8 Small Businesses to support for Hispanic Heritage Month
Here's a roundup of a few standout small businesses and creatives to support for Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond. A mix of new features, past features, and features coming soon -- but all equally as stellar nonetheless.
Melanie Abrantes Designs
This is a feature from years ago, I’m still in love with the gorgeous pieces Melanie crafts by hand.
Melanie Abrantes Designs creates sustainable cork and wood products for the home using the technique of lathing when she hand-makes all her one-of-a-kind products in Oakland, CA.
You can also join Mel’s Carving Club to get a one-time or subscription-based box so you can learn to DIY something yourself.
Umber Chocolates
What started as a university job for Umber Chocolates owner Veronica in 2013 is now a luxury and custom chocolatier business based in Pittsburgh, PA, with their gorgeous chocolates ranging from unique to classic flavors.
You can now pre-order their limited release Halloween Collection. Plus, their website has a form where you can suggest flavors for future collections! Plus, you can put in a custom order for company gifts or events — we love a brand that takes community’s tastes in mind!
DXTROSE Arts
Dexter Komakaru / DXTROSE (he/him) is a Chicano QTPOC Multidisciplinary Illustrator, Content Creator, and Community Organizer who began his creative career in 2015. You can buy his art online or hire him for illustrations, design work, or more to create magic together like this 2024 collaboration with @foreveryone.collective pictured.
Kuali Salsa
Kuali Salsa was born from childhood memories of the kitchen as a sacred space, and a desire to create a salsa that truly tasted like México.
Their current selections are two takes on salsa macha, a Mexican chili oil that originated from Orizaba. If their commitment to staying true to authentic family recipes wasn’t enough to convince you to try their products, their Clásica also won the 2024 Good Food Award.
Kuali Salsa makes small batches weekly that you can order online, or if you’re in the Bay Area, you can catch them at local farmer’s markets on the weekend.
Be Nice Have Fun
Right along York Blvd in Los Angeles, you’ll find Be Nice Have Fun, a Latina-Owned gift & community space, whose online and in-person shop curates items from QTBIPOC+ small businesses — in other words, it’s a wonderland for anyone browsing our Gifts category.
Though most sticker enthusiasts will flock to their desk/stationery section, they also have incredible selections in apparel, accessories, body & skincare, home & kitchen goods, and gifts for kids.
Bawi Agua Fresca
Bawi is a sparkling, healthier twist on classic agua fresca that came to fruition by co-founder Victor’s childhood love for agua fresca from Monterrey, Mexico.
Bawi hopes to bring Hispanic consumers a drink that tastes just like home, while still giving them a healthy option with lower sugar than the traditional drink.
You can buy their guayaba, limón, piña, and maracuyá (guava, lime, pineapple, passionfruit) drinks online or in stores all over the country.
el Creativo
Juan "el Creativo" Renteria is a destination florist. Just one look at the el Creativo Instagram and you can see why his gorgeous work has been appreciated by brands like Le Monde Gourmand, Don Julio, and Puma.
If you missed his recent Taller de Flores workshop tour, you can stay tuned on his IG for future plans or shop for beautiful merch on the studio website.
OCOA
Ocoa Beauty made history this summer as the first Dominican curly hair care brand to join the Ulta Beauty team!
The brand’s heritage lives in every aspect of the brand. They looked to their homeland and culture to source the ingredients used in their formulations, and Ocoa is the name of Cory and Nicol’s hometown in the Dominican Republic, meaning “a place between mountains.”