We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mel Branker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mel below.

Mel , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the idea for The Black Collective Brand through volunteering for community efforts in my neighborhood. I realized that many of my counterparts had skills and interests that were money generating and thus began the marketing and promotion branch of The Black Collective Brand. I began by making flyers, price lists and promotional items for small black owned businesses.

I was presented an opportunity to create merchandise for a company and I chose to use that to try my hand at printing and pressing clothing. When I initially started this process I utilized another small
Black owned business to complete my orders, upon analyzing the costs in comparison to my sales I decided it would be more effective to complete TBC merchandise orders in house. I paid for a class and ordered the equipment necessary.

A few months into solidifying the various branches of TBC I learned that Black Americans spend 1.3 trillion dollars a year, more than the entire of country of Mexico, and only 2% of the $1.3 trillion gross national income, $26 million billion, is recirculated in the black community. I realized then that there was a need for a space for us by us, a network of businesses that allows our money to recirculate back into our communities. With this in mind I was able to connect both the marketing and the creative aspects of TBC.

I knew this would work because we offer supports for all businesses small and large at any stage of their journey. We are able to provide necessary connections to helpful resources. The TBC was created to collectively assist with solving a problem that our community has actively been working on and we are excited to exist in such a beautiful space !

Mel , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those that do not know us, we are The Black Collective Brand LLC. We were created and are based in Brooklyn, NY. We were created to serve and assist small start up black owned businesses.

The Black Collective Brand connects patrons to black arts, fashion, business and entrepreneurship. We provide marketing, promotional, and merchandising. We also provide artist managerial services and we curate events such as pop up shops and showcases.

Additionally, The Black Collective Brand sells clothing, including sweaters (crewnecks and hoodies), hats and an assortment of gear. I am proudest of the brand’s purpose; building and maintaining supports in the black community; whether it be a financial, emotional, mental, or anything else. We complete food pantry deliveries on a bi monthly basis, give away boxes of turkeys and sides for Thanksgiving, give a way gifts for Christmas and/ or Kwanza and provide bookbags and supplies to the community on a yearly basis.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m January of 2022 I made the most difficult decision of my adult life. After 7 years of higher education, attaining a bachelors in molecular biology and a masters in forensic science, and 7 years as a social worker for various departments of the city of New York I decided to walk away. I knew I was not walking in my faith and I prayed that God would use me as He saw fit to walk the path that He had ordered. It has not been easy but God has not and will not fail me. I thank God everyday for carrying me through this endeavor for finding me worthy of walking in His glory.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think being authentically myself has helped build my reputation within this market. By putting my humanity first I am able to extend the same grace to others, I see people and build relationships that extend beyond business.

Contact Info:

• Website: TheBlackCollectiveBrand.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/TheBlackCollectiveBrand
• Facebook: The Black Collective
• Other: We are on Google ! @TheBlackCollectiveBrand