Photo: Courtesy of Constance Panton
How she got her start: "Bifties Gifts started as a gift exchange in 2016 as a response to the killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, and countless others," Panton explains. "After four years of facilitating the gift exchange and dealing with perceptions that 'buying Black' was only a call to action for the Black community—[plus the] inability to find quality gifts/brands or poorly wrapped gifts (think: sending gifts in plastic containers)—Bifties was launched as an e-commerce store that makes gifting Black easy and convenient for anyone, regardless of race!"
What sets her company apart: Bifties is Black-owned and woman-led, and aims to build connections through gifting that can economically support other Black business owners, Panton notes—with the ultimate goal of keeping as much money in the Black community as possible. "Consumers and corporations gift with Bifties, Bifties buys from other Black-owned businesses, [and] all of us, in turn, invest in our communities and hire from our communities. It's a productive cycle," she says.
What innovation means to her: To Panton, it's about coming up with new ideas. "The concept of economically supporting multiple Black-owned businesses through gifting is a result of innovation," she says. "It is important that, as a company, we remain innovative—especially when the likelihood of the popularity of supporting Black-owned businesses, to those outside of the Black community, starts to wane. We have to remain open to new ideas and new ways to promote our business partners." 
Bifties donates 5% of its consumer gift box sales and marketplace sales to charitable organizations that are doing work in and for the Black community.Photo: Courtesy of Bifties Gifts
Career highlights: Panton cites partnering with the National Basketball Players Association and Google for their "Buy Black Friday" initiative, which reimagined Black Friday as a day to search, shop, and support Black-owned businesses. Another highlight? "Providing the gift boxes for honorees at the ESPN Humanitarian Awards," she says.
Her favorite thing about the industry: Panton loves helping bring joy to clients, consumers, and event attendees. "When I see the messages that accompany the gifts we provide, and read the sincere thoughts and good wishes people are sending to other people, it is an honor to be a part of that process," she says. "We're a part of the joy train!"
Back to the full list: Industry Innovators 2022: 13 Standout Event Vendors to Know About
