Afro Unicorn, a conscious brand with a mission to celebrate women and children of color, launched a curated assortment of its party supplies and favors product line at Walmart. The line of more than 20 products joins the roster of party brands in over 1,500 stores and on Walmart.com. With this launch, April Showers, the Founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn shatters the glass ceiling. She becomes one of the first Black female-owned businesses to enter Walmart’s celebrations party category.
The new collection
The new line from Afro Unicorn features everything you need to throw the most magical unicorn party, celebrate a birthday or graduation, host a summer barbecue or commemorate both big and small milestones. Products include party staples like plates, napkins, balloons, decorations and pinatas. Other highlights from the brand include unique favors like multi-color faux hair clips, sequin journals and an Afro Unicorn stuffed animal. These colorful products were created to speak directly to the Black community.
“As the world’s largest retailer, Walmart continues to build an inclusive supply chain that reflects our customers and provides products and services that resonate and meet our customers’ needs,” said Laura Rush, senior vice president of entertainment, toys and seasonal at Walmart. “We are excited to have another Black-owned business join our supplier community and warmly welcome Afro Unicorn™ to the fold. We look forward to our customers celebrating life milestones with these great new products.”
The unicorn features an afro-style mane and comes in a range of Black shades (vanilla, caramel, and mocha). Showers said it was important for the unicorn to come in more than one shade. This is to mirror the array of Black complexions of her customers. April knows first-hand how important representation matters on store shelves.
The main goal
“My main goal for Afro Unicorn is to ensure Black girls and women feel unique, divine and magical,” said Showers. “My business is more than a line of products. It’s a movement to make sure Black people are represented and have a seat at the table. I’m grateful Walmart understands how important this is and gave me that seat at the table. Now, millions of little girls will grow up with products on store shelves that represent and celebrate them.”
The lifestyle brand is already making an impact by empowering underrepresented Black women and young girls to embrace their beauty. They launched in 2019 as a direct-to-consumer ecommerce business. The collaboration with Walmart marks Afro Unicorn’s first move into retail. Products are available on in-store shelves nationwide and in Puerto Rico. They are next to iconic children’s brands in the party aisle allowing millions of little girls to see themselves and their beauty in a Black unicorn.
Afro Unicorn Apparel
The Afro Unicorn brand will expand into apparel at more than 3,800 Walmart stores. This is taking place in June 2022 offering two cute styles of leggings and shirts for girls. The brand has additional category launches at Walmart, including holidays, planned for later in the year. Showers has also signed multiple licensing deals.
Showers credits her dedicated online community for getting her foot in the door at Walmart after a video went viral featuring a 4-year-old girl wearing an Afro Unicorn t-shirt. Numerous celebrities, including Oprah, Viola Davis and Tina Knowles shared the viral video. It then caught the eye of a Walmart associate. That inspired the Walmart merchant to reach out to April about a possible collaboration with the retail giant.
About Afro Unicorn
Founded by trailblazing entrepreneur and CEO April Showers, Afro Unicorn is a conscious brand with the mission to positively uplift and impact unique powerful women and children of color. Afro Unicorn serves as a powerful representation of the beauty and uniqueness of vanilla, caramel and mocha complexions. From clothing and accessories to educational resources, Afro Unicorn provides women and children with the confidence they need to embrace who they are–unique, divine and magical. With the June 2022 launch of party supplies and accessories, Afro Unicorn is one of the first Black female-owned brands to launch in Celebrations at Walmart. More exciting launches are in the pipeline and they are dedicated to promoting representation to consumers nationwide. For more information, please visit www.afrounicorn.com or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook.
In addition to products, Afro Unicorn’s online community is the heart of the brand and includes influencers and celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Tiffany Haddish, Sherri Shepherd, female entrepreneurs and more.
Want to read more about Black female-owned businesses? Read about the Rise Up Award Ceremony Celebrates Black Female Entrepreneurial Excellence!
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