The Quick Version
- Look for Glamazon Beauty in Target Beauty Studio: Kim Baker’s Black-founded complexion brand launched September 10 in more than 600 Target stores and on Target.com.
- Beyoncé’s Cécred hair care brand launched in the United Kingdom on September 22 through an exclusive deal with Space NK.
- Savannah James joined Issa Rae as an investor in LOVB Los Angeles, and Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz launched a royalty program that helps visual artists get paid when their work is resold.
- The best way to support these Black business wins is to buy, review, share and learn from the playbook behind each one.
September has delivered a run of good news for Black entrepreneurs and investors, from store shelves to sports ownership to the auction block. These Black business wins are worth celebrating, but they are also worth studying. Each one shows a different path to scale: a retail launch built on a clear product system, a global expansion, a stake in a fast-growing women’s league and a new model that pays artists what they are owed. Here are four wins from the last few weeks, what happened, and how you can support them and borrow their playbooks.
The backdrop is encouraging, too. The Census Bureau reported on September 15 that real median household income hit a record $87,460 in 2025, and that median income for Black households rose 4.8 percent from 2024. The bureau noted the differences in growth among racial and ethnic groups were not statistically significant, and the income gap remains wide. Still, more money in Black households means more power to back Black businesses.
1. Glamazon Beauty Lands in 600 Target Stores
On August 26, Target announced Target Beauty Studio, a new beauty shop featuring 90 prestige, emerging and global brands that opened September 10 in more than 600 stores and online. One of the founders Target spotlighted in its launch feature is Kim Baker, the celebrity makeup artist behind Glamazon Beauty.
According to The Baltimore Times, the Baltimore-based Baker founded Glamazon in 2017 and relaunched it in 2021 after two decades as a Wilhelmina model. As a woman of color on photo sets, she often brought her own makeup because artists lacked the products for her complexion. That experience shaped the brand’s signature idea, which it calls Makeup’s First Roadmap: an at-shelf system that guides shoppers from foundation shade to matching concealer and powder.
The win matters because representation in the new section is thin. TheGrio reported that Glamazon and Briogeo, founded by Nancy Twine, were the only two Black-owned brands among the 90.
How to support: Buy it in store if it fits your routine, leave an honest review on Target.com and ask your local store to keep it stocked. In retail, repeat purchases and reviews decide who stays on the shelf.
What to learn: Baker entered retail with a system that solves a real shopper problem, shade matching, rather than a single hero product. Retail buyers look for a clear reason a customer will choose you.
2. Cécred Crosses the Atlantic
Beyoncé’s hair care brand Cécred launched in the United Kingdom on September 22 through an exclusive partnership with Space NK, in stores and online, Cosmetics Business reported. The brand announced the news on Instagram on September 15.
Cécred debuted in February 2024 as an eight-piece line built around what it calls keratin recovery technology, then entered more than 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores in the United States in April 2025. Black Enterprise also reported that in May, Cécred and the BeyGOOD Foundation announced the third year of their fund, pledging $250,000 across the U.S. and UK to support hairstyling education and training.
What to learn: Cécred built a strong home market first, then expanded abroad with one exclusive retail partner. For smaller brands, a single strong retail relationship can open a new market with less risk than going everywhere at once.
3. Savannah James Joins the LOVB Los Angeles Ownership Group
Savannah James, entrepreneur and wife of LeBron James, has joined LOVB Los Angeles as an investor, Black Enterprise reported on September 18. She joins an ownership group that includes Issa Rae and is led by Alexis Ohanian through his firm Seven Seven Six, according to AfroTech. LOVB Los Angeles will be League One Volleyball’s seventh franchise, playing home games at Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
James said her daughter inspired the move. “I’ve seen firsthand through my daughter Zhuri how powerful volleyball can be for young girls, the confidence, discipline and sense of community it creates,” she said, as quoted by Yahoo Sports.
How to support: The team scheduled its official name, logo and brand identity reveal for September 25, with a Fan Fest on September 26. Follow along, bring a young athlete and buy a ticket when the season opens.
What to learn: Ownership, not just endorsement, is where long-term wealth in sports is built. You do not need to buy a team to learn the model. Start by studying how these ownership groups are structured.
4. Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz Help Artists Get Paid on Resales
On September 9, Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Alicia Keys partnered with auction house Bonhams on a voluntary resale royalty program that lets sellers direct part of a sale to the original artist, The Art Newspaper reported. Consignors commit at least 1 percent of the hammer price or $500, whichever is greater, and Bonhams matches the contribution. The program launches ahead of Bonhams’ November sales in New York.
Why it matters: when a painting resells for millions, the artist in the United States usually gets nothing. More than 90 countries recognize resale royalties for visual artists, but the U.S. does not. The Deans are pushing the market to pay creators without waiting for a new law. You can read Bonhams’ announcement for the details.
What to learn: If you are an artist, keep records of every sale and ask galleries about resale terms in your contracts. If you collect, even at a small level, ask how the artist benefits.
How to Turn Black Business Wins Into Your Next Move
- Spend with intention. Check Target’s Black-owned or founded brands page and put your regular purchases toward brands you want to see stay.
- Review and share. A five-minute review does more for a small brand than a like. Tag the founder when you post.
- Study the funding picture. BCN’s report on how Black founders raised $643 million in early 2026 shows where capital is flowing.
- Find your own seed money. Our list of small business grants for Black founders is a good place to start.
Wins like these do not happen by accident. They happen when founders build smart and customers show up. Pick one brand from this list to support this week, share this story with the entrepreneur in your life and keep an eye on BCN for the next round of Black business wins.