Image: courtesy of Walmart
EBONY, in conjunction with Walmart, is highlighting a series of Black female entrepreneurs that represent the new guard in business through innovative product offerings that address the unique needs of communities of color and beyond.
Dr. Lisa Williams is a lover of education. “I loved education so I kept going and going until ultimately I got my PhD,” shares Williams, who was the first African American female to receive a doctorate degree from Ohio State University. As an acclaimed academic, she discovered in one of her studies that a Black child oftentimes did not want to play with a Black doll because the doll’s coloring was found to be off-putting in comparison to its white counterpart. Williams was disturbed by this and decided to do something about it. She started The Fresh Dolls, a brand that offers an array of stylish multicultural dolls to children and collectors.
With no real knowledge of how to start her new business venture and with no real seed money, Williams searched the internet looking for how dolls were made and where she could get them produced. Soon after, she connected with a manufacturer based in China and convinced it to produce her doll line with custom facial features, body shapes and realistic skin tones that reflect our diverse community. She also asked them to make doll manes in a variety of textures that can be washed, braided or twisted out. She wanted her creations to be made in the likeness and diverse richness of the beauty of women of color.
Your child deserves to have a toy that looks like them. Pick up a Fresh Doll at walmart.com.
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EBONY, in collaboration with Walmart, is proud to present SheEO, an ongoing series that highlights the inspirational and dynamic stories of Walmart’s Black women business partners. Watch this episode of SheEO featuring trailblazer Dr. Lisa as she discusses what it was like to launch her brand, The Fresh dolls.