We had the good fortune of connecting with D’jatarya Powell & Jaida Day and we’ve shared our conversation below:

Hi D’jatarya, Jaida, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
While D’jatarya coming from a family of entrepreneurs influenced her to carry on the traditions, Jaida’s passion to fill a need of amplifying the presence of Black students on her college campus sparked her drive to join that world. Day’s business, Black Beauty Near You — an online beauty supply that provides products for Black students at Predominantly White Institutions, equally aims to collaborate with young Black business owners. When reaching out to collaborate with Powell’s brand, issaMOODT, an online accessory and apparel brand curated for and inspired by every mood, D’jatarya realized this new partnership could be bigger than just any collab. With the young and eclectic audience that Black Beauty Near You has established, the innovative and business-minded principles Powell has honed, and their collective desire to participate in the exposure and enrichment of young Black-business owners, Black Biz Flea Market was born!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Black Biz Flea Market was pitched in May of 2022 and debuted October of 2022. With college students being their biggest audience, Jaida and D’jatarya were adamant about starting the semester off right. They really pulled it together in a matter of four months, and that’s just a testament to their tremendous amount of teamwork and support of UCSD’s Black Resource Center and the Black Student Union at UCSD.

“I was so used to seeing events my mom and aunt put on growing up. Curating a space that brings people together, and seeing how much fun and opportunity it can create for the attendees, I began to grow a deep admiration for it. Coming out of the pandemic, I began to see the rise in pop-up shops and flea markets, music exhibitions and just so much fun being poured back into the world. I was definitely inspired by all the pop-ups being put on in L.A and other cities, amplifying Black expression, and I figured why not bring some home? San Diego has had their fair-share, but I just knew Jaida and I could put our own spin on it.” —- D’jatarya

“And put our spin on it we did. Imagine pulling up to a predominantly white institution and seeing a flea market full of businesses, performers, and hosts who look like you. The way the attendees’ faces lit up meant so much to me and the amazing feedback from our vendors is really what assured me that D’jatarya and I were doing something right.” – Jaida

Debuting this flea market leveraging our Black student audience makes us stand out. Our audience exceeds that, and we aim to showcase how much we’ve grown with our next event.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Jaida
Food: Laylah’s Jamaican Food
Views: The cliffs by Scripps at UCSD

D’jatarya
Food: Island Spice and The Village
Views: Del Mar Beach

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
D: My parents introducing me to the world of entrepreneurship— my mom in particular for always providing or pointing me in the right direction to the most helpful resources and my dad for embodying limitless ideas, the support of my loved-ones and strangers who were intentional about speaking life over me and my businesses, and the mentorship of experience.

J: My family and friends for keeping me afloat and always supporting and believing in me. A special shout out to all of the strong Black women in my family – they truly paved the way and showed me that with the love of God and family, I can do anything.

Website: linktr.ee/blackbizfleamarket

Instagram: @blackbizfleamarket, @coco.butterkisses, @aadiaaj

Other: IssaMoodt: – instagram: @issamoodt.shop – website: issamoodt.com Black Beauty Near You: – linktr.ee/blackbeautynearyou – website: www.blackbeautynearyou.com – instagram and tiktok: @blackbeautynearyou – twitter: @bbnearyou – email: bbnybusiness@gmail.com

Image Credits
D’twa Powell and D’jatarya Powell

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