DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith
Corporation (NYSE:MDP) today announced five businesses owned by
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and/or LGBTQIA
individuals as winners of its Good Impressions program. Each
business will receive an award package of pro bono ad space and
marketing consultation services from Meredith experts valued at
approximately $100,000.
Good Impressions, launched in February
2021, is a meaningful way for Meredith to help
bridge the economic gap for minority-owned businesses and advance
diversity, equity and inclusion in the communities it serves. Award
packages are based on the needs and goals of each small business
and encompass various forms of assistance. This support may include
video consultations with key representatives across Meredith,
spanning business intelligence, research/insights, creative, and
marketing experts; introductory meetings with editorial leads
across print, digital and social media; and media customized for
the individual business's critical needs.
"We are so pleased to announce and showcase these award winners
just in time for Small Business Saturday. We encourage people to
support these innovative businesses during this holiday shopping
season and beyond," said Catherine
Levene, President, Meredith National Media Group and
Executive Sponsor of :BLACKPRINT, the employee resource group (ERG)
representing Black voices at Meredith. "We look forward to
sharing Meredith's extensive advertising and marketing resources to
help them take their companies to the next level."
After an extensive evaluation process, a selection committee
consisting of companywide business and ERG leaders selected these
companies as the 2021 Good Impressions winners:
- Shea Yeleen, based in Washington,
D.C. and owned by Rahama
Wright, redefines beauty by aligning the nourishment of skin
with empowerment of women across the globe. Each purchase of its
handcrafted skincare products directly contributes to the
empowerment of women in Ghana.
Shea Yeleen pays its producers five times the local minimum wage.
The company is committed to financial empowerment, community
development, traditional processing methods, and ethically sourced
organic and natural ingredients. Meredith will help this company
build back stronger with communications to enhance its product
awareness and mission, activation, and exposure with Meredith
brands across the beauty space. "Winning the Good Impressions
pro-bono media and marketing award will enable Shea Yeleen to
amplify our brand, build meaningful relationships with new
customers, boost direct-to-consumer sales, and continue uplifting
our producers in Ghana," said
Wright. "This investment in our business will have ripple
effects on our suppliers creating living wage jobs and contributing
to sustainability within our supply chain."
- The Safety Pouch, based in New
Orleans, LA, and owned by David
Price, stores all driving credentials in one place. During
traffic stops, it minimizes movement, allows more visibility inside
the vehicle, and gives drivers the option to keep their hands on
the steering wheel. Use of this product reduces the possibility of
misunderstandings between drivers and police, which often lead to
unnecessary violence, shootings, and even deaths. The idea came to
David as a teenager after he was given "The Talk" about how to stay
safe in a society that disproportionately discriminates against
young Black males. Meredith will help this company develop a
comprehensive strategic plan focusing on maximizing brand
awareness. "Being a part of Good Impressions will be
life-changing," said Price. "Through Meredith's guidance,
mentorship and services, I am sure it will help us rapidly scale
our brand and help us continue our work creating safer and more
equitable interactions with law enforcement."
- Madhu Chocolate is an Indian-inspired bean-to-bar craft
chocolate maker based out of Austin,
TX. Founders Harshit Gupta
and Elliott Curelop started the
business out of their kitchen in 2018 when Curelop decided to add
Indian spice mixes to the bars he would make as a hobby. Within
three years, Madhu Chocolate has grown from a small cottage food
business to one of the fastest-growing chocolate-making businesses
in the U.S. Named one of the best chocolates in America by FOOD
& WINE Magazine, Madhu Chocolate ethically sources high quality
cacao beans from Colombia. Through
fair trade, it contributes to the prosperity of the farmers while
helping eliminate slavery. Its production facility operates on 100
percent renewable wind energy and enacts an aggressive composting
strategy in an ongoing effort to minimize its carbon
footprint. Meredith will assist Madhu Chocolate with strategies for
public relations, business, and marketing, combined with content
creation and multi-platform ad campaigns. "This award means so much
to us because it validates the uniqueness of our business concept
and the quality of our products, said Gupta. "We have put our all
into developing the flavors of our products to demonstrate that
amazing chocolate doesn't have to be so Euro-centric in flavor, and
it is very gratifying for us to know other people feel the same
way."
- The mission of Modi Toys, based in Edison, NJ, and owned by siblings Avani Modi Sarkar and Viral Modi, is to spark
curiosity about the Indian culture by putting meaningful toys,
games and books in the hands of children around the world. Their
business idea was inspired by their own children, in hopes of
creating the type of toys and books that reflect their South Asian
roots and Hindu faith. Each of the plush toys plays mantras
respective to specific deities, sung by Indian artists. Select toys
can be personalized with children's names in any language. Meredith
will assist Modi Toys with marketing consultation, data analytics,
and exposure. "Growing up in America, my brother and I always felt
connected to our South Asian heritage. After becoming parents
however, we realized we lacked the resources to cultivate the same
sense of connection for our own children," said Sarkar. "We
searched for toys that reflected our roots, but we couldn't find
anything that reflected diversity in faith. We designed our
products as part of a broader movement to make playrooms more
inclusive and celebrate individuality and otherness. We are so
grateful to the Meredith team for creating this initiative and
taking proactive steps to help minority owned small businesses make
not just a good impression -- but a lasting one."
- Young King Hair Care, based in
Atlanta, GA, and owned by
Cora Miller and Stefan
Miller, is the first multicultural beauty brand for young men.
Inspired by their son, the company creates clean products to
promote textured hair health and growth. The Millers founded the
company with the mission of redefining male grooming for the next
generation by encouraging young men of color to show up with full
confidence and take pride in their self-care. All products
are plant-based, free from harmful ingredients, and incorporate
scents that appeal to young men. Meredith will assist Young King Hair Care with brand building,
marketing strategy, partnerships, and exposure to Meredith brands.
"This award truly validates our mission and vision for the brand,"
said Stefan Miller. "We are excited
to tap into Meredith's bench of experts to garner insights, make
valuable connections and utilize their skills and expertise, which
is invaluable for our growing brand. We are thrilled to make new
connections and truly learn and grow throughout the process."
According to the MetLife and U.S. Chamber Special Report on Race
and Inequality on Main Street, published in August 2020, minority-owned small businesses have
been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus and the
accompanying economic fallout. According to polling conducted
for the report, two in three (66%) of minority-owned small
businesses were concerned about having to permanently close versus
57% for non-minority small businesses. Minority-owned businesses
are also slightly more likely to report trying and failing to
secure a loan to help survive the economic turmoil (14% versus 8%
of non-minority-owned businesses) linked to the coronavirus.
The Good Impressions program was founded by employees Sharuq
Alam and Peachy-Jean Retizos. Inspired by Meredith's commitment to
diversity, equity and inclusion, they knew that the company could
make a difference for these businesses through its industry-leading
advertising and marketing resources. Supported by executive sponsor
Ahu Terzi, Meredith VP of Corporate Beauty; Marketing Director
Christine Staley; Co-chair
Isabelle Gomez; and a committed team
of individuals from all levels of the organization, Alam was
thrilled to see this program materialize. "The Good Impressions
team members and I have been so inspired by these entrepreneurs.
Their innovation, drive, commitment and hard work prove that you
can make your dreams a reality while also doing something good for
society. I'm so glad Meredith can be a part of that."
To learn more about the Good Impressions program, visit
https://goodimpressionsbymeredith.com/
ABOUT MEREDITH CORPORATION
Meredith
Corporation (NYSE: MDP), a leading media company for
nearly 120 years, produces service journalism that engages
audiences with essential, inspiring, and trusted content. Meredith
reaches consumers where they are across multiple platforms
including digital, video, magazine, and broadcast television.
Meredith's National Media Group reaches nearly 95 percent of all
U.S. women and more than 190 million unduplicated American
consumers every month through such iconic brands as PEOPLE, Better
Homes & Gardens, Allrecipes, Southern Living, and REAL SIMPLE.
Meredith's premium digital network reaches more than 150 million
consumers each month. The Company is the No. 1 U.S. magazine
operator with 36 million subscribers and the No. 2 global licensor
with robust brand licensing activities that include a Better Homes
& Gardens partnership with Walmart. Meredith's Local Media
Group portfolio includes 17 television stations reaching 11 percent
of U.S. households and 30 million viewers. Meredith's portfolio is
concentrated in large, fast-growing markets, with seven stations in
the nation's Top 25 markets, including Atlanta, Phoenix, St.
Louis, and Portland, and 13 stations in the Top 50.
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SOURCE Meredith Corporation