Croydon based, Black-Owned Business Directory

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 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 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 2020.

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 simply a call to action to help level 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 also use it as a basis to showcase individual businesses on our social media channels throughout the year.

This is an ever-growing list, so if your business would like to be included, please drop us an email on info@eastcroydoncool.co.uk.

ONE YEAR ON: The Black Pound Day movement has seen huge success across the UK and now aims “to be the biggest market place and directory to spend black in the UK and Europe, and the most influential socio-economic movement in the UK & Europe”. Hundreds of businesses have reported huge revenue increases as a result of the monthly event and Google and Soho House are now key partners. Learn more in this interview with Swiss by The Guardian.

*Whilst the original idea focused on supporting “Black-owned” businesses, this has now changed to “Black-led” which is defined as “anyone who identifies as black, including companies with non-black co-owners”.

ARTISTS/ILLUSTRATORS/GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Bareface
Artist and Printmaker
Insta: @bareface_art

Better Shared
Contemporary African Art Specialist
Insta: @bettershared

Diana P-W
Illustrator
Insta: @diana_phiri_witty

Esi Jones
Digital Designer
Insta: @esijones.design

Fabric of Africa Frames
Innovative, handmade bespoke art
Insta: @FabricOfAfricaArt

Leanne Creative Cards and Gifts
Illustrator and Graphic designer selling Afrocentric cards and gifts
Insta: @Leanne_Creative

Mould and Behold
3D sculptures of your baby’s hands and feet
Insta: @MouldAndBehold_

SimOne
Artist
Insta: @sim_artnsoul

Studioscamps
Designer and Illustrator
Insta: @StudioScamps

Wow Women
Art inspired by Women who Who
Insta: @Wowwomen2020

EVENTS

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

Thea Smartt Henry
Slow-made, small batch jewellery designer
Insta: @theasmartthenry

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

Africa’s Delicacy Resort
African delicacy pop up using Saladmaster healthy cooking system
Insta: @africas_delicacy_resort

Bella Bells Kitchen
Catering service specialising in Caribbean food
Insta: @bellabellskitchen

Big Mike’s Calypso Kitchen
A small taste of Barbados, a big taste of the Caribbean
Insta: @BigMikeCK

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

Genny Graham
Pepper Jellys’s made by Jenny Graham, a British-Bajan entrepreneur from Croydon
Insta: @GennyGrahamPJ

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

Padnas
Rum based cocktails on-the-move
Insta: @Padnas

Pressed Juice
Freshly made cold-pressed juices
Insta: @pressed_juice_

Soul Vegan UK
Vegan Supper Clubs
Insta: @SoulVeganUK

Snake and Mongoose
A unique grill bar that takes influence from Jamaican and British roots
Insta: @SnakeAndMongooseGrillBar

Tea and Me
Loose leaf tea for the phases of your day
Insta: @_teaandme

Temple of Strength Food
Meal prep and food delivery
Insta: @TempleofStrengthfood

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

Vegan Express
Homemade vegan food
Insta: @vegan.express

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

Herbalmix
Herb and Spice remedies
Insta: @herbalmix1

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

HOME AND INTERIORS

Blooming Desires
Traditional and Bespoke floral arrangements
Insta: @bloomingdesires

Dauley Design
Interior Designer
Insta: @DauleyDesign

EmaySou Wicks Candles
Luxury hand poured soy wax candles
Insta: @emaysou.wicks.candles

House of Lilah
Art inspired hand-crafted soy candles and herbal teas
Insta: @HouseOfLilah_London

Kindred Elite
Interior Designer/Property Developer
Insta: @kindredelite

March Muses
Christmas decorations of Colour
Insta: @marchmuses

Neuino Maison
Interior Designer
Insta: @NeuinoMaison

Nina Knitted This
Handmade blankets and bits
Insta: @NinaKnittedThis

Nudest Collection
Soy wax candles of female torsos
Insta: @NudestCollection

Savour Candles
Homemade Home Fragrance
Insta: @SavourCandles

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Blaqpix
Photographer
Insta: @blaqpix2016

CDN Creative
Photographer
Insta: @cdn_creative

Ernest Simmons
Photographer
Insta: @ernestsimmons

JDSK Productions
Videographer/Photographer
Insta: @jdsk_productions

Rhianne Newton
Events Photography
Insta: @rneventsphotography

Tatenda Mbawa Photography
Photographer
Insta: @Thancs3six

OTHER

Croydon FM
Croydon’s first official community-led radio station
Insta: @CroydonFM

Hello Nana Dolls
Black African dolls
Insta: @HelloNanaDolls

InstaFemme 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

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

Noel Drum N Drum
African Drum Teacher
Insta: @Noel_drum_n_drum

Playnation Games
Retro gaming store and events space
Insta: @playnation_games

SDS Entertainment
Providing creative spaces for young BAME Croydoners
Insta: @SDSEntertainment

Talawa Theatre Company
Theatre Company
Insta: @talawatc

The Front Room
Live performance venue for music, theatre and comedy
Insta: @frontroomspace

Wrights Academy
Delivering the best in DJ education and sports services
Insta: @wrightsacademy