August is Black Business Month, an opportunity to patronize,
honor and celebrate Black-owned businesses. In the Spotlight this month are Sha'Ran Marshall, owner of Sha'Ran Studios and Jumar Newell, owner of Launcharts Media. These are just two examples of Black-owned businesses in Shaker Heights where customers can intentionally make the choice to focus on uplifting those who are often underrepresented in access to capital and wealth-building. Shopping Black-owned, local businesses matters!
Read
this article to learn more about the history of Black businesses.
All About Sha'Ran Studios
Sha’Ran Marshall, owner of Sha’Ran Studios, is grateful to wake up each morning so she can do what she loves most- dance!
This mom of three, originally from Toledo, Ohio, has been dancing for decades and decided to open her own studio because she had a passion to create an inclusive space where all people could celebrate their stories through music and movement regardless of religion, ethnicity, shape, size or gender. A goal of opening Sha’Ran Studios (originally named Dance by Sha’Ran) is to encourage dancers to “allow [themselves] to be any and everything in this space." Classes offered range from Hip Hop to Ballet but also include titles such as Salacious Stilletos, Werq and Beat Barre. With 13 classes to choose from, taught by one of her 9 instructors at various times throughout the day, Sha’Ran ensures that there is a dance method to get everyone on their feet!
Sha’Ran has a wide variety of dance experiences. She has taught at more than 30 dance studios, colleges, fitness facilities, and hospitals throughout Northeast Ohio. She is the owner of Dance by Sha’Ran LLC Studios, Artistic Director of Sha’Ran Studios, Creator of brands 216 Cardio, Salacious Stilettos, and Yo!Stretch, and Founder and President of the non-profit Urban Dance Collab. Sha’Ran currently teaches about 100 students, but has taught thousands of students over the course of her career.
Her advice for business owners, particularly those who run arts-related businesses is to, "...allow someone to mentor you on the business side of things so you can continue to be creative in the process." Whether its through Hip Hop, Jazz or even musical theater, Sha'Ran has the moves, in the office and on the floor, to make her business thrive.
An Interview with Jumar Newell, Launcharts Media
Please tell readers about yourself.
I was born and raised in Cleveland. I grew up on the east side, in the Glenville neighborhood. I'm from a large, loving family.
One of my first emerging talents was fine art including drawing and painting, which led me to an acceptance into Cleveland School of Arts which I attended from grades 6-12. I am a proud graduate.
While at CSA I became equally interested in creative writing, so when I went off to college at the University of Toledo that's what I majored in. I earned my bachelors in Creative Writing/Journalism.
I enjoy the arts, and I'm a music lover, movie buff and overall student of history and culture. I also am very family-oriented. I love being a husband and a dad.
What is Launcharts? When and why did you start it?
I worked in education and corporate before starting Launcharts Media, which began as a side business in 2014.
In the corporate/small business world, I was always the creative guy that needed to communicate the brand and operations both internally and outwardly. I paired my talents of visual art, creative writing, and the vastly grown accessibility of media.
The video messaging component became my biggest art form of it all, and was heavily sought after. I maintained the service of social media management as well, because I understood it and loved the challenge of riding the ever-changing wave of its buildout.
Launcharts Media produces a simple interpretation of marketing. We provide brand articulation with words and visuals, powered by high creativity so that it stands out.
In a nutshell, we're the creative people, that can also talk and understand business and that's a great space to stand in.
How many employees/interns do you have and what do they do?
Our team is really growing, between the creative marketing and admin team (we call them #TeamLaunchArts) and the video/photo production team (we call them #TheLaunchArtsCrew) there are about 7-10 people regularly staffed or contracted with us. We also maintain 1-2 interns every business quarter and they help out in all departments.
What do you want people to know about Launcharts?
That if you have a small business or a brand you should be having a conversation with us. We are focused on being a resource for YOU.
Launcharts is proud to be a Northeast Ohio brand, although we generate business and clients all over the nation. We want to further establish a foundation of growing the brands made here, to push our region further.
What advice can you offer to business owners that you wish you had known sooner and/or to those opening related businesses?
That this is truly a marathon and success doesn't happen overnight. I was aware of that, but now I'm well aware of it. The best advice I can offer is to create an annual business plan, and ultimately if you want to succeed in business, just don't quit.
What else would you like readers of this newsletter to know about Launcharts?
That we have a commercial building along the Chagrin-Lee Corridor and it's equipped with resources for area businesses and the Shaker community such as production studios for video content creation, and photography shoots. We also have an "urban courtyard" and a small party room that you can book for business related events.
Can you comment on what it means to you to be a Black business owner?
Black business owners are essential, both economically and socio-economically. We must always strive to establish leadership and representation in the free market, so that we not only inspire the next generation of black entrepreneurs, but do our best to generate wealth that they can inherit. Afterall, that's the American way.
