Black Celebrities Should Champion Black Brands More

TL;DR

Actively Black founder discusses signing athletes, struggles with influencers, and the power of building a strong customer base.

Transcript

so talk about um working in athletics yep as far as the naio deals that you've signed and know this year you you get tapped in with Deion Sanders and his his people so how that relationship happen and how have you been able to you know grow that yeah um to be honest the nil stuff was something that I didn't think we would get involved in this early... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Actively Black initially didn't plan to enter into NIL deals with athletes, but the commitment of Travis Hunter and his alignment with the brand's values led to a partnership.
• 🙃 The founder expresses disappointment in influencers who claim to support Black-owned businesses but demand payment for promoting Actively Black, highlighting the struggle to find genuine support.
• 🤳 Actively Black's marketing strategy revolves around building a loyal customer base and inspiring individuals to be their authentic selves, rather than relying on celebrity endorsements.
• 😒 The brand aims to represent its customers, not use them as billboards, focusing on inspiring individuals to be the best version of themselves.
• ✊ Actively Black believes in the power of the people and their support, prioritizing authenticity and staying true to the brand's values.
• 🙃 The founder envisions the influence of celebrities and influencers being redirected towards supporting Black-owned brands, combating the inferiority complex that still exists even among influential figures.
• 😌 Actively Black's success lies in resonating with customers who see the brand as representing them and inspiring them to be their best, rather than aspiring to be someone else.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Actively Black start signing athletes for NIL deals?

The founder was inspired by Travis Hunters' commitment to Jackson State and his alignment with Actively Black's values. This led to a partnership with him, followed by the signing of other athletes like Shadora Shiloh and Deja Kelly.

Q: How did Actively Black handle challenges with influencers?

The founder expresses disappointment in influencers who claim to support Black-owned businesses but demand payment for promoting Actively Black. It reveals the struggles of finding genuine support from influencers and their pay-for-play mentality.

Q: What marketing strategy did Actively Black adopt?

Actively Black's strategy was always focused on building a loyal customer base rather than relying on celebrity endorsements. The brand believes in serving the people and inspiring them to be the best version of themselves, rather than aspiring to be someone else.

Q: How does Actively Black differentiate itself from other brands?

Actively Black aims to be inspirational and authentic, focusing on helping individuals become the best versions of themselves. Unlike other brands that use celebrities and aspirational marketing, Actively Black represents its customers, not the other way around.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Actively Black initially didn't expect to get involved in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals with athletes, but signing Travis Hunter led to relationships with other athletes such as Shadora Shiloh and Deja Kelly.

• The founder expresses disappointment in influencers who claim to support Black-owned businesses but demand payment for promoting Actively Black, while freely endorsing other brands.

• The brand's focus has always been on building a strong customer base and inspiring people to be their authentic selves, rather than relying on celebrity endorsements.