Get to know Jasmine Hudson. She is the co-founder of Black Paper Party, which specializes in holiday-themed gift-wrapping paper, bags, decor, and home goods.
She started her business just at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the wake of the George Floyd protests. The timing of the launch was important for the entrepreneur because she wanted to highlight Black joy during a somber time, she told The Enquirer.
The company, which she co-founded with Madia Willis and J’Aaron Merchant, seeks to bring more black representation to the holiday decor industry.
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“We decided to bring our powers together to create products that bring black joy to the market … and bring a smile to people’s faces, and also give them a lens to see themselves celebrated where they’re normally either underrepresented or not represented at all,” Hudson told The Enquirer.
Black Paper Party products are making waves across America and beyond. It is now available in Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and CVS stores, and online. For Hudson, the rapid growth of the company is largely because of the products’ authenticity as it relates to showcasing the Black experience.
The co-founders recently appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” where they secured a multi-thousand dollar investment deal. The business trio pitched investment opportunities to judges Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, and Daymond John.
After the end of their 45-minute presentation, the Black Paper Party owners made a deal with Corcoran for a $250,000 investment and 10% of their company.
“Whenever you’re an entrepreneur, you get bogged down with a lot of things that are going on, and you question whether you should keep going or not,” Hudson told The Enquirer. “Now that we have this investment from our specific shark, it just feels really good to know that we are on the right track.”
The business partners want to use the invested funds to expand the Black Paper Party product line through a Black History Month collection. This will include coloring books, puzzles, apparel, and more. Per The Enquirer, the new collection will be available in Dollar General and Kohl’s stores in February 2024.
What is more, the company also plans to offer summer birthday kits next year. The plan is to have everything needed to have a birthday party, including cups, plates, and photo backdrops.
“People are looking for what we’re bringing to the market. There’s interest in making sure that we grow and go bigger and bigger every single year,” Hudson added. “We don’t want to just be pigeonholed into Christmas. … Where we’re traditionally underrepresented, we want to bring that representation.”
