Local business owners discuss COVID impact during National Black Business Month

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) --August is National Black Business Month.

A time to celebrate the importance of African-American businesses to the black community and beyond.

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New at 11: covid-19 is impacting black-owned businesses in middle georgia.

And while the outlook isn't all negative, local businesses owners say, their success all depends on the community backing them up.

41nbc's jatrissa wooten explains.

Pkg: master barber jeremy webb says he opened up his full service mobile barbershop 3 years ago.

He says when covid 19 hit and businesses shut down-- the support of his black customers kept his business alive.

Sot: jeremy webb owner webb's mobile barber/ "small business is important because that's how most of us survive is by small business so its very important to support" for webb's mobile barber shop, business actually increased during the pandemic, but the owner of a brookhaven lounge in macon-- darren ford-- says he wasn't as fortunate.

After opening up in february-- mandates forced the lounge to close 3 weeks later.

Sot: business is different.

Obviously i see the differnce in the numbers post covid versus pre covid.

Now that the lounge is reopen ford believes his business will recover.

Sot: it's been tough because we have to change how we do business now.

Publisher alex habersham's macon black pages keeps him connected to local black business owners and consumers.

Sot: alex habersham publisher macon black pages/ "african american consumer in central georgia spend 3.5 billion dollars a year" habersham advises businesses to stay competitive by providing great customer service.

The problems are addressable and solve-able if in fact we were to become more conscientious as it relates to black consumers.

He says the keys for business owners' survival are to do enough business and have access to capital.

Along with community support, which would benefit the community... "educationally, socially, c1 3 b13 spiritually, and politically" --especially in a pandemic.

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