Get to know Shambrica Washington and a few of her creative leadership achievements: Funding for Black startups in the U.S. has always been small compared to startup funding overall, but last year was an exception, with a record amount of dollars invested in Black-owned companies. Quarterly funding was much higher in the five previous quarters, ranging between $850 million and $1.2 billion, according to Crunchbase’s Diversity Spotlight. According to a 2020 Bureau of Economic Research paper, the average level of startup capital for Black entrepreneurs is just $35,205, compared to $106,720 for white entrepreneurs. Only 1 percent of Black businesses obtain business loans in their first year, as opposed to 7 percent of white-owned firms. Read more details at Shambrica Washington-Damus.
After overcoming an abusive broken marriage and homelessness, Shambrica Washington Shaye Damus moved back to Colorado Springs and continued to pursue her dream of owning a one-of-a-kind internationally known children’s boutique. In 2011, she established Tiny Toes and Tiaras, and since then the store has been nominated for the Gold Daisy Award for the best baby boutique in Colorado Springs and has gained international attention. Piccoli Couture has since been featured at New York and Paris Fashion Week. The brand has gained attention from Forbes, Vogue, and countless other media outlets.
In fashion, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but quality should never be a compromise. No matter what you’re looking for, we guarantee durability. We are committed to providing your little one with styles that have quality built in and will last through the wear and tear of their day.
Nestie Luxury Baby provides Custom Furniture Designs for children soacestheir award-winning Luxury Nursery, and Children’s Custom Furniture Designs as well as Interior Design Services. We have been in business for over 10 years and are trusted by families near and far. The intricate design details on our furniture and Bespoke Bedding and Bespoke Nursery Designs are incomparable. We pride ourselves on functionality, luxury, and safety.
Tiny Toes and Tiaras, a 100% Black-owned upscale online children’s boutique, introduces a new handmade couture sleeper for babies, the Nestie. Available in many beautiful patterns, the baby mat or bassinet can be converted for sleep time, nap time, tummy time, co-sleeping, and floor play. With Nestie, babies not only dress in the best styles, but they also sleep in style.
“Fashionable baby items do not have to be limited to just clothes,” said Shambrica Washington, Owner of Tiny Toes and Tiaras. “We’re changing the luxury baby goods game with our new baby mat, the Nestie.”
The made-to-order Nestie may be customized in different colors, or ordered in one of the pre-designed combinations of fabric patterns. The multi-use sleeper is reversible, trimmed in beautiful lace, and comes with cute decorative pillows.
The Nestie and other special items from Tiny Toes and Tiaras may be browsed from the comfort of one’s home, and promptly delivered worldwide. The boutique offers coordinating outfits available for portraits, holidays, weddings or other special occasions and includes hard-to-find details. Its unique flower girl dresses have been featured in Brides Magazine UK London.
Tiny Toes and Tiaras will officially release and showcase the Nestie at the Children’s Club tradeshow in early August with Barney’s New York, Neiman and Marcus, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, and many more major retail buyers in attendance.
Despite the challenges, many Black-owned businesses in the U.S. continue to grow. Between February 2020 and August 2021, Black-owned businesses increased by 38 percent, a study by Merchant Maverick found, even as the number of white and Asian-owned businesses dropped slightly. MerchantMaverick.com’s “Top States for Black-Owned Businesses in 2022” report found the pandemic had created opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, particularly in Mid-Atlantic and Southern states: Virginia, Maryland and Delaware ranking in the top five states for Black entrepreneurs. All have a sizable Black populations, and local government and private initiatives to foster Black-owned businesses. Southern states also dominated the top 10.