Going With Your Gut and Giving Back with Carrie Weiner

Denise Ilitch show

Denise talks to Carrie Weiner, co-founder and CFO of The Little Black Box, who is most proud of her ability to strike a balance between running a business and being a dedicated single mom. She says she’s a good planner and practicing stellar time management skills allows her to put her kids first while providing for the family.

Like many entrepreneurs, Weiner saw a need, and during the pandemic in 2020, along with her friend now business partner Michelle Scerbo, created a company that redefines the gift giving industry by making giving back a part of the business model. Her desire to support communities and women-owned vendors stems from her value of relationships and support, something she lacked at a pivotal moment in her life.

It was the toughest situation she’s ever had to face as a single mom. At age three, Weiner’s son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Fragile X. Both of her parents had recently passed away, and she found herself without the emotional support of a loving community close by. So, she set out to make one.

Learning to trust her gut—the “visceral” feeling inside—has paid off. The Little Black Box is not only a luxury gifting service that’s totally customizable, it’s also an economic engine for the nonprofit community, with a portion of every purchase donated to charities for women like Alternatives For Girls, benefiting homeless and at-risk girls in Detroit. The range of gifts covers everyone from classroom teachers to corporate executives for any occasion at just about any price point.

Like her company’s products, Weiner’s advice to would-be entrepreneurs is thoughtful and timeless.

• Hire an attorney
• Write a business plan
• Clearly define roles
• Manage expectations

What would she say to her younger self? “You can do it!” Ask for help and help others.

Stay tuned for her two favorite Detroit moments, one with her dad and one with her mom, both of which may have foreshadowed her future.

Web | www.thelittleblackbox.com

IG | the_littleblackbox

Facebook| Little Black Box, LLC

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Carrie Weiner is co-founder and CFO of The Little Black Box®, a bespoke gift-giving company offering luxury, customizable, curated and affordable gifts for anyone desiring to give a meaningful gift. The company uplifts women and small business by sourcing unique products and donating a portion of each purchase to charity. To further the philanthropic arm of The Little Black Box®, Weiner and her business partner created Citizen Society, their own product line and activism hub. Weiner is a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design and previously used her creative talents in the design of homes and restaurants and her own women’s clothing store. She is the proud mom of two amazing children.

Denise Ilitch, an owner of Ilitch Family Companies and President of Ilitch Enterprises, has been a part of Detroit’s business and philanthropic community for over 40 years. As a mother, lawyer, entrepreneur, devoted community servant and tireless advocate for women and children, she learned early, from her father, that everyone is worthy of contributing to the world. Her passion for affordable, accessible, quality education stems from her own experience as a first-generation student, earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, where she currently serves on the Board of Regents, and a law degree from the University of Detroit Law School.

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