Black-Owned Small Businesses Are in the Spotlight This Month

February 2, 2021: Qurate Retail Group and the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation are marking Black History Month by shining a light on Black-owned small businesses that are the heart of our communities. As part of our Small Business Spotlight program this month, 20 Black-owned businesses have access to QVC’s, HSN’s, and Zulily’s platforms, which reach millions of customers with engaging video-rich content and experiences.

Five of the small businesses will tell their stories live on air at QVC and HSN, with the repackaged video also shared on QVC’s and HSN’s social pages, streaming service, and our YouTube channels. In addition, these businesses will be featured on QVC’s and HSN’s digital platforms, including a profile on QVC.com and HSN.com landing pages, and have an opportunity to participate in a virtual mentorship program with Qurate Retail Group team members. The remaining 15 businesses will be promoted on QVC’s, HSN’s, and Zulily’s digital platforms and receive social tools and resources to share their participation.

“What QVC, HSN, and Zulily do for businesses large and small is invaluable,” said Kiana Muhly, Cofounder of AQUA Waterproof Headwear, one of the businesses selected for the program. “We literally jumped up and down when we received the call that we were accepted into the program.”

AQUA Waterproof Headwear specializes in headwraps and turbans designed to keep your hair dry at the beach, by the pool, or in the rain and humidity while still being fashionable. Kiana launched the business with her friend Khadijah Robinson in 2019.

“Having access to the resources provided by the Small Business Spotlight program will help solidify us as a nationally known brand,” said Khadijah. “This exposure will allow us to reach to a target audience we would not have otherwise easily had access to. This is all just unreal.”

In addition, during Black History Month, QVC.com and HSN.com will digitally promote our current Black-owned vendors, highlighting their pages on our websites where customers can learn about each business and shop its products. As part of our celebration, we also asked some of these vendors to share what Black History Month means to them. See their responses here.

To see the businesses that are part of the Small Business Spotlight this month and hear their stories, visit the Small Business Spotlight pages on QVC.com and HSN.com.

For 2021, Qurate Retail Group and the NRF Foundation have expanded the Small Business Spotlight initiative to support 100 entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds this year. Through this program, Qurate Retail Group is providing the selected businesses with on-air and/or digital exposure and various other pro-bono in-kind services. The program builds on Qurate Retail Group’s longstanding foundation of supporting small businesses and reflects our and NRF Foundation’s commitment to increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Applications for the 2021 Small Business Spotlight are open through February 26. More details on eligibility and criteria, as well as the application link, are available here.