A lot of businesses have been affected by the pandemic crisis and a lot of small businesses are running the risk of closing for good. Below are some female-owned businesses that are dealing with the crisis in creative ways and staying open for their customers. These are all businesses that I personally have shopped at and support and these ladies could use the extra love. It’s hard right now to justify spending money on non-essential things but even treating yourself to something small can make you feel better and if you’re supporting a small female-owned business while doing it, all the better.
- Fruit Collective
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Fruit Collective is a small female-owned business that runs online. The owner, Katherine Perry, makes small-batch earrings. Her earrings are really unique and so cute and pretty well priced. You could normally find her at venues like Youngstown Flea or Vegan Bazaar, but with the pandemic, all her items are available through her website shopfruitcollective.com and on the businesses’ Instagram @fruitcollective. She also does custom orders!
- Awoke Vintage Brooklyn
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Awoke Vintage is an NYC based vintage shop that has three Brooklyn locations. Awoke’s owner Liz Power originally started the businesses as a small booth in Perth, Australia. I spent the previous summer in New York, and I was obsessed with the Williamsburg shop. Awoke Vintage had serious vintage items and a very large selection of Levi jeans, shorts and jackets. Awoke Vintage has had to close their stores due to the pandemic, but you can purchase items through their Instagram. They are also using the money earned from their online sales to pay their hourly employees. Check them out at awokevintage.com and shop by following their Instagram @awokevintagebrooklyn.
- Handcrafted Kent
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Handcrafted Kent is a local shop that is also affected by the pandemic and had to close its doors. Owner Jessica Ryan aims to keep everything in the store locally sourced in Ohio and everything is made by local artists. Even though the shop has had to close, they posted on their Instagram that they are available for shopping appointments, and if you happen to walk by and see their light on you can knock and they can let you in one on one. They are also offering the sale of eCards, which can be so helpful to small businesses right now. With Easter coming up these are perfect gifts. You can visit their website at handcraftedkent.com and check out their Instagram at @handcraftedkent.
- Trash Panda Vintage
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Trash Panda Vintage is a local vintage shop that I am personally obsessed with. I always look for their booth at Youngstown Flea. Since the fate of the summer is up in the air as of right now, Trash Panda Vintage may not be able to make its usual appearances. They have some high-end items and amazing vintage items. They also make adorable repurposed designer button earrings. You can view their inventory on trashpanda.vin and can check out their Instagram @trashpanda_vntg.
Check out these businesses and support them anyway you can!