Celebrating Black History Month: featured black sellers

To celebrate Black History Month, we're highlighting the stories of two of our black-owned businesses and their products.

From chic purses to versatile travel totes, each MinkeeBlue bag elevates your style and simplifies your daily life.

Sherrill Mosee, the founder and CEO of MinkeeBlue, began her journey nearly a decade ago with a clear goal in mind. She wanted to help working women and mothers who are often carrying too much. Whether it’s workout gear, laptops and devices, lunch, or everyday childcare items, women needed a solution to carry all of their stuff with style.

With two engineering degrees, Mosee developed a patented organizational bag that combines function with fashion.

Before creating the MinkeBlue collection, she won the Black Girl Ventures’ Pitch Competition and was a finalist in QVC’s Next Big Thing. She was also a finalist in Katie Couric’s Mothers of Invention and won Runner-Up in the WBENCPitch. She’s a respected voice in the industry, having spoken for many organizations, including the African-American Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, The National Society of Black Engineers at Drexel University, Traffic Sales & Profit, and Girls, Inc.

Recognizing the difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs, Mosee also founded StartUp by Faith which coaches and trains aspiring entrepreneurs on how to bring their product ideas to the market. She also hosts a YouTube series and interviews women business owners about their journeys. Mosee is committed to empowering black women in the entrepreneurial world.

Elemental Bottles crafts beautifully designed water bottles that combine elegance with eco-friendliness.

Seth Inyang, co-founder of Elemental, learned the value of hard work and persistence from his family's legacy and Midwestern hospitality. His passion for design emerged early on when he launched an apparel line during college. After earning his degree, Inyang pursued a technical career as an engineer.

Inyang's father, a Nigerian immigrant, started from humble beginnings and worked his way up to become a Vice President of his company after completing his doctorate. His father's impressive achievements set a high bar for Inyang, motivating him to strive for excellence.

In 2016, Inyang and his business partner, Vinh Lieu, launched the Elemental Bottles line to help people and the planet. Along the way, he’s battled stereotypes and has become an inspiration to those who are determined to overcome societal judgments and pursue their entrepreneurial passions.

Diversity encourages innovation and business growth. Creating an inclusive environment encourages open communication and motivates team members to share their thoughts and ideas. Perspectives from employees with different backgrounds are key to innovation and creativity. Inclusivity also improves overall morale and job satisfaction. When people feel valued for who they are and what they bring to the table, they’re more engaged and committed to their work.

We hope these stories inspire you to celebrate diversity and support black entrepreneurs, not just this month, but every day. Browse our list of minority-owned businesses to find the perfect gift and honor diversity through gift-giving.