Words by Chanelle Goddard
Established companies are great, but sometimes, small businesses do it better.
Every Now and then, an entrepreneur with a vision sets out to change an industry or create a new one; if done well, the results can be phenomenal – Uber and Gymshark should come to mind. Small businesses and young entrepreneurs are on the rise, and with their promising level of creativity and skill, they may well become the next Uber of their industry – here are some great small UK businesses you need to pay attention to:
TRIM-IT: ‘It’s like Uber, but for haircuts’
Making sure you have a sharp trim and that you’re looking your best is important to thousands of men in the UK. As you know, from our article on how Barbershops became a safe haven for Black men, barbershops are an important part of most men’s routines – so can anything make them better?
Whilst it’s a safe haven for most, for others, it can also be a waste of time if you’re having to travel and wait for long periods of time. For Darren Tenkorang and Nana Darko, the solution is simple – a mobile barbershop that you book via an app. TRIM-IT is the UK’s first mobile app powered by barbers based in London. A haircut right at your doorstep – could it get any more convenient? For all you men out there who put off getting a haircut for months, due to time and being busy, TRIM-IT is here to change the game. All you have to do is download the ‘TRIM-IT’ app on your phone, book your appointment and a ‘TRIM-IT’ barbershop van will arrive at your location. You can even earn £250 for referring a barber to their network. A haircut and the potential to earn some side cash – what’s not to love?
Trap Kitchen : A seafood sensation
Seafood cuisine is becoming increasingly popular in the UK food market. From delectable Lobsters to juicy prawns, Trap Kitchen is there to satisfy all your seafood cravings. Trap Kitchen was started by Shakka, a young entrepreneur from South London, who started the business on his Instagram account and cooked the food in his kitchen.
Social media-based orders and marketing brought major success for Shakka, as up to 200 meals were ordered through his Instagram page per night – proving the power of social media in reaching new customers and audiences. With the growth of the business, Shakka and Trap Kitchen opened its first commercial restaurants in South London and Manchester. The ‘@trapkitchen’ Instagram account still remains open and active for orders, so drop them a DM or visit their restaurants – after all, they do have world-famous chef Fred Sirieix’s approval.
Innocent Hair Care : an eco-friendly solution to all your hair care issues
Sustainability, eco-friendliness and natural ingredients are three features people care about more and more when considering which hair products to buy and use. There are many big-named Afro hair care brands that you might know of, but given the increase in awareness of climate change and the environment, there’s still a massive gap in the market for eco-friendly Afro hair care products : enter Innocent Hair Care. Lisa and Leida, who founded the company, have basically become the fairy godmothers of natural and sustainable Afro hair care products – all their products some in recyclable glass, and they only use clean and natural ingredients.
The issue of climate change can hardly be understated : In our modern world, it’s important we do our part and make a change, even if that change is as small as using sustainable and eco-friendly hair products. Launched recently in 2019, it has grown and is on track to become a major success. For affordable and effective results for your hair, whilst being eco-conscious, look no further than Innocent Hair Care.
Kitsch Noir : greeting cards with creative humour
A card can say a lot about a person. To take your celebratory card game to another level, you’ll need Kitsch Noir – the black-owned UK based greeting card and accessory business, which is bound to make your card recipient happy. With their creative and innovative cards, Kitsch Noir wants to spread humour, love and joy, whilst celebrating Black British culture – ethnic characters, funny slogans and amazing graphic designs all feature on their celebration cards.
From slogans such as ‘I would give you my last plantain’ to ‘I love Jollof’ lunch bags, Kitsch Noir is adding humour and culture to your greeting and celebratory cards.
Yard Confectionary: A chocolate lover’s dream
This one is for all you chocolate lovers! Ashley, who is from Jamaica, but was born and raised in London and Rachel who is from South London, combined their talents for baking and calligraphy to start Yard confectionary, which produces homemade luxurious confectionary for all sweet and chocolate lovers. Organic, preservative-free, and no refined sugars – it’s definitely one to try.
Yard confectionary is different from most other sweets and chocolate brands in one important way: all their chocolates contain Cocoa beans sourced from Jamaica – giving you the finest quality products. Dark chocolate, coconut milk, and even CBD 5% – Yard confectionary has the chocolate game covered!