Skyview Concessions CEO, Apryl Stewart
We Buy Black and SheaMoisture have teamed up to bring the culture the Black Business Relief Fund. After reviewing 3588 applications carefully, we have settled on 20 awardees, each awarded a $5,000 grant. The 14th business is Skyview Concessions, an excellent business that is totally worthy of this honor.
Skyview Concessions, Inc., is a retail operator of duty free, specialty, and gift/news stores. Skyview currently operates in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Sacramento International Airport (SMF). The company’s ability to develop and maintain credible, longterm business relationships has resulted in joint venture partnerships that include duty free and luxury stores, including Jo Malone & Tom Ford brands with DFS and the Hudson Group; Specialty and Newsstand brands Spanx, CNBC, and Univision with Paradies-Lagardere; and California Pizza Kitchen, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Reilly’s and Urth Caffe and Bar with Areas, USA.

Skyview Concessions operates in airports and as such, has a front row seat to how the world moves: for good or evil. Over 300,000 humans are kidnapped and trafficked every year, a fact that far too many are unaware of. Skyview Concessions is unique in that the company supports the fight against human trafficking by hiring and empowering survivors. Skyview is also poised to take a stand in the prevention of trafficking with staff training while building public awareness of this critical issue. Skyview, as a company, is taking an active role to combat an issue that is global and indeed, particularly impactful to Black people across the diaspora.
Skyview’s business depends solely on passengers traveling, as their stores are located in airports. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, business has been crippled: stores have been shuttered due to very low passenger traffic. In fact, the company fears the potential impact of this pandemic will be even more harmful than 9/11. The company’s CEO is unsure of how she will pay basic expenses, such as mortgage and utilities. In addition, Skyview has been offered a new space at one if its airport locations but doesn’t currently have funding to fully cover the initial inventory.

Thanks to We Buy Black and SheaMoisture, Skyview Concessions has been given a boost. While the present moment is perilous, it is certain that air travel will eventually rebound. With this small grant, Skyview hopes to persevere and stay true to its mission and core values.