An Interview with Shantelle Lynette, Owner, That Brown Bag
Who are you & what is your business? How long have you been in business?
My name is Shantelle Patton AKA the Brown Bag Ladee, owner and operator of That Brown Bag Minority Business Directory. I started the directory in August 2018 in the hopes of providing a community resource that helps to enrich the quality of life for my community. In March 2022 I expanded to create the Brown Bag Business Association which is a membership-based group centered around providing information and support to the businesses listed within the publication.
Explain to us your business mission and goals.
That Brown Bag and Business Association have a mission of enhancing the quality of life for African Americans and the WNY community through economic development, education, workforce development, community development, and legislative advocacy, and a goal of expanding the consumer base of Black-owned businesses to promote longevity, self-sufficiency, and sustainability.
What products and/or services do you offer?
That Brown Bag provides an annually published hard copy and digital business directory concentrating on highlighting Black-owned businesses in and around Buffalo, NY. ‘The Bag’ also provides social media promotion for businesses through targeted cross-promotion and networking.
What made you want to pursue this type of business?
Small business is the backbone of any community. Seeing the need to support and reinforce the backbone of my neighborhood and of those around me is the fuel for this project. Seeing people who look like me in ownership keeps me going.
What makes you stand out from your competition?
Unlike others who have tried this, I didn’t start That Brown Bag looking to get rich quick or gain notoriety. Instead, I do this from a place of love, and I like to think it shows. I spend my spare time sharing other people’s businesses, going from storefront to storefront, vendor fair to vendor fair, and every networking event I can make an appearance at making sure the business owners have a face to put to the name and that they know I’m truly here to support them. I don’t ask them for discounts or free giveaways, I ask for the best service levels these businesses can give me, and they know they can put their trust in me for that very reason.