We had the good fortune of connecting with Kirsten White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kirsten, every day, we talk about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The spark responsible for the creation of The Black Market: Georgia is honestly just a genuine passion for highlighting as many credible, black-owned businesses as possible; especially ones that are still fairly new or the ones located outside of the perimeter. My original mindset has always been to shed light on the businesses that most may not know about yet because I genuinely want to see them grow and thrive.

The Black Market: GA is different from other black business apps for a multitude of reasons. The most important to me, however, is that it’s the only app that is Georgia-exclusive. I went this route simply because I used to get so frustrated using other black business apps prior to creating mine. They either weren’t user friendly, provided outdated business information, or only contained such a small number of black-owned businesses or categories in my neck of the woods that I’d be better off just doing my own Google search. That may make sense for some states, but we all know Georgia isnt one of them.
While the goal is to expand to other states in the future, I’m a team of one who has managed to be consistent & thorough in my development. The Black Market: Georgia has earned 14,000+ downloads and counting! I’m EXTREMELY proud of that!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love what I’ve created but I’d be lying if I said the creation and upkeep of my app didn’t have me ready to pull my hair out. It’s a labor of love that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Things like ensuring a business is reputable, making sure a business is actually black-owned, reading over user’s reviews of businesses already listed, and so on are very challenging; especially when working solo. I learned the hard way that the best way to overcome challenges you face is balance. Burnout hit me hard after I finally launched the app on the Google Play Store and App Store but it was my own fault. If I wasn’t working my 9 to 5, I was up all hours of the night working on The Black Market: GA. That type of schedule catches up to you after a while. I found my way back after a year and came up with a schedule that allowed time for work, play, and most importantly, rest.

The best lesson I’ve learned throughout bringing my app to life is that a closed mouth doesn’t get fed; I’m actually still learning this sometimes. I’ll be so wrapped up in the “what if’s” in my own head that I talk myself out of making a move altogether when it could’ve actually moved my vision forward. In short, I’m telling myself “no” for no reason other than doubt. I’ve improved on this by reminding myself that in a world where we (women, black people, POCs) get told “no” so often, we should never be on our own list telling ourselves “no”. Always tell yourself “yes”!

Simply put, I want the world to know that The Black Market: Georgia is here to stay. Collaborations and networking are the main focus areas for me in 2024. I want to encourage any black business in the state of Georgia to look into my platform if you’re looking to be placed in front of your local target market.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Some of my absolute favorite breakfast & brunch places are Forks & Flavors, Breakfast at Barney’s, Bomb Biscuit, & Breakfast Boys. If I’m looking to drink, a frozen margarita pitcher is my weakness and Zocalo has been my go-to spot to get that for years now.

When it comes to just doing something for fun, I’m a lover of all things artsy or live; open mics, karaoke, live bands, or museums just to name a few. Off the top of my head, places I’d highly recommend would be The Beverly, Hammonds House Museum, Black Dot Cultural Center, and The City Winery. When I’m trying to save my little coins, I’ll hit the Zucot Gallery, walk the Beltline, or attend a Paint N’ Sit ATL event.

Finally, I love enjoying a cocktail on a rooftop with amazing skyline views and a good book. Spaceman and St. Julep have become some of my favorite places to do that.

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?
I’m surrounded by some of the most supportive friends and family anyone could ever ask for. While it’s too many to list by name, I still want to give a collective thank you to my entire tribe for supporting my many ideas.

Website: https://linktr.ee/tbm.ga

Instagram: https://instagram.com/tbm.ga?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbm.georgia?_t=8hNFIrSO7B5&_r=1

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.