Small businesses have been dealing with the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the results of its economic pitfalls. Small businesses owned by people of color and women have especially experienced hardships during these unprecedented times.
Small businesses’ need for support amidst the obstacles posed by the pandemic is the inspiration behind the launch of Comcast RISE. Comcast RISE stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment” and is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched in June of 2020. The program is a multi-year commitment to providing marketing, creative, media, and technology services to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and women-owned small businesses. Comcast wants to help businesses not just survive but thrive.
We’re excited to celebrate Black Business Month and spotlight one of our RISE recipients, Oakland native and business owner Tamika Miller.
Tamika is an experienced freelance nail artist with over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, including eight years at the luxury Fairmont Hotel and Spa in Berkeley, California. Her work has been published in marketing campaigns for Apple, Nordstrom, Cosmopolitan magazine, and other notable print and digital publications.
Tamika initially discovered her love for the beauty industry after working as a shampoo assistant in a local salon. After several years, she noticed the lack of African American women in nail technician roles. She also realized that there were even fewer African American women-owned nail salons in the area.
The disparity of African American women nail salon owners sparked Tamika’s desire to challenge the status quo and level the playing field. After more than a decade in the beauty industry and witnessing the service gap between the resort experience and the traditional nail salon experience, Tamika decided to integrate her resort hospitality experience with the accessibility of traditional nail salons, inspiring her establishment of Cuticles Nail Spa. She is passionate about continuing education and training for herself and her team and providing client experiences that go beyond the basics.
Tamika’s dedication to her clients and her team has enabled her to develop a thriving business and a loyal clientele in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As Cuticles continues to evolve, Comcast supports Tamika in every step of her business growth. Here’s what Tamika has to share about her experience as a RISE recipient:
“Although the foundation of Cuticles is the brick-and-mortar location for quality spa services and products, the COVID-19 pandemic provided me the opportunity to pivot and launch our e-commerce and consulting business. We began generating digital engagement and product sales inspiring me to develop a signature line of Cuticles branded products called Clean by Cuticles. My vision for the Cuticles brand of products expands beyond Oakland, hopefully inspiring a global conversation about beauty products and sustainability. The technology makeover and $10,000 grant from Comcast RISE that I received last year helped me achieve that goal. I encourage other women and POC business owners to take advantage of this and any other programs. My passion for others to thrive in the world of beauty and hospitality has inspired me to launch Cure, a consulting company designed to share my 20-plus years of experience with coaching and consulting services for other nail technicians, new salon owners, and hotel/spa managers.”
Comcast RISE has awarded more than $16 million in grants and $75 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 9,500 entrepreneurs in 704 cities across 37 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, by receiving a monetary, technology or marketing grant.
Interested in supporting small businesses like Cuticle Nail Spa during Black Business Month? Visit the California RISE Map and Directory to find a small business near you.
