 By Lajeune Hollis In November of 2022, after the pandemic had finally started to wind down, 18-year-old James Judkins of Hartford, Connecticut was looking for a meaningful way to spread positivity into the world. He made the discovery with the opening of his online clothing brand of street gear he calls Free Therapy. “If you have an idea, take a leap of faith,” said Judkins. “Don’t let your fears overcome your success. We are a community – we are one. We are all here for a reason and you just have to find your reason and do it. This is Free Therapy, made from nothing but love.” Wise words spoken from young entrepreneur James Judkins—or “Jay J”, as he likes to be called. Judkins is committed to maintaining positive messaging and culturally-oriented designs through his brand. His online store—easily found at itsfreetherapy.myshopify.com—features five catalog subsections: Essentials by Therapy are calm and relaxing matching duos of positive-scripted hoodies, sweatpants and sweatshirts. Vintage by Therapy are vintage-inspired t-shirts featuring famous celebrities. They are all 100% cotton and blend well with any street gear. Hoodies by Therapy are comfortable, warm and feature meaningful words to live by. Tees by Therapy are 100% cotton t-shirts that combine comfort and fashion with pivotal life messages. Free Therapy home décor products work to bring out good vibes in any home or home office. Posters, journals, candles and jewelry boxes all come with signature messages of love and positivity.
“Don’t let your fears overcome your success. We are a community – we are one. We are all here for a reason and you just have to find your reason and do it. This is Free Therapy, made from nothing but love.” Judkins’s mission is to spread as much positivity into what he calls “a negative world”. He reasons that “the inspirational messages found on my clothing could potentially captivate future generations on what to teach their own children.” When asked what keeps him up at night, Judkins shared that he ultimately always wants to be the best person he can be and reach his full potential. “Every day I push harder than the day before,” he shared. “By my pushing, it will honestly make me a better person. This also relates to my clothing brand, Free Therapy. We reach out to local businesses as well as up-and-comers and help to build them up. We are built on love and growth and the desire to push towards a better tomorrow.” His primary challenges since opening last November of 2022 are driving traffic to his website and brand awareness. Judkins has navigated these challenges by offering the opportunity to become Free Therapy Brand Ambassadors for anyone who visits his Instagram page, which is also linked to his online shop.
Judkins shared that he will always work to support local businesses, spread awareness and network with individual businesses to create collaborations. For those who are looking to open their own business but not certain where to start Judkins says, “Don’t let that stop you from doing something great, have a business plan but make sure you are open to change and open to new things. And I will gladly share any knowledge I have about it with you.” Speaking of business plans, in the next five years Judkins’s goal is to open a brick-and-mortar store for Free Therapy and also take his Free Therapy services worldwide. For now, you can find Free Therapy online at @itsfreetherapy45 on Instagram, email Judkins at freetherapy45@gmail.com or visit the Free Therapy shop at itsfreetherapy.myshopify.com. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
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 By Lajeune Hollis With a passion to make a difference by helping men and women feel good about themselves, owner of Infinite Beauty Bar and Aphrodite’s Mane DeAndrea Abrahams is doing it all at her modern West Hartford salon—hair, braids, weaves, facials, lash extensions, teeth whitening, waxing, and she will soon offer makeup and nail services. “In today’s world, the last thing you think of is doing something for you,” said Abrahams. “But if you look great you feel great and perform better at work and in relationships.” Abrahams’ family set roots in Connecticut after moving to Hartford from Jamaica. Her father was a tailor and her mother a hairstylist, so she was surrounded by the beauty and fashion industry from a young age. “I went from doing hair in my house to getting a salon suite to owning my own salon,” she said.
"Hair is therapy – young women, older women, it makes a difference to them and it’s because of them that I started my business."  Having had a difficult chapter earlier in her life, which ended up with being incarcerated, Abrahams knows how to overcome adversities and follow her dreams, even when things get tough. “It sounds so cliché but believe in yourself and your abilities. There’s so much more to me, it’s not how you begin but how you end,” she said. Sometimes you think being successful is impossible based on what you were born into, but you can still achieve your dreams.” A single mom to a 17-year-old daughter, Abrahams has now been the sole owner and operator of her salon for five years, having moved to her West Hartford location in June 2020, just a few months after the onset of the COVID pandemic. It was a challenging time—closing one business location and opening another, dealing with supply chain issues, and navigating the immense difficulties of when the State of Connecticut shut down all beauty salons for three months. But that didn’t stop Abrahams. Being the ambitious and keenly focused woman that she is, she instead used the down time from the pandemic to focus on what she could control. She asked herself, what did she need to do and how could she get it done? Then, she allowed herself to “accept the break,” in her words, so that when it finally ended, she could hit the ground running. And that she did.
“Most days I work 16 to 17 hours a day,” she shared. “I love what I do – even when I’m tired.” Abrahams books appointments online so her clients can see when she is available, though she admits that it is hard to say “no”—even on her birthday. In her mind, she will find a way to make any appointment work! “Hair is therapy – young women, older women, it makes a difference to them and it’s because of them that I started my business,” she shared. “Everything does not have to be perfect. Make strides to get to that place. Don’t listen to those negative voices. Work doesn’t feel like work—it helps to remind me that I’m serving a purpose.” Abrahams even comes into the salon on the two days it is technically closed—Sundays and Mondays—to meet with clients who are experiencing hair loss and are reluctant to come in when the salon is busy. According to Abrahams, some clients shed tears of joy when they see their new look, like a 30-year-old client who had lost all her hair due to cancer treatments. Abrahams was able to create a wig that looked exactly like her natural hair and the client cried because with it on she looked so beautifully familiar.  And when the salon doors really do close for the day and Abrahams heads home, she’s been known to even wake up in the middle of the night, grab her notebook on her nightstand, and jot down ideas before going back to sleep. Why? She wants to always look for ways to build the business so everyone—from her hair braider to her other work colleagues—can succeed. Her ultimate goal is to own multiple salons, open a hair school and have her own line of haircare products. For those in the market for hair extensions, Abrahams also operates an online shop called Aphrodite’s Mane—a collection of 100% premium human hair extensions in a wide range of options. She also carries salon-branded apparel and haircare products. Infinite Beauty Bar is located at 206 Park Road, West Hartford, Connecticut. Learn more about the salon on their website, Instagram or Facebook. Shop Aphrodite’s Mane at www.aphroditesmane.com. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
Photos courtesy of Infinite Beauty Bar/Aphrodite's Mane.  By Lajeune Hollis “If I can do it, You can do it too!” Nasha Rhone purchased her first home—a condominium in Bristol, Connecticut—at the young age of 22. Despite the challenges of being a single mother at the time, she was able to achieve her dream of homeownership by meeting the strict requirements of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) first time buyers program. Rhone was proud to be the first person in her immediate family to own a home, and years later, homeownership grew into a passion as she quickly realized the empowerment, stability and equity that was afforded to her. She then discovered her urge to share the experience with others. Realizing Homes, LLC is a full-service real estate business that is dedicated to helping everyone achieve the dream of homeownership. “Together we will make homeownership a reality” is their tag line. “I truly believe in the path of homeownership for everyone,” explained Rhone. “I have dedicated most of my career to housing families, with previous experience working in residential, affordable housing, and even some large scale commercial, Class A&B buildings.” Whether someone is buying, selling, investing or looking for rentals, Realizing Homes does it all. However, broker/owner Nasha Rhone’s passion is helping first-time home buyers. “Because homeownership had such a profound impact on me, I want to help others achieve the same. Helping people understand the importance of a real estate asset, sharing in the memory of purchasing your first home and most of all, helping families create generational wealth, is truly why I love what I do,” she explained. While the rising interest rates across the country concerns many, she is quick to point out solutions. “CHFA is currently offering up to $50,000 to qualified buyers through a program called ‘The Time is Now’,” she shared. “It is a forgivable grant. A common misconception people have is that they have to be low-income to take advantage of these programs. However, that is not necessarily the case. Check to see if you are eligible.” Rhone holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Springfield College and has pursued her MBA with Post University. As the Broker and Owner of Realizing Homes, she holds credentials that allows her to practice as a Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource - SFR®, Certified Manager of Community Associations-CMCA and Accredited Buyers Representative - ABR®. She is a member of the Greater Hartford Realtors Association (GHRA), the CT Real Estate Investment Association (CTREIA), and the National Realtors Association (NAR) meeting the ethical standards and requirements to serve as a member. Opening her own brokerage allows her to do what she loves and does best: service her clients! “I serve ALL communities and go where I’m needed in Connecticut,” she said. Rhone works hard every day to help families just like hers realize their dreams, one home at a time! Find Realizing Homes online at www.realizinghomes.com, on Instagram at @realestate_anytime, Facebook @nasharhone-realestateprofessional or LinkedIn @Nasharhone or email nasha@realizinghomes.com. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services (DVH), based in Waterbury, Connecticut, was launched in 2018 after co-owners Josephine Ahiati, a Registered Nurse and Solomon Darko, a Licensed Professional counselor identified a trend in caregiving companies that a significant number of the caregivers are people of color and immigrants, but the caregiving business owners are mostly Caucasian. “We were once immigrants ourselves,” shared Darko, “hailing from Ghana, in West Africa. We can relate better to the workers and understand their needs which would be helpful in providing quality services.” DVH offers top-notch, affordable, and reliable home care services for clients in the comfort of their own homes. Services include but not limited to homemaker, companionship, personal care assistance, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, medication reminders, doctors’ appointments. These services are rendered hourly or 24/7 Live-In.  “If you want to open your own business, your number one goal should not be about money. It should be about passion, because if it is about passion, you will never give up."
As a mental health clinician, Mr. Darko noticed that many caregiving businesses are not addressing the mental health needs of their caregivers and their clients in the way he deems necessary. The mission is to change that paradigm. Along with Mr. Darko, Miss Ahiati emerged as unique and caring business owner by engaging in conversation with the elderly clients they serve and the caregivers who joined their team. She gets to know them on a personal level, especially those who are first and or second-generation immigrants. While momentum was forging ahead, the pandemic put a halt on much of their support. Accessing loans was difficult. With nowhere to turn, the pair was forced to use their own savings for a protracted period of time to keep their business afloat. What compounded the difficult season was a need to reduce their fees to stay competitive while offering competitive salaries to attract the best of the best caregivers.  Darko and Ahiati rose to the challenge and got creative to stay top-of-mind with prospective clients. “We try to find other organizations to collaborate with, like Alzheimer’s Association,” explained Ahiati. “We also pass flyers out at local churches, hire quality caregivers who perform well and regularly talk to the families of our clients to get feedback from them.” Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services is a member of the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce. Referrals mostly come from “A Place for Mom”—a service to help those looking for support or to care for their loved ones. DVH team also rely on word of mouth, phone calls, social media, nursing home referrals, local churches, current clients, former clients, networking, as well as referrals from the state of Connecticut Homecare program.  While running a business requires cash flow, Darko believes that passion for what you do comes first. They continue to help those facing extreme challenges due to the pandemic and offer their business on a sliding fee scale or, in some cases, at no charge. They truly live out their mission of “compassion and affordability is our hallmark.” According to Mr. Darko and Ahiati, “If you want to open your own business, your number one goal should not be about money. It should be about passion, because if it is about passion, you will never give up”. You also have to be personally involved to build the business and have to be receptive to suggestions or advice and information from those people who are your clients or your mentors in the field, not forgetting to be creative.” Ms. Ahiati emphasized the need for people of color or minorities to do their research before embarking on opening their businesses. Things are looking up now for Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services because for Darko and Ahiati, chasing their passion—rather than chasing dollars—is their priority and believe it would be the key to the success of their business. Find Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services at www.dvhomemakers.com ( dvhomemakers.com ), by calling 860-510-3959 or 860-500-8226, by email at info@dvhomemakers.com or on Facebook at this link. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis At the onset of the Covid pandemic, Fendi Bentley-Samuels knew she had to find a way to reinvent her family’s daily life. As a now wife and mom to two young children, she began to create bonding activities that her family could enjoy during lockdown, while also discovering what she and her kids loved to do most. While her day job kept her busy, at night she and her 10-year-old stepdaughter JuLynn Samuels enjoyed doing their nails together. That’s when inspiration struck. Unsure exactly of what first step to take, she knew that she wanted to align her passion with a new entrepreneurial adventure. Thus, the idea was born – to create a business around those fun shared moments – thus Fendi and JuLynn became the Co-CEOs of I’m Cute Worldwide, a West-Haven-based online business that first launched with offering premium matching adult and children’s press-on nail kits.
“My stepmom and my dad encourage me to do my best. I’m 10 and I’m the  In addition to I'm Cute, they soon expanded to offer a virtual camp through their other company, The Business Spy. The camp offerings were connected to stories from their own lives, to help facilitate social interaction that was so drastically declining thanks to the pandemic. The camp’s sessions included Introduction to Mandarin, Introduction to Financial Literacy, Movement and Dance, and Mindful Meditation and Yoga. Camp participants also read books by powerful Black women as part of these online courses. It was not by accident that Bentley-Samuels chose to include powerful Black women as part of the camp’s curriculum, as she was raised by one. “My mother instilled many things in me. One being to participate in my own rescue, and that I was my own ROI,” she shared. “Also, to make sure that I do everything at the highest levels, always putting my best foot forward.” Samuels added: “My stepmom and my dad encourage me to do my best. I’m 10 and I’m the Co-CEO of the business and I can do anything I put my mind to.” And while the name speaks to their business’s fun nature, I’m Cute Worldwide also is a nod to “being cute” as an interpretation for doing whatever you love and doing it well, whether that is studying hard, loving the arts, or spending time with family. “Essentially, it means finding out what makes you feel ‘cutest’ and taking it to the next level,” said Bentley-Samuels. Since I’m Cute Worldwide’s launch, the pair has expanded even more with their “Cuteshops”—activity kits that are shipped to customer’s homes—that kids can enjoy doing with their parents or caregivers. “Doing activities together makes it easy to connect and create something you love,” shared Bentley-Samuels. I’m Cute kits include Cookie Cuteshops, Virtual Tie-Dye Cuteshops and Jewelry Cuteshops with many more to come! The Stepmom/Stepdaughter dynamic duo handle all the packaging and delivery – they purchase the materials for the kits, package them up, handwrite personalized letters to customers and ship them out. Customers also have the option to participate in virtual workshops led by the two CEOs. “Entrepreneurship is a family business, and it starts at a very young age. That’s why I encourage my kids to find what their passions are and make it profitable,” said Bentley-Samuels. “It is super important that JuLynn understands the business, but her primary focus, she will tell you, is to be a kid, be kind and have fun.” Find I’m Cute Worldwide on Instagram @imcuteworldwide or visit their online shop at imcuteworldwide.com.  BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Fashion has always been Brittany Rae’s first passion. So much so that in 2021, she made it her full-time career and opened Richual Boutique—pronounced "ritual"—in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a curated thrift, vintage clothing and accessories shop. Before opening the doors of this new chapter in her life, Rae was invested in the mental health field, having managed group homes and worked as a case worker and social worker in New York, where she was born and raised. After losing loved ones to COVID-19, Rae did some soul-searching and decided to focus her energy on what she loved most: fashion.  “The pandemic definitely gave me the courage to say life is short and I should just go for it,” she shared. And go for it she did. After visiting a friend in Bridgeport, Rae decided to relocate, noting that she liked “the diversity and culture” that downtown had. She was also inspired by the “art world” the city offered. Rae opened her business and noted lower rents and grant opportunities as some of the silver lining to the pandemic for entrepreneurs. Since she started her business with her own capital, she was able to negotiate more with landlords.  "I love helping people, so owning my own boutique came very naturally. It went from a hobby to my full-time career."  But, it was a challenging time to open a business in the height of the pandemic, because shoppers were not coming out to stores like they previously did. Rae’s solution was to offer private shopping at her boutique based on the shopper’s availability. She also offered online shopping on her website so that anyone across the country could purchase her products. Richual Boutique features a mix of new, thrift and vintage styles. It offers trendy, fashionable, affordable clothing for both men and women, including furs, coats, shoes, handbags, accessories, jewelry and more. For those looking for a special twist, Richual offers The Curated Thrift Box, a collection of 20 pieces of clothing or accessories valued at $200-$300, but at a cost of only $50. Shoppers are asked to indicate their sizes, preferred colors and tone, style and other key factors before Rae chooses what is added to their box. Because of her great fashion sense, the results have gotten rave reviews.
Rae hand-picks the pre-loved clothing available at Richual Boutique, using her keen eye for fashion and her knowledge of all the latest trends. She only selects fashion-forward, unique and on-trend items for her shop. Rae also works with designers who specialize in upcycling clothing and jewelry. “I was kind of born into fashion,” said Rae. “Raised by very fashionable women, I have always been a shopper, have always thrifted, and I have all of these clothes that I collected. I love helping people, so owning my own boutique came very naturally. It went from a hobby to my full-time career.” A shopper at heart, Rae admits that she thrifts almost every other day. She loves to travel too, which she says is “tied into thrifting” as she looks for unique pieces domestically or overseas.  Richual Boutique’s mission is to provide high-fashion designs and great material for little to no cost and to save the Earth by buying second-hand. Rae also believes in giving back by donating clothing to people who are experiencing homelessness. As for what’s next for Richual Boutique, Rae hopes to expand and open additional locations throughout Connecticut. Her ultimate goal? To build a nationwide brand. Richual Boutique is located in the Arcade Mall, 1001 Main Street, Suite 12, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Find Richual Boutique online on Facebook, Instagram or at their online shop at shoprichual.com.    BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis It’s often said that there’s no love like a mother’s love. After Val McCray, owner of Heavenly Hair Growth Oil, underwent back surgery in 2019 and soon after suffered a heart attack, her mother was so worried about her daughter’s health that she began to suffer from hair loss. Eventually, she lost all of her hair until she was completely bald. As soon as McCray recovered from her heart attack, she knew she needed to help her mother with her hair growth but didn’t know where to begin. She had always combed and styled her mother’s hair, and hated to see her in pain. So, she searched and found a local dermatologist who administered monthly scalp injections for her mother for three months. Sadly, the painful injections yielded no results.  "I truly want women to feel good about themselves. It makes me happy to see my product work."
Frustrated and heartbroken, McCray was determined to do some research to discover what could be done to help her mother’s hair grow back. She began experimenting on her mother’s scalp with organic herbs, oils and rice water, which contained the protein that was needed for her to strengthen her hair follicles. Her tender loving care paid off and her mother’s hair grew back, along with her confidence. Since the mixture McCray created worked for her elderly mother, she thought it could work for other family members who suffered from hair loss. Each time she applied her mixture to their hair on a regular basis, it worked! She was onto something. Her hair growth oil was, in her eyes, truly made with love. Because McCray and her husband own McCray Realty in Bridgeport, her time is flexible enough for her to operate her online business, which she officially opened in 2020 on a full-time basis and began operating out of her living room, then dining room, then kitchen. When she ran out of room she took all of the products and created her own “laboratory” in their basement, where she now has plenty of privacy and room to work. She hopes to one day be able to operate her business out of a free-standing building so she can hire more employees and help quickly get her products into the hands of those who need it most.  McCray’s best friend, Sarah Brooks, was her “tester” because she too was losing hair on her temples from wearing her braids too tight. The Heavenly Hair Growth Oil worked so well for Brooks that she took a leap of faith and quit her job in customer service to partner with McCray. She says she never went into the hair growth business to make money. She simply wanted to bring joy back into her mother’s life. And now, her primary focus is seeing her customers gain the results they want from her product line. “I’m not looking to be a millionaire,” she explained. “I truly want women to feel good about themselves. It makes me happy to see my product work. I know it works, as it is helping women (and some men) grow their hair back.” Heavenly Hair Growth Oil is ideal for women who are losing their hair due to advanced age, poor health, Alopecia or even long-term chronic illnesses like cancer. But, her product line also includes Heavenly Hair Beard Oil, which, according to McCray, brings together alma and vitamin E to create a glorious oil that lends a rich, voluminous look to beards.
Learn more about Heavenly Hair Products on their website, which includes descriptions and information on everything they offer:
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11/11/2021 0 Comments JUST MAD VEGGIES: GROW WHAT YOU EAT By Lajeune Hollis “Grow what you eat, then you will be satisfied,” said Elijah Boles, owner and mastermind behind Just Mad Veggies, a gardening and apparel brand based in Oakville, Connecticut. “If you grow fruits and vegetables that you actually like to eat, chances are you won’t stop there.” While still a child, Boles’ father inspired him to garden by sharing how to tend to a small garden his father and landlord took care of at their first apartment home. His father weeded the plants and then handed Boles the tomatoes and cucumbers. This simple act fostered a passion that would follow him throughout his life and eventually inspire him to start his business in December of 2020.
Boles started by growing organic and chemical-free vegetables, which led him down a health and wellness path as he and his workout buddy looked for better ways to fuel their bodies after track practice. While figuring out what to eat, they would often say “Let’s have grilled chicken and just mad veggies”—and the name stuck. Now married, Boles is passing on the knowledge he learned from his dad two his two young daughters through gardening lessons. And it’s working–his three-year-old daughter can already distinguish between fruits and vegetables.  “If you grow fruits and vegetables that you actually like to eat, chances are you won’t stop there.”
Boles also encourages new gardeners to start off small—with just a tiny container on the window ledge—in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Through helpful tips, pictures and tutorials on the Just Mad Veggies website and social media, Boles brings a fun, modern approach to gardening. He shares advice on how to eat organic, healthy food without the expense, how to save and grow organic food, and how to grow urban gardens. He also shares how to change over gardens during season changes and highlights the therapeutic benefits of growing fruits and vegetables and even has a Gardener of the Month program.  In May 2021, Just Mad Veggies branched out to offer apparel, including baseball caps, t-shirts, tank tops and stickers. Boles will eventually offer seasonal apparel and plans to have Just Mad Veggies booths as festivals, markets and events throughout Hartford so he can interact in person with novice and veteran gardeners. When asked what’s in his garden, Bole shared, “Last summer I grew three varieties of tomatoes, six [kinds of] peppers, three varieties of garlic, zucchini squash and yellow squash. From these vegetables I will make homemade salsa, bread and butter pickles and homemade pasta sauce. I have found that canning [food] not only helps to preserve your crops but also allows you to chill [foods] so you can use them later on in the year—I do not believe in waste.”
Eventually, Boles would like to grow sweet potatoes in his garden so he can make sweet potato pie and surprise his mother on a not-too-distant Thanksgiving Day. Learn more about Just Mad Veggies or browse their online shop on their website, or follow Just Mad Veggies on Facebook or Instagram. 
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 By Lajeune Hollis Debra Fountain has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years. Previously a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and fitness coach, she now owns LIFER Fitness Studio in West Hartford, Connecticut, where she offers cardio, strength training and yoga classes. But, she wasn’t always so laser-focused on fitness. In fact, she once held a corporate job in New Jersey before leaving to become a stay-at-home mom 26 years ago. It was during those early days of parenthood when she felt that she needed to get back to her “old self” and improve her fitness. After one day popping in a workout VHS tape that guaranteed results in 10 days or less, she started on her journey to her new identity, with fitness at the forefront. She started working in her home basement as a full-time personal trainer for what eventually led to helping a group of 60 middle-aged female clients reach their fitness goals. She loved her new career path, because she could stay in shape, raise her four children, and help her clients. She even managed to enter and place in two body-building competitions! Fountain was inspired to create a lifestyle that empowered women. “If you feel strong on the outside, you'll start to feel strong on the inside,” she shared.  Her business name, LIFER, was inspired from the group of her 60 clients in Washington, D.C., who coveted her 6:00am personal training appointment. “Clients would come for their goals and they did not want to give up that spot,” she shared. “They called themselves ‘Lifers’.” Today, LIFER Fitness Studio employs six fitness instructors who “love what they do and care about their clients,” according to Fountain. She selected each one of them because, as she says, she “worked long and hard enough in the corporate world to know how important it is to nurture and care for the people who work with you and for you.” Fountain credits God for being the impetus behind opening her business seven years ago. She was content at the time, working in the fitness industry and not having small children to look after. She shared that it was a good life, and she was comfortable. But, “God would not have it,” she shared, and she felt compelled to do things a little differently and start her own business, even if it was tough. “Growing may be painful and there may be suffering,” she said. She faithfully obeyed and opened her own studio during a milestone birthday year.  “Fitness will give you the best quality of life you can have.”  Fountain prays before each class. “It sets an intention for what I want my class to get,” she explained. Some people have likened her classes to church, from what they describe as intense feelings while working out. Life – or should we say LIFER – was good, business was humming along and then the pandemic of 2020 hit. Attendance slowed for her in-person classes, so Fountain started offering Facebook Live classes from March to June 2020. Then she took the classes outside where she could safely offer kickboxing, barre and cycling. After Thanksgiving, LIFER was forced to go completely virtual, so Fountain took the time to invest in virtual equipment to make her clients’ experience better. In April of 2021, LIFER resumed in-person classes, keeping safety measures in mind, like masking and air flow in the studio. For Fountain, the silver lining of the pandemic was that it allowed her plenty of time to slow down and think about her “why” behind the business. “I needed to check back into myself,” she explained. She’s remaining focused on helping people live their best lives and to make fitness a lifestyle. “Keep trying to find something – running, cycling, walking, swimming. You may not love it the first time but keep trying to live the best possible life on this planet,” she urged. “Fitness will give you the best quality of life you can have.”
LIFER Fitness Studio is located at 20 Jefferson Ave, Suite 6 in West Hartford, Connecticut. The studio offers Unlimited Monthly Memberships for a flat fee of $175/month, which includes unlimited classes from any of their five fitness areas, LIFER Class Packs, consisting of 10-class passes for $165 or 5-class passes for $85, drop-in classes for $17.50, and LIFER Virtual Workout Library, which offers virtual classes for a nominal fee. Learn more about LIFER Fitness Studio on their website, on Facebook or Instagram. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Sasha and Ian Fay first met in a philosophy class at Central Connecticut State University in 2011 it was love at first sight. Years later, they stayed on the beautiful island of Jamaica in the Blue Mountains before getting married. At the time, although she is of Jamaican descent, Sasha had never heard of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. But she was soon to become fascinated by its rich history. The newlyweds explored a coffee farm in the Blue Mountains and learned in-depth facts about the famous and rare coffee while they were there. They were so captivated by the smooth taste, the lack of acidity, chocolatey notes and the health benefits of the coffee that they decided to bring it back to Connecticut. In 2020, the Fays launched their West Hartford home-based business and began operating online. They named it The Ovelle Coffee Company, after Sasha’s middle name. Sasha moved from working in corporate America to starting her dream job managing front end operations full-time for her own business and Ian, co-founder of Ovelle, began working part-time for their business.
“There is a rarity to Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, the production of coffee in Jamaica is actually very limited. It’s delicious and you are providing for the Jamaican farmers livelihood while receiving a better cup for your money.”  Ovelle Coffee Company’s mission is to promote sustainability, diversity and equity throughout Connecticut’s coffee industry. “Coffee is a male-dominated industry like many others. I want to promote more women in the industry and give women the opportunity to get into the growing speciality market,” shared Sasha. “I also want to share my knowledge of being a Black women-owned business, especially when 8 out 10 minority-owned businesses fail within the first 18 months. We want to assist in decreasing those statistical odds.” As with any start-up business, the Fays have faced some challenges, specifically around funding. “When you are a start-up business it is difficult to get funding for the start-up costs, which are typically $50,000 to $100,000 for almost any normal business. For us creating a budget, business plan and knowing our numbers has greatly assisted us in remaining a debt free company,” she shared. Ovelle Coffee Company has gone beyond fair trade and procured a direct trade partnership with the local Jamaican farmers. “This way, we build the relationship and that sense of community which causes the farmers to find value in their product,” explained Sasha. “They also have an ability to diversify their market to have other buyers and other vendors. This allows the Jamaican farmers to have a better wage. Cutting out the middleman so they can reinvest in their own farms, reinvest in their employees and make a better cup of coffee.” Sasha is particularly proud to be doing business this way.  “There is so much behind this quality cup of coffee that we are getting especially during the pandemic – Jamaica is being hit hard. For example, the curfews and lockdowns being imposed, have a negative impact on some of the smaller farmers. The way we are operating our business invites these farmers to still maintain a quality price for a quality product,” she said. “There is a rarity to Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, the production of coffee in Jamaica is actually very limited. It’s delicious and you are providing for the Jamaican farmers livelihood while receiving a better cup for your money.” In fact, 80% of Blue Mountain coffee gets shipped to Japan while only 20% gets dispersed to the rest of the world. A coveted treasure, it also has multiple health benefits. It is naturally alkaline – it is low in acidity, which means it is gentle on the digestive system. “It assists in lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes, reducing depression by nearly one-third and it contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to you. It also decreases the feelings of jitters and it doesn’t exacerbate stomach issues,” she explained. And who knew that coffee is actually a fruit? “It’s a cherry that has two beans inside and that is what we consume – the two beans. The reason why you can pull different notes out of coffee is because it is a fruit. Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee has rich chocolate and blackberry tasting notes which makes it very smooth and very sweet,” she said.
You can find the Fays at various vendor shows and events greeting their customers and educating the public on the differences between commercial coffees like Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, which can be blended together from different parts of the world and roasted at the same place, and specialty coffees like Ovelle Coffee Company, which originate from specific single origins or single estates and where there is more of an emphasis on taste and on supporting the farmers. Ovelle Coffee Company truly believes in giving back to the community. They donate a portion of their profits to Side with Love, a non-profit that aids in promoting sustainability, diversity and inclusion. They also host free Hope Out Loud events in partnership with the Quaker Meetinghouse in West Hartford to promote open communication and conversations through musicians, poets and artists to speak out against hatred and violence and speak more positivity to the world. And of course, they provide their delicious coffee at these events. The Fays have their eyes set on big things for the future with hopes to acquire a warehouse space, get their products onto grocery store shelves and partner with wholesale vendors. They also hope to expand their reach. “We want to scale up and get our product out to more of a region wide shipment,” said Sasha. No matter how big Ovelle Coffee Company grows—and they’re bound to because of the quality of their product—they remain steadfast in their dedication to working to ethically sustain the farmers that pour their heart and soul into harvesting the beans. Sasha’s biggest motivation? “Waking up every day knowing we are make a difference and seeing the smiles on our customers' faces!” Find Ovelle Coffee online via their website (click here to shop!), on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.  Ovelle Coffee at their first vendor show, the Hill-Stead Museum Juneteeth event in partnership with ShopBlackCT. Ovelle Coffee had a successful event and sold out of coffee! Photo courtesy of Ovelle Coffee. BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Uniquely Cleaned, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in Naugatuck, is a typical family business at heart--but the family that started it is pushing things beyond the norm. Four years ago, Byron Williams was inspired to pursue a family business by his father, a re-entering citizen. “My dad was in prison for 26 years. I didn't want him coming back home and working for somebody. We wanted a business to reintroduce him back into society,” said Williams. “So, we asked him, ‘What type of business do you want us to start?’ and at first he said a moving company, and then somehow, a cleaning business came up.” So, the Williams’ went to work. Once they finished all the paperwork necessary to register their cleaning business with the Secretary of the State, they had to decide what to call it. Byron's wife Dee explained, "My full name is Dewygee, so growing up I would always hear, ‘that name is so different,’ ‘You’re a unique person.’ And I always did do things uniquely!” She just knew their family's cleaning business would have to be called “Uniquely Cleaned.”  In that spirit, Uniquely Cleaned accommodates jobs small, large and in between. As far as they are concerned, every mess is unique, and so is their service. "We pride ourselves on our customer service,” says Dee. “We are not your norm!” Unfortunately, Byron said, “Things did not work out with Dad. He lasted maybe 4 or 5 months.” After the Williams’ found themselves with a cleaning business they hadn’t planned on operating they pressed on, he says, starting with just “some brooms, mops, and a vacuum cleaner. We started off residentially and then got to a point where, on my father’s last day, we received our first commercial contract with a dance studio." When the business launched, the Williams' started it with their four children. Byron handles the marketing and finds customers on a part-time basis, while also working full-time as a power plant operator in Bridgeport. Dee works full-time managing Uniquely Cleaned after leaving her job at a non-profit. Their eldest daughter, Oriana, heads up the business' human resources. 19-year-old Gary and 17-year-old Donni supervise the cleaning business part-time, and their youngest child, at age 11, helps with tasks like taking out the trash.
“The bigger we are, the more people we can help.”  Things started to take off as residents of Naugatuck, Cheshire and Waterbury began calling with residential jobs. Their social media posts and business cards were working, in addition to referrals from happy customers. In their first year, Uniquely Cleaned had seven clients. That number doubled to 14 in the year to follow and, by 2020, their service had grown to supporting 70 clients. But, when COVID-19 hit, it took away about 85% of their business. However, it wasn’t going to be the end for Uniquely Cleaned. Even though they had lost most of their residential business in 2020, they were able to pivot towards more lucrative commercial contracts as people continued to return to work. Returning to his day job at Bridgeport Harbor Station, Byron saw sanitation employees coming in during the day to disinfect the building with a fogger. The entire job was completed in two hours and came with a fee of $5,000. A lightbulb went off in Byron’s head, and he went out that evening to purchase two chemical foggers for Uniquely Cleaned. But instead of only seeking out industrial clients looking to sanitize large facilities, he started including fog sanitization with small deep cleaning jobs, too. This led to more and more calls from pharmacies, daycares and even an automobile dealership. Now, Byron says, “we will be actively looking for contract opportunities in various sizes, applying to and bidding on more state and government contracts, as we are looking to expand as far as we can.”
Byron also used Pandemic downtime to obtain a Minority-Owned Business Certificate from the State of Connecticut. In fact, they found themselves eligible for several grants, including for veterans like Byron. They also registered with a program in Naugatuck to provide summer jobs at their business to a handful of high-school students, and provide hands-on experience with cleaning and office work to learn business administration. Dee is also heavily involved in their local community. She has formed partnerships with Naugatuck’s Police Chief and Superintendent of Schools. She is also on the Board of Directors for Naugatuck’s Youth Services, where Uniquely Cleaned serves as a job site, and as a partner in mentorship and community services. Community service, she says, is her passion. "Community service is a major component of what you are supposed to do anyway," she shared. Mentorship comes as second nature to her after running a federally-funded program to get minority students from Bridgeport, New Haven and Stratford into the medical field in 2012.  In keeping with their original mission, Uniquely Cleaned is a Second Chance Employer. They actively look to hire, train and help people that other employers may reject because of their history of incarceration. This includes a supervisor training program to learn leadership skills, and an administrative training program to help people adjust to working in an office environment. As for what is next, The Williams' are focused on growing their business around the principle that “the bigger we are, the more people we can help.” Uniquely Cleaned is located in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Visit their website, Facebook or Instagram to learn more.  BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Alisha Moten, exuberant and full-of-joy makeup artist and owner of Golden Adorns Artistry, loves to travel with her husband on vacation. She loves to take in all the sights, sounds and scenes from every excursion, but the feeling of refreshment and vibrancy she adopts quickly dissipates when she returns home. Instead of being stuck in a let-down of post-vacation blues, Moten used her experience as a catalyst and inspiration to launch her online business while on a four-month pandemic-induced job furlough in 2020. “Golden is for things that bring you joy,” she shared. “Adorns means to beautify. When I think about life, I want it to be golden and bring me joy, travel, art and beauty." It’s no wonder Moten’s mantra is to live life goldenly. She has a positive mindset and encourages others to do the same by taking just a few minutes a day to de-stress–and her wellness essential oils and candles can help with that. Golden Adorns Artistry features a variety of travel-inspired products, including candles, décor, skin care and wellness.  "When I think about life, I want it to be golden and bring me joy, travel,
Moten offers 10 signature double-wicked candle scents that are each packaged beautifully in glass tumblers with natural cork lids, and include her Luxe Resort Travel Candle, Destination Travel Candle, Exotic Hiatus Travel Candle, Golden Moments Travel Candle and Vacation Hair Travel Candle. “Golden Moments is a sugar lemongrass scent, a sweet but lemony zest—a fun scent,” she shared. “You are creating memories while on vacation, hence, Golden Moments.” And as for her Vacation Hair Travel Candle? “Ladies are excited to go on vacation, so we get our hair done with twists, braids, pixies and up-dos,” she said. And that memory of the smell of “vacation hair” is what she’s captured. She also carries Citrus Crème Lip Smoothie, a very popular lip smoothie made with coconut, Shea butter, lemon essential oil and vanilla. This big seller leaves lips feeling not just smooth but moisturized.  As part of her wellness line, Moten carries wellness essential oils. Her Zest aromatherapy blend is made with lemongrass and peppermint essential oils, and provides a feeling of energy and invigoration–a perfect “pick-me-up” from a mid-afternoon slump. Her Bedtime essential oil is made with lavender and frankincense and helps provide a restful sleep, just like the kind you experience while on vacation. Moten plans to offer specialty boxes—filled with accoutrements—for destination-themed bridal showers and weddings. And, a Golden Candle Travel Club is also on the horizon, where subscribers will receive a monthly candle box—highlighting a different travel destination—and other goodies. What’s more? Moten would like to run her online business on a full-time basis, increasing distribution by expanding her product line into boutiques and home décor shops. If you’re looking for a fun way to spend time with friends, Golden Adorns Artistry offers home parties, themed around beauty, scents and travel. Hosts choose from a list of suggestions and receive many perks, including credit from party merchandise sales. So, if you seek the feeling that comes from a vacation that never ends—the warmth of the sun, the fresh ocean breeze, the sound of your favorite music playing on the beach—then look no further than Golden Adorns Artistry. They truly “capture the feelings of wanderlust through home fragrance, skincare, style and décor.” Golden Adorns Artistry is an online business based in West Haven, Connecticut. Shop on their website by clicking here or visit Golden Adorns Artistry on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.
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 By Lajeune Hollis MGI Fire-Arms—which stands for “Mr. Gibson Instructs”—is the result of two things Ricardo Gibson loves: firearms and teaching. For eight years, Gibson has been teaching children in Waterbury—his hometown—in grades Pre-K through eight. And, he even coaches intramural sports and women’s flag football in his community. The first in his family to graduate college, his aspirations continue to soar as he hopes to become a Waterbury school principal. Six years ago, although he was “anti-gun” growing up, Gibson took a seat in his first pistol training class. He enjoyed it so much that he pursued his Connecticut gun license and soon after, began posting instructional videos on social media. People took notice and the likes, comments and shares began to increase, as did the inquiries for when he was going to start his own pistol instruction business.  Gibson heeded his fans’ advice and, with just five students in his first class in June 2020, he launched MGI Fire-Arms during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. His online class attendee numbers quickly grew beyond 200 from his popularity on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and through word of mouth and his loyalty card referral program. My love for teaching has led me to become a Licensed NRA Instructor,” shared Gibson. “Being an elementary school teacher has led to me keeping the same principles when teaching my pistol course—patience, differentiation and high expectations.” Gibson’s courses include Pistol Permit Certification, CT Basic Permit Certification, and Shooting Refinement for advanced learners. He is also in the process of offering a Massachusetts License to Carry Certification Course. One of his most popular courses is the Utah Pistol Permit Course which covers more than 30 states. He partners with venues like The Gun Store in Connecticut to host it and everything is provided in the classroom, including fingerprints, passport photos, documentation and envelopes to mail everything off. The cost for this course is $130 and is limited to the first 10 people who sign up.  “One of my primary goals is for my students to leave the class feeling comfortable and learning something new."  All of Gibson’s instructional sessions generally last 30 minutes and he meets course participants at their chosen gun range, provides ammunitions, targets and a variety of guns to try. Following classes, if a student wants to get their CT gun license they may need to exercise some added patience. Normally it takes up to eight weeks but due to the pandemic in can take up to six months. “One of my primary goals is for my students to leave the class feeling comfortable and learning something new,” he shared. “I want them to know that they can always use me as a resource and I’m available by phone or text.” One of the many reasons Gibson’s classes are successful is because of his contagious enthusiasm and he recognizes that people learn differently, so he caters to each person accordingly. He has found that some people learn by seeing (visual), some by hearing (aural), some by touching (physical), some by logics (mathematical), some by Interpersonal means (social) and some by Intrapersonal means (solitary). His teaching style adapts to all learning styles.  Gibson’s students rave about his classes, sharing that their “only regret is that [they] didn’t take the class sooner,” that they “loved the class—[it’s] informative yet personal, and to the point,” and encourage that “If you’re looking for an instructor to make you feel at home, relate with you and make sure you have a great time, Ricardo is your guy!” Most of the people who take Gibson’s courses have never even seen a firearm. One student shared, “I brought someone with me who was unknowingly fearful and by the end of our session Ricardo educated her and got her over her fear.”
 Gibson says that he is blessed but recognizes that timing is everything. During the last year, learning how to use a gun safely was high on many people’s list after witnessing disturbing national news stories like George Floyd’s death. MGI Fire-Arms is proof that 2020 wasn’t all bad after all. “The only way to do great work is to love what you,” shares Gibson. According to his words of wisdom, he certainly is doing great work, in many ways. Find MGI Fire-Arms on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or on their website. Class participants must be 18 years or older and 21 years or older to obtain a Connecticut conceal permit license.   BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT.COM DIRECTORY:
 By Lajeune Hollis Launched in August 2020, ReFramed by Nikki is an eyewear business located in North Haven, Connecticut. Owner Nicole Forbes-Shaw—who goes by “Nikki”—is a nurse by trade who believes that patient care should be a nurse’s first priority. With an extensive professional background in nursing, Nikki is an Assistant Nurse Manager of the Interventional Immunology Center where she assists in managing two out of six sites that focus on chronic and auto-immune diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, lupus and other inflammatory disorders. Nikki also attends Western Governors University and is actively working to complete her Masters in Nursing in 2022.  To Nikki, “ReFramed means reframing your visual perspective. Your glasses make your whole visual perspective – clear.” The ReFramed by Nikki eyewear includes a range of styles, from chic and precise, to astute and edgy, with eyewear styles categorized in unique collections, each of which has a significant meaning. The first collection, “The Collective,” was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and was a way of acknowledging the heroic work of close family, friends and colleagues who worked as essential workers – including Nikki herself. Ten percent of the proceeds from eyewear purchased from “The Collective” collection was given to Yale Haven Hospital’s COVID Relief Fund.
“ReFramed means reframing your visual perspective. Your glasses make your whole visual perspective – clear.”  The second collection, launched in October 2020, is the “While Black” collection. It was introduced to increase cultural awareness and knowledge of common stereotypes and issues faced within the Black community. ReFramed by Nikki is an online-based eyewear business that also offers services such as virtual and in-person consultations. In-person consultations are offered for a ten-dollar fee per person. These consultations offer an opportunity to meet with Nikki or a brand ambassador to try on and purchase frames upfront (depending on availability). To ensure the utmost safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nikki and her team adhere to CDC guidelines when meeting in-person. Group consultations require a minimum of five people, with the host receiving their consultation free of charge.  Beginning in Spring 2021, ReFramed by Nikki will offer a new service for clients outside of Connecticut who want to try on or purchase frames. This service will allow clients to select four eyewear styles of their choice and schedule a private Zoom consultation with Nikki or a brand ambassador. The brand will also be expanding to include eyewear for kids, readers and smaller frames for petite faces. Click here to visit the ReFramed by Nikki website or find ReFramed by Nikki on Instagram or Facebook.   BROWSE THE SHOPBLACKCT.COM DIRECTORY:
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