With black and ethnic minority workers facing a Covid unemployment crisis, many of us want to do more to support black businesses but have little more than word of mouth to point us in the right direction. This is where online marketplace Wakuda comes in. Founded by Londoners Albert Larter and Nathaniel Wade, both 29, think of Wakuda as the Etsy for black brands.
Filled with over 120 small businesses, some being run by one to two-people, shoppers can pick up handwoven masks and headwraps, hand-crafted jewellery and homemade organic soaps. The model appeals to people who would rather support independents than throw yet more cash at behemoths like Amazon.