We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamillah R. Gabriel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamillah R., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I happened across the idea and started to consider having a side hustle. I thought the business could also be a creative outlet while leaving a positive impact on the publishing industry.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Call Number is the library-inspired quarterly book box celebrating contemporary Black literature and authors of the African diaspora. Boxes come in a choice of four different genres: fiction, nonfiction, young adult, and indie (featuring independent and self-published authors). What makes us different are the special library touches and our dedication to showcasing the work of Black authors and entrepreneurs in our boxes, The road to success is a long and winding one, so it has not been easy and it’s one we continue to travel along towards becoming the premier Black literature box. There have been and continue to be challenges but the key is to be flexible and be prepared to pivot whenever the need arises. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this entrepreneurial journey is that staying focused on the vision will help you achieve the goals you have for the business.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many thanks to Babson College’s Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Buy from a Black Woman, and the Black Owned Subscription Boxes Facebook group for all of the support and mentorship they’ve provided,

Website: www.callnumberbox.com

Instagram: instagram.com/callnumberbox.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/callnumberbox

Twitter: twitter.com/callnumberbox.com

Facebook: facebook.com/callnumberbox.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.