Unleashing the Power of Black Creativity: Wayfair's Celebrate Black Makers
Wayfair, one of the largest online home goods retailers, has announced the launch of Celebrate Black Makers, a new initiative that recognizes and uplifts Black-owned businesses and their products. The goal of this initiative is to create a more equitable platform for underrepresented suppliers in the home industry, providing increased visibility and opportunities for growth.
Through Celebrate Black Makers, Wayfair has expanded its offering of home products from Black-owned businesses, making it easier for customers to shop these products on their website. Customers can now browse a curated selection through a dedicated landing page, a “Black-Owned or Designed” search filter, and an identifiable badge featured on applicable product description pages. The initiative also includes an ongoing series designed to spotlight the perspectives and stories of Black designers and makers.
“At Wayfair, we believe change starts at home - and that includes how we partner with our suppliers to create a more equitable platform for Home,” noted Shardé Marchewski, Wayfair’s head of Supplier Diversity. “Through Celebrate Black Makers, we hope our diverse customer base will have the opportunity to shop everyday products for their homes made by Black designers and makers, while also exploring the many unique styles and design aesthetics available to them on our platform.”
At the heart of this offering is Wayfair’s suppliers. The company has established Supplier Diversity @ Wayfair, a program designed in partnership with traditionally underrepresented suppliers to support them through dedicated resources tailored to their businesses. Black-owned suppliers, in particular, represent those who have steadfastly pursued their passions despite setbacks and inequities still very much in existence today. Wayfair is committed to working with its Black-owned suppliers to grow and thrive together.
“Our goal is that this program will not only support our mission to help everyone, anywhere create their feeling of home, but also drive meaningful impact to these suppliers’ businesses and create additional momentum for others in our industry to further DEI in their commercial strategies,” continued Marchewski.
Celebrate Black Makers is just the first of Wayfair’s supplier diversity initiatives, and the company is committed to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion across all aspects of their organization. Wayfair’s dedication to creating a more equitable platform for home goods suppliers is a significant step in the right direction for the home industry, and we can only hope that other retailers follow suit. Learn more.