Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in books but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nia-Tayler Clark, Founder of BLACKLIT, located in Farmers Branch, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
For the past three years, my customers have been those that look like me. BLACKLIT has been home to the first monthly subscription box to exclusively highlight black authors and entrepreneurs, helping to support, promote, and bring visibility to black authors and black-owned businesses.
Inside every box, subscribers receive a book by a black author, a shirt, and 3-5 products from black-owned businesses. Founded by local educator and diversity/inclusion advocate Nia-Tayler Clark, BLACKLIT’s mission is to help close the literacy gap, increase representation, and cultivate conversations that bring unity across racial divides.
Tell us about yourself
I was 24 years old, and Tahj (my son) had just turned one when I came across my first collection of children’s books that were "by us, for us." I had the pleasure of dining at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C., and to say that I was happy was an understatement. I honestly felt like a kid in a candy store as I stood amazed by how many characters "looked like me" in their mini library. I am sure my excitement at finally seeing a positive representation of myself had me glowing.
Suddenly, I was rudely interrupted when I realized how long it took me to actually get to this moment. I instantly refused to let that be my son’s reality. Immediately, I gathered about five books for my son, and the BLACKLIT seed was officially planted. As I returned to my classroom of 10th graders in Dallas, I soon realized the correlation between the literacy gap and the lack of representation in literature. The turning point for me was when I literally had a student tell me, "I don’t read, Ms. I’m Black." It broke my heart.
But it also opened my eyes. It watered the seed. I was now officially on a mission to close the literacy gap and increase representation. BLACKLIT was started in 2019, in my tiny one-bedroom apartment, with my toddler on my hip. It wasn't just one moment that motivated me; it was the many times I had to look at the son I am raising, the students I serve, and the customers that support me daily. They matter, you matter, and representation matters.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
BLACKLIT has hit one of its biggest goals. We have opened one of three bookstores owned by black women. We created this space for people to come and shop at black-owned businesses, meet black authors, attend book clubs, and feel comfortable in their own skin. In due time, I will have the perfect pitch for my capital idea—and the funding that is needed.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
BLACKLIT grew from 100 to over 500 subscribers after appearing on Oprah. It was a blessing, but it also came with an abundance of growing pains. I was fulfilling orders one by one, by myself, in my apartment. At that time, I didn’t have access to wholesale pricing because I didn’t have many subscribers, and I couldn’t get a loan because my business was so new. Then there are the emotional and mental challenges of being an entrepreneur. I tried to ship out all those boxes on my own. It got so real, so fast. I ran out of products, I was late on shipping orders, and I couldn't answer customer service inquiries in less than 24 hours. That was a big learning lesson for me.
Now that I own a bookstore in the Dallas area, the challenge of hiring has become greater. You must ensure that you are building a team of people who share the same core values as BLACKLIT and its mission. We are looking for people who are dedicated to customer service and creating a welcoming environment for everyone who walks through the doors of BLACKLIT. BLACKLIT is creating a team to run our operations effectively, which will allow us to increase our capacity in production and sales.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Entrepreneurship has its ups and downs. There’s going to come a time when it seems like you have more reasons to quit than to keep going. At that moment, you have to have something bigger than yourself to prepare you for it, and my suggestion is that those going into business find that thing as soon as they can.
Whatever that thing is, find it now because I cannot tell you how many times I just wanted to stand in the shower for an hour and just cry or scream into my pillow, and that thing—that thing that’s bigger than me—just keeps going. It’s the thing that keeps you going when the money is tight, or you get those unkind emails. But it’s on those days that you find that thing that's going to propel you forward and keep you pushing.
When you set goals, give yourself grace. Those goals can be obtained little by little. My friend has a motto: "Once you dream, dream bigger." How you define success for your business will be different from the next entrepreneur. When I started this business, I knew that Blacklit was bigger than me.
Create a team that not only believes in you but believes in you and your mission. I am so grateful for mentors who have reminded me that not everything is going to be easy, and I made a decision to believe in myself enough to just keep going.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://iamblacklit.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamblacklit/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamblacklit/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niataylerclark/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.
