BE NYC
Overview
How did NYC support over 40k+ black-owned businesses in NYC during the pandemic? A creative initiative through SBS called BE NYC was the visionary initiative to uplift some of the most promising businesses in NYC. Enter in NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) : These good folks support the Big Apple’s small businesses with free resources to help them start, operate, and grow.
So when SBS wanted to spotlight local Black-owned businesses, they turned to us for a technology solution that would deliver serious social impact.
Problem
COVID-19 did more than just shake up a few businesses in NYC, it uniquely destabilized black-owned businesses who were already financially vulnerable prior to the pandemic.
BE NYC foresaw an opportunity to pioneer a campaign to promote promising black-owned businesses in NYC and drive more sales to these establishments. But without an easy way to find them, the team was stumped on how to best achieve the objective.
After some research, BE NYC concluded that the problem was two-fold. First, create a platform enabling two user types to both effortlessly discover great businesses while given black-owned businesses greater visibility in new markets. Second, design an exceptional user experience that is optimized for continuous longterm growth.
Solution
Our team designed and built a sleek, user-friendly web platform that established visibility and simplified the discovery of black-owned businesses for New Yorkers. Users can easily search for establishments by category (food, retail etc) and location/neighborhood.
The directory effectively tackled the awareness challenge. Now, with a few clicks, New Yorkers could conveniently find hidden gems from Black-owned bakeries across Brooklyn to retailers selling African goods in Harlem.
Business profiles spotlight what each shop offers through compelling descriptions, contact info, and images. This showcases their excellence which then maximizes appeal and sales conversions.
Each business profile was promoted to the respective business owner to give the user investment and ownership in the process from the beginning. In addition to the core technology produced, we supported:
- Creative brand identity and a bold marketing to maximize exposure
- Custom CMS integration empowering easy content updating
- Organic search and distribution expansion opportunities for greater reach
The end result? A customized platform effectively driving revenue for black-owned businesses when it mattered most.
In just 12 months since launch, the directory has quite likely driven millions of dollars in sales directly to local Black-owned businesses.
We are talking well over 10k establishments positively impacted thanks to heightened visibility, discovery and promotion. Now buyers can readily find and conveniently patronize them - with a multitude of web traffic since the platform was launched.
The directory has also garnered glowing headlines and coverage from leaders like billionaire Robert F. Smith. He called it a "vital lifeline....fueling the growth of Black entrepreneurs across NYC when it mattered most".
We effectively empowered NYC's Small Business Services unit to deliver real economic change through technology. This groundbreaking initiative is well-positioned to continue driving visibility, sales and sustainability for minority-owned businesses across the city and support an inclusive, robust recovery.
Powered by Cue has a proven track record architecting, executing and amplifying innovative digital initiatives that uplift and empower.
Our integrated branding, web design and marketing solutions can architect, build and amplify initiatives that uplift underserved groups and communities.
If you have a vision for driving change and empowerment, let’s talk. We can explore how our expertise helps turn aspiration into transformation.
