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It’s no secret that the retail and consumer industry is shifting toward conscious consumerism. Instead of unemotional transactions, consumers want meaningful, thoughtful connections to products and companies. Shoppers increasingly choose to support smaller independent businesses from diverse communities with steadfast values and principles. Faire proudly works with entrepreneurs from across the globe to help share their stories and grow their businesses, and we recently spoke with the artists behind two Black-owned brands to learn more about their journeys as small business owners.
Graphic Anthology began as a creative outlet for founder Genesis Duncan in 2010. While caring for an ill family member, Duncan started designing art prints to uplift and inspire heartfelt connections. Since then, Graphic Anthology creates simple and cheerful illustrated cards and prints that help people express themselves and spread love.
Multidisciplinary artist Rinny Perkins started making collages and self-publishing zines in 2017, which evolved into the full-fledged shop celebrating identity, sexuality, and mental health known as Brownie Points. From jewelry and clothing to pins, prints, candles, and stickers, Brownie Points inspires complete self-expression and sparks total confidence, with Perkins leading the charge.
We spoke to Genesis Duncan and Rinny Perkins about the inspiration behind their businesses and their experience as entrepreneurs.
Graphic Anthology
Faire: What inspired you to start your business? Did you always want to own your own business?
Genesis Duncan: Graphic Anthology started as a creative outlet when I became a full-time caregiver for a family member. I needed a way to process all the complex feelings going on and decided to sell some stuff to make a little money while staying home. It all grew from there.
It’s not surprising that I own a business. Both my parents were self-employed, so it wasn’t a foreign concept to me. I just didn’t set out to own a greeting card company.
Faire: Where do you gather inspiration for your illustrations?
GD: Inspiration comes from all over! Walks through my neighborhood, travel, patterns, anything I get obsessed with inspires me. I’m a highly visual person, so most of my day is spent just looking at and absorbing detail.
Faire: When did you decide to move into wholesale? What’s that journey been like for you?
GD: In 2016, I began formalizing my wholesale business and started exhibiting at trade shows a year later. During my first big show at Las Vegas Market in 2017, I met a Faire rep who convinced me to sign up that year. It’s been steady growth since then. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some nationwide retailers, but the bulk of my customers are still small independent retailers.
Faire: What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
GD: Managing growth is the biggest challenge I’ve faced. 2021 was a huge year, and we grew a little too quickly. Like with many small businesses, we struggled to keep up and had some supply chain issues. I spent a lot of time putting out proverbial fires, instead of strategically planning for the future.
Ultimately, we were able to manage the growth, and now I know how to handle growth challenges in the future.
Faire: What’s been the most rewarding thing about owning this business?
GD: I like that I can design something, get it into production, and put it for sale within a couple of weeks. That’s amazing! It’s like magic. When I get samples back, it feels like Christmas. I’m kind of addicted to that feeling!
Faire: What kind of impact do you hope your work has on others?
GD: What I love the most about greeting cards is that they help people nurture their relationships and communicate with one another. You feel good sending one, and the recipient feels excellent receiving one. It’s a win-win!
I hope that people engage with our cards and share them with people they love in a way that spreads joy, hope, and care in their families and communities. I know it’s a romantic notion, but I believe that if more of us sent cards and acknowledged the people in our lives, we’d all be better for it.
Faire: What tips or tricks of the trade have worked for you along your journey that you’d offer to hopeful entrepreneurs?
GD: I’ll be the first to admit that I’m still figuring things out daily. My first tip is to ask for help when you need it. Also, once you find what you do well, go deep. Make a good product that your customers want, and if you want to do wholesale, make sure it’s scalable and sustainable.
Shop Graphic Anthology on Faire.
Brownie Points
Faire: What inspired you to start your business? Did you always want to own your own business?
Rinny Perkins: When I was seven, I wanted to be a figure skater. But creating Brownie Points was a natural progression for me. I started out just selling self-published zines, and it naturally progressed into the business I have today.
Faire: Where do you gather inspiration for your designs?
RP: Designing gives me an outlet for my experiences, and everything I create is based on my real life.
Faire: When did you decide to move into wholesale? What’s that journey been like for you?
RP: We started selling products wholesale after one year in 2018. It’s been a cool opportunity to connect with retailers and other small businesses who get it. I think it’s really awesome to hear how products resonate with others across the country and sometimes in places I haven’t even been to.
Faire: What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a business owner?
RP: My biggest challenge is finding the balance between running a business, prioritizing mental health, and pursuing other creative interests. It’s not easy, and I’m not sure if I’ve found the balance yet. But in the words of rap artist GloRilla, “that’s why I love tomorrow!”
Faire: What’s been the most rewarding thing about owning this business?
RP: Brownie Points is something that’s authentically born from me, and seeing my work go from concept to product is such a surreal experience.
Faire: What kind of impact do you hope your work has on others?
RP: My hope is that Brownie Points will inspire folks to take up space.
Faire: What tips or tricks of the trade have worked for you along your journey that you’d offer to hopeful entrepreneurs?
RP: My advice is to ask for help, listen to your intuition, prioritize rest, and take a chance on yourself.
Faire: Anything else you’d like to share?
RP: My book, Not Everyone Is Going to Like You, is out April 25 via Kokila/Penguin Random House. Check it out!
Discover more Black-owned brands with our Black-Owned Businesses collection.
