HELP YOU WITH THINGS LIKE ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, BECAUSE WHILE I AM AMAZING AT MARKETING, I AM NOT THE BEST AT BOOKKEEPING OR WITH NUMBERS.

I'’M VERY MUCH PASSION DRIVEN, SO SOMETIMES I WANT TO DO A PROJECT BECAUSE I FEEL AMAZING ABOUT IT, BUT THEN I HAVE THAT FINANCIAL PERSON TO SAY BUT IS IT WORTH YOUR TIME?

SO, BECAUSE I AM SUCH A PASSIONATE PERSON AND BECAUSE I LOVE MY BUSINESS, I NEED THAT KIND OF PERSON TO BRING LEAD TO THE GROUND AND ESSAY IF YOU WANT TO DO -- AND SAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS LONG-TERM YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THIS AS WELL.

CALLIE: OK.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU.

AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'’S DEATH, THERE WAS A A CONCERTED EFFORT BY LARGER BUSINESSES AND OTHER CONCERNS, TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, PERSONS OF COLOR BUSINESSES.

DID THAT PAYOFF OFF IN ANY WAY YOU CAN SEE?

DID THAT BRING PEOPLE TO YOU THAT YOU KNOW?

THAT CAMPAIGN -- WHICH IS STILL ONGOING IN SOME ARENAS.

SHIRONDA: I THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT DID FOR US BECAUSE, YES, WE HAVE GREAT CUPCAKES AND DIFFERENT OPTIONS, BUT WE STILL HAVE CUSTOMERS WHO WILL CALL AND ASK, IS THIS A WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS?

A MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS?

THERE IS THE UNSPOKEN SIDE.

SOME PEOPLE COULD LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE AND SEE THE ABOUT SECTION AND SEE WE ARE WOMEN OWNED, AND IT COULD SPUR THEM TO ORDER FROM US.

SOME ACTUALLY SAY IT.

BUT YES, I THINK THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF IMPACT OR RESULT FROM THAT.

HOW MUCH, I DO NOT KNOW.

JOELLE: I WOULD SAY THE SAME.

FOR US, THERE WAS A DIRECT EFFECT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DID OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BLOOMINGDALE'’S.

AND I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID THERE IS AN UNSPOKEN THING WHERE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES NOW, MORE SO THAN BEFORE.

WHAT THE AGREEMENT THAT THESE CORPORATE ENTITIES HAD DURING THAT TIME, IT WAS LITERALLY JUST TO BE OPEN.

AS THINGS HAVE STARTED TO DIE DOWN, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE JUST NOW DIED DOWN IN THE MEDIA, WE ARE NOW GOING BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

CALLIE: NOT A LOT OF BUSINESS FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND WOMEN OF COLOR OWNED BUSINESSES.

MARIA: I FEEL LIKE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN GET REALLY LONELY, SO I STARTED TO NOTICE BRANDS GIVING SUPPORT, SHOUTING EACH OTHER OUT.

I FELT LIKE I WAS ABLE TO SPREAD THE WORD ON BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES OR OTHER SMALL MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES.

I GOT HIGHLIGHTS, SO I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SEEN SOME BUSINESSES -- BENEFITS FROM IT, BUT I ALSO FELT ALONE.

AND I HAD TO FIND PEOPLE.

LIKE, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS ON HER OWN BUT WE MIGHT AS WELL LEAN ON EACH OTHER, SO I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS THE BIGGEST POSITIVE IMPACT, HAVING A COMMUNITY TO LEAN ON AND I COULD SUPPORT THEM WHILE THEY SUPPORT ME.

AND IT IS LESS ISOLATING.

CALLIE: WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE ENTREPRENEURS?

THAT IS THE QUESTION I NEED TO ASK, BECAUSE I WANT TO SUPPORT ALL OF YOUR BUSINESSES BUT I CAN'’T NOT SUPPORT -- CAN'’T SAPORE DAD GONE THING.

[LAUGHTER] JOELLE: I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ALWAYS -- SHIRONDA: I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL, THE GIRL SCOUT SELLING COOKIES, JUST HUSTLING.

SO I THINK IT IS INHERENT IN WHO I AM.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET.

I HAVE WORKED FOR OTHER COMPANIES.

BUT IT IS WHO I AM.

CALLIE: OK. JOELLE: I WOULD SAY THE SAME.

I THINK ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHOSE MEAN.

MY MOTHER WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR, MY GRANDPARENTS -- THEY CAME FROM ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND WERE ABLE TO RAISE A FAMILY WITH THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS.

WHEN I GO TO HAITI, EVERYONE THAT I SEE THERE IS TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING, SO I THINK IT RUNS IN OUR BLOOD.

IT CHOSE ME.

MARIA: VERY SIMILAR, BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE FULL-TIME ENTREPRENEURS, SO WHEN I TOLD THEM I WANTED TO START A BUSINESS THEY WERE HAPPY.

I WAS SHOCKED.

THEY SAID, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO START A BUSINESS.

SO I IMMEDIATELY GOT THAT GREEN FLAG LIKE, OK, THIS HAS TO BE IN MY BLOOD.

AND WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I WOULD OUTPERFORM AND DO MY BEST AND I THINK IT WAS FINDING SOMETHING THAT I AM REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT TOOK THE FEAR AWAY.

THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DO THIS AND MAKE IT.

IT IS PASSION BASED FOR ME.

CALLIE: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON, AS YOU ARE ALL PLANNING TO BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME?

MARIA?

MARIA: WE RECENTLY OPENED OUR BROKE LINE STORE, SO I WANT TO -- BROOKLINE STORE.

I WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THAT STORY.

AND WE HAVE FREE PARKING.

[LAUGHTER] THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY I OPENED IT, THE LOCATION.

WE WILL ALSO START MAKING OUR OWN PRODUCTS FOR BESTSELLERS WE CANNOT KEEP IN STOCK, SO WE ARE LOOKING TO LAUNCH OUR PRIVATE LINE OF PRODUCTS I AM LOOKING TO DO MORE POP-UPS IN THE CITY AND IN OTHER CITIES, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BOOKED A LOT AND IT IS A CHANNEL I WANT TO FOCUS ON AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

CALLIE: I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT YOU OFFER REFILLING SERVICES, PART OF THE ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE AND MISSION YOU ARE ON, WHICH IS UNIQUE TO A LOT OF PLACES.

MARIA: YOU DO NOT REALLY SEE REFILL STATIONS ANYWHERE, BUT THE STORE IS BOTH A PLASTIC FREE PRODUCTS STORE, SO YOU WILL SEE ALL OF YOUR HOME IS ESSENTIAL IS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A REFILL STATION.

YOU CAN TAKE A FREE BOTTLE AND REFILL SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, CLEANSER, HAND SOAP, AND THE FUN PART IS WE HAVE UNSCENTED, THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT SCENTS.

DO YOU WANT LEMON, GRAPEFRUIT?

AND THEN NEXT TIME KNOW WHAT TO TRY.

WE ARE ALWAYS ADDING NEW CLEANSERS, COFFEE, TEA, ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF.

SO I AM EXCITED TO EXPAND THE REFILL STATION AS WELL.

CALLIE: WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE FOR YOU?

JOELLE: THE FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT GROWTH.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OUR FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR IN BOW MARKET IN SOMERVILLE.

AND WE ARE LOOKING TO RAISE FUNDING SO WE CAN ESTABLISH A FLAGSHIP STORE.

SO, IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF WE HAVE GONE FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM A COUPLE ARTISANS TO NOW OVER 15.

SO THE IDEA IS TO CONTINUE TO GROW MORE AND MORE AND SUPPORT THE LARGER CONGLOMERATE OF ARTISANS.

AND YEAH.

CALLIE: YOU HAVE A DOUBLE WE ARE MEEK MILL YOU ARE SUPPORTING YOUR BUSINESS AND THE PLATFORM -- DOUBLE WHAMMY, YOU ARE SUPPORTING YOUR BUSINESS AND THE PLATFORM FOR OTHER ARTISANS.

JOELLE: WE HAVE OUR CLOTHING, AND WE HAVE ACCESSORIES AND HOME GOODS THAT FIT WITH THEM.

CALLIE: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR FOLKS.

SHIRONDA: IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE WE ARE OPENING A STOREFRONT IN THE FALL.

WE HAVE A GIRLS KITCHEN IN WESTWOOD, BUT WE WILL BE OPENING UP IN BOSTON A STOREFRONT.

AND WE ARE ALSO INCREASING OUR NATIONWIDE SHIPPING.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT REALLY JUST GROWING IN BOSTON.

CALLIE: I HAVE TO BRING OUT STUFF FROM ALL OF YOU.

AS YOU HAVE MADE A CLEAR COMMUTE CAN GO TO ANY BAKERY AND YOU MIGHT GET ONE GLUTEN-FREE OR ONE VEGAN OPTION, BUT THAT IS NOT YOU.

SHIRONDA: WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SOMETHING GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS, 20 SUGAR-FREE OPTIONS, YOU CAN GET VEGAN AND IT AND GLUTEN-FREE ALL IN ONE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYBODY CAN HAVE OUR CUPCAKES, REGARDLESS OF DIETARY RESTRICTIONS.

YOU ARE NOT JUST GOING TO A BAKERY AND A SAYING, THIS IS THE ONE VEGAN OPTION, I GUESS I WILL TAKE THAT.

NO, YOU HAVE ALL OPTIONS AND YOU CAN ORDER THE SAME WAY AS SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT VEGAN OR GLUTEN-FREE.

CALLIE: WE HAVE JUST A FEW SECONDS, SO SAY SOMETHING TO THOSE WHO SAY, NAH, YOU CANNOT DO IT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY BACK?

[LAUGHTER] YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

MARIA: WATCH ME DO IT.

[LAUGHTER] JOELLE: IT IS ALL IN YOU, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO IT.

CALLIE: OK. THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WHERE MEAN TO YOU?

JOELLE: OH.

THAT IS A DIFFERENT THING.

I WAS BORN TO DO IT.

SHIRONDA: YOU KNOW, I DO NOT RESPOND TO THOSE PEOPLE.

[LAUGHTER] IF THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT, THEY MAY NOT BELIEVE I CAN DO IT AND THAT IS FINE, BUT I AM GOING TO DO IT.

CALLIE: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

THAT IS A GREAT SEND OFF FOR WOMEN'’S HISTORY MONTH.

THAT'’S TH EEN OF OUR -- THAT'’S THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

NOW STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

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