As you prepare your shopping list this holiday season — don’t forget about the city’s vibrant local business scene.
In addition to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this week also marks Small Business Saturday.
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Local entrepreneurs are encouraging shoppers to visit throughout the season. Four business owners joined “Chicago Tonight” to share their work.
Bomb Beauty Boutique
Owner Marshawna “Mars” Miller launched Bomb Beauty Boutique out of the trunk of her car during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now located in West Pullman, the boutique sells women’s fashion and accessories.
Miller’s passion for fashion stems back to her childhood. She said it was a way to empower herself and build confidence. Now she uses her business to empower the community by hosting events and training.
“I do a lot of free things at my store and a lot of community things because … it’s a community aspect,” Miller said. “I had an Election Night watch party. … I also host what I call a boutique boot camp, so I teach people how to start their own boutiques.”
Shoppers can also visit Bomb Beauty Boutique at various pop-ups throughout the city.
Colores Mexicanos
The Michigan Avenue storefront features vibrant colors, textures and patterns straight from Mexico and Chicago’s Latino communities. Colores Mexicanos co-owners Leti Espinosa, Erika Espinosa and Gabriel Neely work with artisans to find handmade goods that feature the culture.
“We started out from the humblest of origins, working street festivals around the city and making contacts across Mexico through our own family networks, through travel,” Neely said.
Now, being a small business in the heart of downtown has brought opportunities to showcase artisans’ work not only to Chicago but to all who visit the city.
“It’s a real blessing to be sort of in the eyes of the world downtown,” Neely said. “And we really try to represent Chicago as best we can.”
Visit the Colores Mexicanos website for information about the shop’s next next event, a piñata making class on Dec. 14.
Cisneros Leather Co.
Owner and leather maker Mario Cisneros said he’s always had a passion for creating things with his hands. When a co-worker’s tape measure holder broke while they were working, Cisneros realized there was an opportunity.
“So I went home, made a better one, a better version of it, took it to him, and then it was just like wildfire,” Cisneros said. “Like, ‘Hey, can you make me more?’ Then that turned into, ‘Can you make belts? Can you make wallets?’”
With Cisneros Leather Co., Cisneros now sells a variety of handcrafted leather items such as wallets, bags and bracelets at a pop-up shop at Holly House in Orland Park and will be teaching a leather-making class to give back to the community.
“I know I struggled with trying to find an outlet for the energy that I have,” Cisneros said. “And then I figured why not just give back to the kids that are seeking that kind of craftsmanship, and teach them how to do everything by hand, because everything I do is by hand.”
Strugglebeard Bakery
When bakery owner Quinton McNair returned home after 24 years in the military, he had two things on his mind — he wanted to grow a beard and was learning to live with PTSD. Both were a struggle, but out of it came a business in Hyde Park.
McNair said that wasn’t easy at first either.
“Baking was a struggle when I first started,” McNair said. “But with a little bit of practice, and like, the genuine love for it, I got a lot better. … One thing I enjoy about baking is the actual sharing of it. People enjoy things that I create.”
He also partners with other local business owners to create merchandise, serve coffee and host events.
During the holiday season, Strugglebeard Bakery will host weekly events at the store. Check out the bakery’s social media for the latest.
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Thanks to our sponsors:
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