Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dominique Tate-williams. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Dominique, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name Afrocentric Kitty actually came to me before the business idea itself! It resonated so deeply that I can envision it growing beyond just a pet brand — maybe even evolving into a cartoon series or a children’s book. Who knows, it might become all three!

In today’s pet products market, I’ve noticed a real gap when it comes to culturally inspired items that reflect the diverse backgrounds of pet owners. As a Black pet parent, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find products that align with my cultural tastes and sensibilities, and that’s something I wanted to change.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2023, Afrocentric Kitty began to come to life shortly after Dominique Tate-Williams and her husband, Carlos, adopted their two cats, Cali and Ozone. As new pet parents, they quickly realized the pet supplies market lacked cultural diversity. The designs were uninspiring—filled with the same old paw prints and bones—and didn’t resonate with their cultural tastes.

The idea for Afrocentric Kitty sparked when Dominique searched for soft recovery cones post-surgery for their kittens. The best option she found was an Avocado and Toast cone. Cute as it was, it didn’t speak to her personally. This was the turning point: why not create pet products with a unique, culturally inspired twist? And so, Afrocentric Kitty was born, bringing bold, flavorful designs to the pet world! Paw-some, right?!

The journey hasn’t been without challenges. Dominique had big ideas but lacked certain skills to actually bring them to life. For example, while designing snuffle mats, she could only make basic mock-ups in Canva. Her mother, an experienced seamstress and non-pet person, offered guidance, though she’d never even heard of a snuffle mat before! Thanks to “YouTube University,” Dominique found inspiration to make a 3D mock-up, which helped her communicate the design to manufacturers and move forward with production.

Another challenge was finding manufacturers who could create high-quality products at reasonable costs and low minimum order quantities. With lots of research and help from online resources, she was able to identify suppliers that met her needs.

Since Afrocentric Kitty’s official launch (which happened on the same day Hurricane Helene hit Atlanta!), the focus has been on connecting with customers. The small team is building an online presence and planning to attend local events this fall. Starting in November, products will also be available at Westside Market Midtown (EC218).

As a Black-owned, woman-led family business, Afrocentric Kitty brings something fresh to the market. While many pet companies are dog-centric, Afrocentric Kitty caters to both dog and cat owners. Their standout products include the Sicka Yo Sh!t Poop Bags and Afrocentric Kitty Café snuffle mats and toys, which are not only practical but also culturally resonant.

The Afrocentric Kitty brand aims to inspire other pet parents, particularly through stories of pet adoption and fostering within the Black community. The goal is to offer products that reflect the tastes and values of Black pet parents and anyone who loves unique items for their pets.

One major lesson Dominique has learned is to believe in herself, do her research, and keep pushing forward, even when things get tough. She relied on YouTube and ChatGPT to help bridge the gaps in her knowledge, and as she shared her progress with family and friends, their feedback and support kept her motivated. Most importantly, she learned to give herself grace—taking time to get things right, without pressure to rush. Surrounding herself with uplifting people has made all the difference on this entrepreneurial journey.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Though Afrocentric Kitty is still a new business, having just launched in September 2024, we’re already seeing that referrals, in-person sales, and in-store availability will be key to reaching new customers. As an eCommerce business, we’ll continue working to connect with customers online, but we all know how challenging it is for someone to just stumble across your website, even with solid social media efforts.

With our products now available at Westside Market Midtown (EC218) and plans to expand into more stores, we’re focused on meeting our customers where they are. We recently participated in a Panther Biz event during Dominique’s homecoming at Clark Atlanta University, where it was exciting to see customers discover and engage with our products firsthand.

Through these in-store experiences, along with customer reviews and user-generated content, we hope to grow Afrocentric Kitty’s brand awareness and connect with even more pet parents.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I came across Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love, while browsing one of my favorite thrifted book sites. As someone striving to live a creative, liberated life, staying inspired is essential for motivation.

The book deeply resonated with me, especially Gilbert’s insight about putting action behind your creative ideas—otherwise, they’ll drift away and attach themselves to someone else. That’s why people often say, “I had that same idea!” when they see a new invention—someone else just acted on it.

Like many, I struggle with fear and self-doubt, but this book gave me the push I needed to move past those feelings and take action on my Afrocentric Kitty ideas. Bringing them to market was a huge step, and the positive feedback on our designs and product quality has been the extra motivation we need to keep pushing forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://afrocentrickitty.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrocentrickitty
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565717155352

Image Credits

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