by Mary Spiller
24 August 2024
The Black United Fund teamed up with Ikea for teenagers to pitch their business proposal.
A new program in southeast Michigan is giving Canton kids opportunities. The Black United Fund brings teenagers to Ikea and gives them the opportunity to pitch their self-made business proposals to the stores’ receptive management teams.
One of the judges for the program sat down with WXYZ News to talk to program participants about the new opportunity.
Future entrepreneur and program winner Brendan White, in Grade 11, opened up about his plans for the future.
“I want to own my own real estate agency and start a ton of passive income — like vending machine businesses,” he said.
Brendan recognized the importance of making a good impression on the Ikea board and did not take the meeting lightly.
“I did a little research before I came today,” he told the magazine. “I felt like I had to make a big impression. I can get a little nervous, so I’m still working on that.”
On Aug. 22, he and 15 other high school students met in metro Detroit with Canton Ikea business leaders. They each pitched marketing ideas to potentially have them brought to life by the multimillion-dollar company as part of their Retail Business Program — which is partnering with the Black United Fund to make it all happen.
BUF member Carlotta Tutt Holloway explained: “We wanted to make sure they learn from some of the best retailers.”
She continued, “A lot of students aren’t actually aware of these types of opportunities, so we wanted to make sure that they can do this, aware that they can be marketing experts, aware that they can start their own business.”
The program is one week long and focuses on representation, promotion of leadership and justice.
Ikea Area Marketing Manager Kevin Matthews added, “Originally being from the Detroit area. Being a little black kid who didn’t understand the types of jobs that were available in the creative space. It just felt like a good thing to do. To exposing other black and brown children to opportunities and jobs we may not know about.”
“I also just wanted to make sure there was representation of an African-American leader, so I felt it was important to be a part of that.”
Brendan won the contest by pitching an idea to bring Detroit rapper Skilla Baby to the store. He will spend the next year working with the furniture retailers to continue growing his business acumen.
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