Groupon Partners with Rising Social Media Star Shermann “Dilla” Thomas to Celebrate August’s National Black Business Month
August 01 2022 - 9:15AM
Business Wire
Groupon featuring a collection of Black-owned
businesses and providing additional ways for merchants to reach
customers and access resources
Groupon, the trusted local marketplace where consumers go to buy
services and experiences that make life more interesting and
deliver boundless value, is teaming up with rising social media
star Shermann “Dilla” Thomas (@6figga_dilla on TikTok) to help
consumers discover and patronize, Black-owned businesses in their
hometown of Chicago and across the country during August’s National
Black Business Month. The annual celebration of Black-owned
businesses began in 2014 and this year’s event comes at a time when
macroeconomic challenges such as inflation, workforce shortages and
supply chain disruptions exacerbate the strain that minority-owned
businesses were already facing in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic.
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Groupon is teaming up with rising social
media star Shermann “Dilla” Thomas (@6figga_dilla on TikTok) to
help consumers discover and patronize, Black-owned businesses in
their hometown of Chicago and across the country during August’s
National Black Business Month. (Photo: Business Wire)
In 2020, Groupon saw a 400% increase in search traffic for the
term “Black-owned” and wants to leverage this consumer interest
into sustained growth for minority- and women-owned businesses.
As a result of the company’s 2021 National Black Business Month
campaign, these businesses saw a 23% increase in traffic
impressions and an 8% increase in units sold.
Chicago’s Original Tech Company and “TikTok Historian” Team
Up for Black Business
Groupon and Dilla – who is known as Chicago’s “TikTok Historian”
for the tours he conducts of predominantly Black neighborhoods on
Chicago’s South Side – are working together to promote and champion
Black businesses throughout the United States on the Groupon
marketplace and social media.
“At Groupon, we believe that strong, small businesses lead to
vibrant, healthy communities. While we’re encouraged by the early
results of our diverse merchant campaigns, we know there’s much
more work to be done,” said Jennifer Beugelmans, Groupon’s Chief
Communications Officer and executive sponsor of the company’s
Blacks and Allies employee resource group. “This is why we’re
throwing our support behind opportunities to uplift and showcase
Black entrepreneurs. We share Dilla’s passion and commitment to
telling the stories of underserved communities. That's why we're so
excited to drive economic development by helping these small
business owners reach new audiences.”
Mr. Thomas, who began Chicago Mahogany Tours in 2021, is devoted
to telling the story of Chicago’s Black history and showcasing
important community landmarks to this generation. His bi-weekly bus
tour is available for purchase on Groupon and has taken guests to
the DuSable Museum of African American History, the Wabash YMCA
(the birthplace of Black History Month), childhood homes of iconic
Black Chicagoans, Pilgrim Baptist Church (the birthplace of gospel
music) and so much more.
“As a Black entrepreneur, I appreciate the platform that
National Black Business Month provides me and others to tell our
stories about why we decided to launch our own businesses. Behind
every business, there is a human being who turned their dream into
a reality. What we’ve seen over the past few years is that these
businesses –– particularly those that are Black-owned –– don't have
the same access to the resources and support needed to make ends
meet during these tough economic times,” said Shermann “Dilla''
Thomas. “I’m excited to team up with Groupon to provide a bigger
platform to them during the month of August and create a lasting
boost of support!”
Groupon has a curated collection of Black-owned businesses
across the United States and will feature these merchants across
Groupon’s merchandising channels throughout the month of August.
Groupon will keep the collection live throughout the year to give
consumers the opportunity to make supporting these businesses part
of their everyday routine. To find Black-owned businesses that
you can support in your community, please visit
gr.pn/celebrate.
In addition to the company’s collaboration with Mr. Thomas,
Groupon is supporting Black-owned businesses in additional ways,
including:
- Groupon is a proud sponsor of Chicago’s Bud Billiken Parade and
Festival on August 13. Bud Billiken is historically the
second-largest parade in the United States and serves as an annual
celebration of Black culture and back to school on the city’s South
Side. During this year’s parade, Groupon will be partnering with
the Small Business Advocacy Council of Illinois (SBACIL) to present
a Small Business Resource Pavilion during the festival portion of
the Bud Billiken Parade. As part of this arrangement, Groupon will
enable Black-owned businesses and chambers of commerce from South-
and West-side neighborhoods to have a free presence at Bud Billiken
to connect with attendees and provide resources to small businesses
attending the event.
- Groupon will also honor Black Business Month globally for the
first time this year by sponsoring London’s Notting Hill Carnival
August 27-29. Notting Hill Carnival is the world’s 2nd largest
carnival behind the Rio Carnival in Brazil. Groupon’s Blacks &
Allies employee resource group will celebrate with a float and
branded swag for the parade. The carnival is a celebration of all
Black British culture and was organized to unify communities after
race riots due to the tragic, racially motivated murder of Kelso
Cochrane in 1959.
- Finally, Groupon is proud to continue the company’s ongoing
relationship with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO) to provide a forum and voice to Black-owned
businesses. Groupon and the DCEO are hosting a virtual panel
discussion: "What Can I Do? An Event Offering Tools to Help You
Engage, Support and Celebrate During Black Business Month and
Beyond." The discussion will take place on Aug. 17, 2022 from
10:00-11:30 a.m. CST and will bring together a national audience of
business, government and community leaders. For more information
about the Groupon and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity’s virtual panel, please visit this link.
"Groupon" is a trademark of Groupon, Inc., and "Groupon" is
registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other names used
may be trademarks owned by their respective holders.
About Groupon: Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is a trusted local
marketplace where consumers go to buy services and experiences that
make life more interesting and deliver boundless value.
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Groupon Alia Lewis Press@groupon.com
PR Tricia Sylvia groupon@allisonpr.com
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