Last month, Hoboken Girl received incredibly positive feedback after publishing our first roundup of businesses founded during the coronavirus pandemic. Instagram comments flooded in with adoration and support for these Hudson County entrepreneurs who dared to dream during dark times and started their businesses after dealing with hardship.
Since spotlighting these companies and founders, we have learned of so many more locals that have joined the likes of The Seedling Agency, The Local Thread, and My Balloon Boutique. See below for ten more unique businesses that were born during the pandemic.
The Belle of the Boards
After the pandemic caused Lexi Pelligrini’s college classes to go virtual, she decided she wanted to use her time in her hometown of Hobokenhome wisely. Enter “Belle of the Boards.” A self-proclaimed foodie and lover of hosting, Lexi’s business making cheese and charcuterie boards has been a fun escape from our current, crazy reality. Lexi currently offers cheese boards ready for delivery and is working on different charcuterie types, such as breakfast and dessert boards! Follow Belle of the Boards on Instagram @thebelleoftheboards and try not to drool over her delicious creations!
Slumberbee Teepee & Events
Sarah Cruz is a Jersey City resident and Hoboken teacher whose business, Slumberbee Teepee & Events, grew out of a quarantine hobby. Simply put, Sarah’s decorating projects turned into something that she wanted to share with everyone. Her business specializes in themed teepee sleepover parties, indoor and outdoor picnics, and more. Don’t worry – the teepees are suitable for kids and adults and are the perfect party set up during these socially distanced times. Check out just how beautiful and innovative Sarah’s teepee creations are on her business Instagram @slumberbee_teepee and consider booking her for your next {small} get together.
Bright and Baby
Most people would agree, moms have been the superheroes of this pandemic. NICU nurses, coworkers, friends, and Hudson County residents Megan and Brittany likely think so, too! At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the duo launched their business, Bright & Baby, to provide virtual support to expectant and new moms. Both women have an incredible amount of experience working with new parents. They have cared for thousands of babies – premature, full-term, bottle-fed, breastfed, twins, triplets, with medical needs, with first-time parents, with experienced parents, from many backgrounds and cultures. They also hold certifications in basic life support, pediatric advanced life support, and neonatal resuscitation. Bright & Baby offers a Baby 101 Class, a Pumping Basics Class, and are teaming up with a local lactation consultant and a birth doula to do a 3 part virtual series later this year. Follow @brightandbaby on Instagram for tips, tricks, and information about their upcoming workshops.
Read More: Latinx-Owned Businesses to Support in Hoboken + Jersey City
JJ Paperie & Co
In January, Johanna Gutierrez-Griffiths launched her calligraphy, engraving & design studio in Hoboken. She never anticipated that her business {which was primarily in-person workshops} would come to a screeching halt in March. While JJ Paperie & Co wasn’t technically “born” during the pandemic, Covid-19 forced Johanna to pivot quickly from her original business plan. For as long as she can remember, Johanna has always been a DIY-er and creator, whether it was sewing ribbon belts together as a kid or putting together a collage on her wall. When everything went virtual, Johanna went digital. In March, she took classes on how to use Adobe Illustrator and began building her line of stationery and products. She currently sells her cards at Bloomies Flower Shop in Hoboken and Love Locked in Jersey City. Johanna has a paper good product for every occasion! She tells us her holiday line will be dropping soon, as well. Check out Johanna’s creations on Instagram @jjpaperieco!
McSquared Marketing
Melissa Cooper was laid off from her job at Travel Weekly in July, and the next day decided to start her own business offering marketing consulting services to travel agents. As upset as she was to leave the travel world, this venture has helped her stay connected in the industry and keep her skills sharp. Melissa has amassed 15 clients so far and supports their business by creating custom social media plans for travel agents to improve their content as travel slowly makes its return. Check out Melissa’s Instagram @mcsquaredmarketing and Facebook Page.
Cre8tive Crayons
When Susan Goldman was unfortunately furloughed from her job of over 7.5 years in the fashion industry, she was suddenly, unexpectedly, spending a lot of time putting her creative skills to use while crafting with her daughter. What was even more unexpected for Susan was when she and her daughter’s quarantine hobby led her to become a local entrepreneur. After making homemade crayons one day in May, she realized that her friends and family would also enjoy the product, so she launched a small business selling them. Cre8tive Crayons has received a wonderful response not just in Hudson County but throughout the US as the product ship nationwide. Susan also shared that she was proud to leverage fellow Hoboken moms to build her website and logo. Shop the Cre8tive Crayons website and follow them on Instagram @cre8ivecrayonz and Facebook.
belle âme Handmade Jewelry
Amanda D’Addario works in public relations full time but found herself looking for stay-at-home hobbies when the pandemic forced everyone indoors. She decided to use her new hobby of jewelry-making to support a significant cause that she is passionate about – mental health. A portion of all belle âme jewelry sales is donated to The Loveland Foundation’s Therapy Fund, which provides financial assistance to Black women and girls nationally seeking therapy. She makes simple, trendy pieces that are all 24k and 18k gold plated and accepts custom orders. Check out Amanda’s jewelry on Instagram @belle_amejewelry or visit my website belle âme handmade jewelry to view her products and read more about her story.
Calliope Sisters
A local nine and 12-year-old duo from Hoboken are making beautiful mask chains for their local friends and parents. These young entrepreneurs are ready to take the fashion world by storm! Using unique beans and chain links, Carys and Joia are bringing style and positivity to our new reality of mask-wearing while giving back with a portion of proceeds going to the Hoboken Shelter. Buy a mask chain from these sisters via their Instagram @calliopesisters.
See More: The Co. Opens in Hoboken: A Home + Wellness Boutique on Washington
Rainbow Love
This colorful 9-year-old felt uncomfortable with mask straps and sensed her young friends might feel the same way. Tia Gosser decided to create tie-dyed bandanas to serve as headbands that hold masks in place and reduce discomfort. Her tie-dyed bandanas blossomed into creating personalized tie-dyed t-shirts to help other kids stand out proudly from behind their masks. A portion of proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry. Follow Tia’s business on Instagram @rainbow_love07030.
Cucina di Christina
After months of working her part-time job remotely and cooking more than ever due to stay-at-home orders, West New York resident Christina Tamaso was hungry to start her own side hustle. Enter: Cucina di Christina, a homemade, Italian, tomato sauce company. Christina’s love for sauce begins with her passion for Sunday dinners. When her friends had gushed over a batch of her delicious sauce, she recognized she had a skill she could use to jumpstart a business. Cucina di Christina offers a range of Italian sauces, including Traditional Tomato, Vodka, and Four Cheese within her “Sunday Sauce” Collection. Follow this sauce boss on Instagram at @cucinadichristina and DM her to order.
Swag and Soirees
{Photo credit: @shannondicksona}
Shannon Dickson created had a love of design from a very early age. Her childhood was surrounded by all things creative from baking to sewing and everything in between. Her main inspirations and fondest memories are spending mornings sewing doll clothing with her grandmother and countless weekends crafting with her mother in her craft room. Her life has always been full of family gatherings, filled with laughter, food, and art. “After graduating from college with a Bachelor’s in Fashion Design, I followed my dream to NYC and spent the next 20+ years cultivating my career as an Apparel Designer. Ten years ago I met the first love of my life, my Daughter Farrah, and three years later, my daughter Fallon. Art quickly became an everyday staple in our home and creating and celebrating Holidays and Birthdays had a new sparkle and meaning,” she said. That’s when she realized her passion for “Swag and Soiree” design. Shannon creates art kits, and because of COVID-19, she is currently hosting virtual parties to walk kids step-by-step through the arts and crafts kits.
Sol Water Co.
{Photo credit: @solwatercompany}
This company makes a canned beverage that they call a “morning mineral cocktail” that aids hydration and digestion throughout the day and consists of just three ingredients – natural spring water, pink Himalayan salt, and organic lemon juice. They are based in Hoboken but ship nationally. Sol Water Co. has their beverage stocked in a few gyms in Hoboken and throughout the Northeast.
Mask Chains by Mandy
Amanda Teannenbaum is a Hoboken resident who turned her quarantine hobby into an at-home business making and selling mask chains. All chains are made to order and can be customized by chain style and personalized with charms or names/initials {if beaded}. The best part? Amanda offers local delivery! Check out some of her creations on her Instagram @maskchains_bymandy and send her a DM to order.
