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_
River Cuisines
Caribbean Catering Company
Insta: @RiverCusines
S Class Kitchen
Sweet Treats and Bakes
Insta: @sclasskitchen
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
The New Cub
Non-toxic skin, hair and health care for babies and mums
Insta: @TheNewCubCo
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
L A CARR Shoe Repairs & Keycutting
214 Selhurst Road SE19 6XU
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