Black Business Spotlight | THREE THINGS

Throughout the summer, the New Jersey Devils and their partners, Atlantic Tomorrow's Office and Konica-Minolta, have highlighted various Black-owned businesses in Northern New Jersey. Whether it's bakeries, moving companies or cinemas, this summer series has you covered with new businesses to support.
We are taking a closer look at the first three companies featured in this week's Three Things.

1. Dirty Soles

When you go on the Dirty Soles website, it says "we do shoes + more." That's an understatement for the impact this company has in the Newark community. Dirty Soles started as a shoe manufacturing company by Cory and Tasha Strong, combining their 20 years of experience in footwear and fashion. The company is involved in various areas around footwear including manufacturings, sales, marketing, social media and business development.
In addition, Dirty Soles also has a popular Art of Shoemaking class where Cory and Tasha pass along their knowledge to the next generation. Through this class, the students learn how to create a shoe from the ground up, and all parts of the footwear industry. Some of their students creations are featured in the company's storefront, Studio Sole, in Newark. The space is a retail location displaying shoes and art, in addition to being a place for those who need to visit and take a free pair of shoes donated by members in the community.
Dirty Soles is a majority, Black woman owned, corporation with a storefront that is the first Black-owned sneaker consignment shop in Newark. For more on this company, the full Black Business Spotlight presented by Atlantic, Tomorrow's Office is below.

2. Brantley Bros. Moving and Storage Company

What started as a $1 purchase for a Dodge truck turned into one of the largest Black-owned and operated moving and storage companies in the United States. In 1967, Malachia Brantley started this Newark-based moving company and years later his son continues to run the family business.
Brantley Bros. handles commercial, residential, international and corporate household relocations. They also are able to provide storage in the 140,000 square feet of warehouse space. As a Newark-based business, Brantley Bros. knows the Northern New Jersey community well and is proud to be based out of Newark.
For more on the incredible story that launched this moving business, Brantley Bros.' full Black Business Spotlight, presented by Atlantic, Tomorrow's Office, is below.

3. BAM Desserts

Whether it's bundt cakes, cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cookies or more, BAM Desserts has you covered. The Black-owned business brings creativity, fresh ingredients, and love to each item made in the company's kitchen. Melissa L. Jenkins, owner of BAM Dessert, empowers her employees to bring their creativity and love for baking to a fun atmosphere. In addition, due to the open-concept kitchen, guests picking up baked goods at the store are able to see Melissa and her team creating the wonderful items for sale.
BAM Desserts also has a long track record working with other small businesses in the community to support and elevate each other. Whether it's working with local schools to help them fundraise with BAM Desserts, or encorporating a local vineyard's wine into cupcakes, BAM Desserts is all about its community.
To learn more about BAM Desserts, the culture of this shop, and the delicious treats available at the Somerset location watch the Black Business Spotlight presented by Konica Minolta below.