# Brand Building:  She built the first Black woman-owned, fully licensed character brand in major retail.

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class-991829/brand-building-she-built-the-first-black-woman-owned-fully-licensed-character-brand-in-major-retail
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class-991829/brand-building-she-built-the-first-black-woman-owned-fully-licensed-character-brand-in-major-retail.md
Podcast: [Money Making Conversations Master Class](https://stenobird.com/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class-991829)
Published: 2026-05-15T19:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://omny.fm/shows/money-making-conversations-master-class-1/brand-building-she-built-the-first-black-woman-owned-fully-licensed-character-brand-in-major-retail
Audio file: https://podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.omny.fm/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/b1db7263-d1a3-4d00-8976-af62012aab44/8ca251e3-ed09-4513-b714-b4410105a334/audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=35a10561-3e1b-4d05-a529-af62012aab6a
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/money-making-conversations-master-class-991829/episodes/brand-building-she-built-the-first-black-woman-owned-fully-licensed-character-brand-in-major-retail
Duration seconds: 1768

## Resource

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on  iHeartRadio ,  Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify , www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed April Showers. Founder of Afro Unicorn , joins Money Making Conversations Masterclass to share how she built the first Black woman-owned, fully licensed character brand in major retail. With over $20 million in sales, Afro Unicorn celebrates diversity and empowers women and children of color. 🔑 Key Themes & Highlights Origins of Afro Unicorn April was inspired by a friend's repeated reference to her as a "unicorn," highlighting her extraordinary ability to balance multiple businesses and raise two children. Noticing existing unicorn imagery lacked representation, she created Afro Unicorn to uplift young girls of color. Challenges & Early Growth Despite facing personal hardships—including her son's hospitalization and several family losses—April remained committed to her mission. Her persistence led to a viral moment where a young girl wearing an Afro Unicorn shirt caught Walmart’s attention, resulting in a licensing deal. Licensing & Expansion Instead of manufacturing herself, April strategically partnered with licensees to distribute Afro Unicorn merchandise. Within a year, she secured 45+ licensing…

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## Transcript

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