Recent events have of course led to discussions about how East Croydon Cool could better support & show solidarity for the fight for racial equality.
As a community marketing platform, East Croydon Cool highlights unique local businesses, events, people & positive news to both new & established Croydoners.
Whilst the platform aims to showcase content that is representative of Croydon’s community, the global situation seems an opportune moment to work harder.
We’ve been watching, reading & listening to see where we might be best placed to use the momentum to effect local change.
A common theme, where we hope to make some impact, surrounds business & economics.
As owners of all businesses will know; running a profitable company is no easy task. Whilst there are thousands of successful black-owned businesses across the UK, working in a country where systemic racism exists, the journey to success is harder.
So, we are supporting (at a local level) Swiss’s #BlackPoundDay (see @bpdofficial). His campaign encourages people to make a conscious effort to spend their money with black-owned, UK businesses on one set day each month. The first date has been confirmed as Saturday 27th June.
As Swiss explains: “This is a solution based, community empowering campaign which will leave a better infrastructure for the next generation to walk into.”
To tie in with this, East Croydon Cool is creating a Directory that details a variety of Croydon based, black-owned businesses. We will be encouraging people to use this resource on #BlackPoundDay to actively support Croydon based, black-owned businesses.
In the same way ‘Black Lives Matter’ does not translate to ‘Other Lives Don’t’; encouraging people to spend money at black owned businesses does not mean don’t spend elsewhere. This is a call to action to help even the playing field and acknowledge that black businesses need more support.
The below Directory has been prepared ahead of the first #BlackPoundDay on Saturday 27th June. We will use it as a basis to showcase individual businesses on our social media channels throughout the year.
This is an ever-growing document, so if your business would like to be included, please drop us an email on info@eastcroydoncool.co.uk
CREATIVES
Bareface
Printmaker
Insta: @bareface_art
Better Shared
Contemporary African Art Specialist
Insta: @bettershared
Blaqpix
Photographer
Insta: @blaqpix2016
CDN Creative
Photographer
Insta: @cdn_creative
Dauley Design
Interior Designer
Insta: @DauleyDesign
Diana P-W
Illustrator
Insta: @diana_phiri_witty
Ernest Simmons
Photographer
Insta: @ernestsimmons
Esi Jones
Digital Designer
Insta: @esijones.design
JDSK Productions
Videographer/Photographer
Insta: @jdsk_productions
Kindred Elite
Interior Designer/Property Developer
Insta: @kindredelite
Neuino Maison
Interior Designer
Insta: @NeuinoMaison
Rhianne Newton
Events Photography
Insta: @rneventsphotography
SimOne
Artist
Insta: @sim_artnsoul
Studioscamps
Designer and Illustartor
Insta: @StudioScamps
EVENT/ENTERTAINMENT
CocoBean Giftbox
Inclusive Giftbox Service
Insta: @cocobean_gifts
Floss N Pop UK
Event Decorations
Insta: @FlossnPopUK
OhSo Eventurous
Balloon Specialist
Insta: @ohso_eventurous
FASHION
Aga Designs
Fashion brand
Insta: @Aga_designs
Black Excellence Grads
Kente fabric graduation stoles
Insta: @blackexcellencegrads
CDN Store
Croydon clothing brand
Insta: @cdn_store
FMM Pop Up
Platform for independent designers
Insta: @fmmpopup
Freedom3 Store
Custom printed hoodies/tees
Insta: @freedom3store
Graceful Heritage
Afro-Carribean family boutique
Insta: @gracefulheritageuk
Jacob’s by Oab
Apparel and lifestyle
Insta: @jacobsbyoab
Kara Khuma
Jewellery Designer
Insta: @karakhuma
Kidspo
Ethical and Natural Clothing for Children
Insta: @kidspo.hq
Kitakiso
Stunning pieces dyed by hand
Insta: @Kitakiso
Mula Cake Clothing
Fashion Brand
Insta: @mulacakeclothing
Ndeyla Accessories
African inspired accessories for him and for her
Insta: @ndeylaaccessories
Something About Elizabeth
Fashion brand
Insta: @hmtees
Stushlery
Handcrafted jewellery for men and women
Insta: @stushlery
FITNESS
Bump Dance Fitness
Fitness Trainer
Insta: @bump_dancefitness
Croydon Boxing Academy
Boxing classes
Insta: @CroydonBoxingAcademy
Holistic PT Studio
Personal Trainer
Insta: @holisticptstudio
Performance 360
Strength and Conditioning Gym
Insta: @performance360uk
Set Good Fitness
Personal Trainer
Insta: @setgoodfitness1
Snappz Masterclass Fitness
Personal Trainer
Insta: @Snappz_masterclass_ftns
Thaitanz
Muay Thai classes in Croydon
Insta: @thaitanzmuaythai
FOOD AND DRINK
868 Cocktail House
Pop Up Cocktail Bar
Insta: @868CocktailHouse
Bella Bells Kitchen
Catering service specialising in Caribbean food
Insta: @bellabellskitchen
Cake and Bake Croydon
Bakery
Insta: @CakeAndBakeCroydon
Cake to Differ
Cake Company
Insta: CakeToDiffer_
Cocoa Jones Chocolate
5 star vegan chocolates with exciting flavour combinations
Insta: @cocoajoneschoc
Crepes and Cones
Dessert restaurant
Insta: @crepesandcones
Cricketers Croydon
Bar and Pop-Up Kitchen
Insta: @cricketerscroydon
Crissy’s Sweet Escape
Bespoke cakes and sweet treats
Insta: @crissyssweetescape
Drinks On Tap
Drinks and Cigar delivery company
Insta: @drinksontaplondon
Empress Baker
Sweet Treats Company
Insta: @Empressbakerr
Enish
Award winning Nigerian restaurant
Insta: @enish_restaurant
Fruiture Juicery
The Mobile Juice Bar
Insta: @fruiture_juicery
Heads N Tails Croydon
Caribbean Fish and Chips Takeaway
Insta: @headsntails_croydon
Laagha’s Waffles
Waffles and treats
Insta: @laaghas_waffles
Livity Plant Based Cuisine
Vegan market traders and delivery service
Insta: @livityplantbasedcuisine
McLeary’s Kitchen
Caterer and Mixologist
Insta: @mclearys_kitchen
Original Flava
Chefs/Food Retailers
Insta: @originalflava
Pressed Juice
Freshly made cold-pressed juices
Insta: @pressed_juice_
Soul Vegan UK
Vegan Supper Clubs
Insta: @SoulVeganUK
The Drinks Connoisseur
Alcohol Delivery Service
Insta: @thedrinksconnoisseur
The Gold Coast Bar
African bar and eatery
Insta: @thegoldcoastlondon
The Incredible Twins Sweet Box
Sweet delivery company
Insta: @theincredibletwinssweetbox
Vim Punch
Mixologist/Mobile Bar
Insta: @vimpunch
Walnuts and Honey
Micro-bakery
Insta: @walnutsandhoney
HEALTH & BEAUTY
AA Aesthetics
Aesthetics Nurse
Insta: @a.a_aesthetics
Anneiki
Mobile Massage Therapist
Insta: @Anneiki
Afro Impressions
Hair Specialist
Insta: @afro_impressions
Aga Salon
Cosmetologist
Insta: @AgaSalon
Angela Andrews
Natural Skincare Provider
Insta: @Brown_Angel_Naturals
Beauty by Char
Certified Beuatician/Esthetician
Insta: @beautibychar
Dilara
Make Up Artist
Insta: @ddbmakeup
Helena McRae
Hair Salon
Insta: @HelenaMcraeSalon
Love Leis Beauty Bar
Beauty bar offering lashes, nails, wigs, facials, make up and teeth whitening
Insta: @LoveLeisBeautyBar
Love Lei Lashes
Qualified lash technician
Insta: @LoveLeiLashes
Morgan Nails
Nail Technician
Insta: @_morgannails
NailsRoseUK
Nail Technician
Insta: @nailroseuk
NY Lashes
Lash Specialist
Insta: @ny_lashess
Signature You
Beauty Event Services
Insta: @signature_you_
Shaylars Way
CBT Therapist
Insta: @shaylars_way
Wigs by Tee
Custom wigs, ready made wigs and hair extensions
Insta: @wigsbytee
OTHER
EmaySou Wicks Candles
Luxury hand poured soy wax candles
Insta: @emaysou.wicks.candles
Femme Fatale TV
Female Music Talent Platform
Insta: @FemmeFataleTV
I Am Echo Fashion Shows
Runway Trainers/Fashion show co-ordinators
Insta: @IamEchoFashionShows
Lenses of Croydon
Network of 600 photographers
Insta: @lensesofcroydon
March Muses
Christmas decorations of Colour
Insta: @marchmuses
Music Relief Foundation
Youth Charity
Insta: @music_relief
Mr Bling Car Care
Cost effective car cleaning and detailing products
Insta: @MrBlingCarCare
NEXUS
Co-Working Community
Insta: @NeuxusCreativeHQ
Playnation Games
Retro gaming store and events space
Insta: @playnation_games
Savour Candles
Homemade Home Fragrance
Insta: @SavourCandles
SDS Entertainment
Providing creative spaces for young BAME Croydoners
Insta: @SDSEntertainment
Talawa Theatre Company
Theatre Company
Insta: @talawatc
