Black Paper Party on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost and where to buy inclusive holiday wrapping paper
BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS: Three NWA women decided to form the Black Paper Party in response to the cultural flashpoints of 2020, which included the Covid-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd. The partners' first idea was to create Christmas wrapping paper featuring images of Black people — a basic idea that has mostly gone unnoticed by the usual gift-giving industry.
Jasmine Hudson, J'Aaron Merchant, and Madia Willis will appear on ABC's 'Shark Tank' on Friday at 8 PM. They couldn't talk about the conclusion of the pre-recorded "pitch-for-investment" competition until after it aired.
In 2020, Black adults comprised approximately 12.4% of the US population, but just 3% of the nation's companies were Black-owned. Since 2020, Black Paper Party's goods have expanded to include pottery, stockings, apparel, and decorations – around 200 things all portraying Black people.
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What is Black Paper Party?
A group of strong Black women has taken the lead in reshaping the landscape of Christmas décor. The Black Paper Party's creators, J'aaron, Jasmine, and Madia, identified a void in the market for real and varied holiday depictions.
They began a journey to bring their idea to reality, developing a brand that honors Black families throughout the holiday season, fueled by their backgrounds in retail and drawing.
The adventure began with a simple yet significant question: Why should gift-wrapping paper images always look the same?
With a dedication to diversity and authenticity, the trio sets out to incorporate more Black depictions into the magnificent tapestry of Christmas iconography. Each piece represents the spirit of variety, from award-winning artwork to luxury wrapping paper, gift bags, decorations, greeting cards, and décor.
In addition to its existing designs, Black Paper Party plans to introduce new items in 2023, such as seasonal ceramics for magnificent table-top pieces, one-of-a-kind holiday stockings for a festive mantle, and metallic gift wrap with foil graphics to enrich the gift-giving experience.
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Who are the founders of Black Paper Party?
The Black Paper Party team takes delight in creating items that speak to its consumers, assisting them in creating holiday memories filled with excitement and a genuine feeling of belonging. Customers' heartwarming experiences demonstrate the significance of seeing themselves mirrored in the designs, turning the effort into a labor of love with a significant return.
Jasmine Hudson
Jasmine is a retail entrepreneur with a proven track record of establishing, launching, and expanding significant national brands and goods. She was born and raised in Cincinnati, and she graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in e-commerce and supply chain management.
After graduating, the now chief merchant of Black Paper Party joined the Walmart team, where she had many responsibilities in merchandising, including buying and financial planning for portfolios worth more than $2.3 billion in yearly sales.
J'Aaron Merchant
J'Aaron became the Black Paper Party artist because she is passionate about diversity representation through visual storytelling and digital media. J'Aaron, who is originally from the United States Virgin Islands, received her BFA from Savannah State University and studied animation at the Savannah College of Art & Design.
The CCO has created characters and storylines that represent the current world for Disney, Sesame Street, and PBS Kids. J'Aaron also helps at Havenwood, a two-year program that assists single moms in overcoming the barriers that contribute to homelessness while simultaneously providing transitional housing for their families as they prepare for economic self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
Madia Willis
Madia is a Liberian-American designer and business owner based in Washington, DC. She earned her BA from Columbia University and fell in love with fashion and textiles while studying abroad in Ghana, where she subsequently returned to create the Biribelle apparel brand.
Madia pursued her textile design studies at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London, Drexel University, and Philadelphia University. The CEO later worked as a textile designer at Target while simultaneously working as the creative director of Retention Strategy, influencing ways to help Minneapolis become a more diverse town.
Madia subsequently moved on to product development and sourcing jobs at Walmart, where she successfully built a $1 billion children's brand, and Five Below, where she generated trends and produced seasonal, home, and stationary items.
According to Jasmine and J'Aaron, their target market is bigger than the Black population, since churches, organizations, and adoptive parents who wish to be inclusive buy their items as well. They see the potential for it to extend to other important events such as birthdays, Valentine's Day, and so on.
What is the cost and how to buy Black Paper Party?
The items are not just confined to the Christmas season. They want to release black and brown-themed goods for additional occasions, such as Easter and Valentine's Day.
Their pricing is on the higher end, at roughly $10 per roll of wrapping paper, but they look to be selling as they are out of stock on several goods just days before their first air date.
On Instagram, users have left positive comments like, "One of my fav brands! So excited to see them here."
Another user chimed in, "I’ll take 2! Love them ❤️."
Some customers have also noted, "I love @blackpaperparty !! It’s so nice to finally have inclusion and representation in the holiday market."
A fourth user commented, "Just spent a stack on your products this weekend !!! I was so excited to see them in Macy’s and Walmart !!!! Thank you !!!!"
One user also wrote, "I purchased mine and said YEA when my order came in the mail! Love my purchase, Cheers~!😍"
Another customer mentioned, "These look great! I can't wait to see what paper designs you have this year! I used your papers a lot last year! Nice quality and beautiful designs!!!"
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Where is Black Paper Party now?
The launch of the Soul Christmas collection in 2023 is a highlight, paying homage to the 1970s era with sophisticated designs with a nostalgic touch. This collection expands on Black Paper Party's mission to showcase and celebrate the rich tapestry of Black culture.
Walmart, Target, Macy's, Dollar General, CVS, and Family Dollar have all formed exclusive relationships with Black Paper Party. These collaborations help spread the word about the brand's distinctive seasonal offers.
Walmart's exclusive Home for the Holidays line embraces the classic Christmas mood, while a new Home Fragrance collection includes aromas common to festive Black households. The Mudcloth Christmas collection, which incorporates African-inspired patterns on gift bags and wrap, is available at Target.
For spreading Christmas cheer, Macy's sells Black Paper Party wraps and bags. Dollar General launches family pajamas and a new diaspora-themed paper partyware range.
In 2023, CVS stores nationwide will sell Black Paper Party gift bags and wraps for a festive touch.
Not only has Black Paper Party changed Christmas décor, but it has also become a symbol of joy, inclusion, and representation. As the brand grows and expands its reach, it is positioned to have a long-lasting influence on how we celebrate and decorate around the most important times of the year.
Black Paper Party is more than just a brand; it's a movement aimed at making the Christmas season more diverse and inclusive.
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Who will steal the deal?
On Friday's episode, the three will compete for investments from a group of judges known as "sharks". The episode features Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, and Daymond John as judges.
Lori Greiner may show interest in making an investment.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 Episode 8 airs on ABC on Friday, December 8, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like The Tomte Cake, Snow in Seconds, Pick Up Bricks, and Black Paper Party.
For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.