Name: Krystina Jackson

Business Name: Soulful Threads, 1022 Chapel Street, New Haven.

Year Business was started in New Haven: November 2020. Storefront on Chapel opened on November 15th 2023. We are a new store!

Why did you start your own business?

After graduating with my master’s in social work from UConn in 2020, I like many others lost their jobs when Covid hit. I decided to pick up some side jobs to help cover the bills and selling clothes became one of them. I got great feedback from people saying I had a great eye and its led from one opportunity to the next. I’ve always been a girl addicted to retail, so this was the perfect dream for me to work towards. 

Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?

After considering many other locations, both inside and out of the state, I chose New Haven because of its dedication to progressive change downtown. The culture is growing here, and young people are now looking here as a great place to build a life. No matter who you are, you can find your niche in New Haven. The only thing it was missing was a place for curated 90s/y2k vintage, which is the hole we have tasked ourselves with filling. 

What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business? 

In December 2021, I lost my brother and only sibling to a rare cancer that took him within a year of diagnoses. Grief is by far the hardest thing i’ve dealt with. Especially being in my young adulthood. My brother was a computer programmer who helped start the makings of what is now our website. I made it my mission after he died to make Soulful a success and here we are in one of the Shops at Yale 2 years since he passed. 

Photos courtesy of Soulful Threads

Name: Eiress Hammond

Business Name: MINI PNG, 77 Audubon Street, New Haven

Year Business was started in New Haven:

2022 – storefront

2019 – started making clothing online

Why did you start your own business?:

In 2019 as an 18-year-old, I was going to college for pre law in a whole different state! (Ohio State University) and I felt like the creative side of me was missing that had always been a part of me. In HS I wanted to go to college for fashion design after studying abroad in high school in Europe and getting inspired by fashion in general. BUT I wanted to go to college in NYC. I was told by my HS counselor that the field held no income for me. So, I went for my plan B major which was prelaw. I came back home transferring colleges after my first semester in Ohio trying to figure myself out after a horrible personal experience. I started making clothing and selling it online for fun and for extra money since I couldn’t hold a job with the prelaw program I was in. My designs went viral, and I took a step back from college in 2020 during the pandemic to really focus on what I loved.

Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?:

My family is from New Haven! My Abuela immigrated from Puerto Rico – Brooklyn with family merging into New Haven. My grandmother went to ACES as a kid and the location of my shop with ACES being right next door was a full circle moment!

What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?:

One of my biggest challenges was dropping college. I’m a first gen student in my family (only child) and it was very pushed on me to be the one to follow the road to success “the right way.” I’ve always had support from my family, but it was more of an internal battle and the overall fear of failure/ that what if aspect of veering off the path that’s expected.

Photos courtesy of Mini PNG

Name: Neville Wisdom

Business Name: Neville Wisdom Fashion Design Studio, 27 Broadway, New Haven

Year Business was started in New Haven: 2007 

Why did you start your own business?

I started my own business because I wanted to do what I love and I also wanted to be in control of my own destiny.

Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?

I chose New Haven because I migrated from Jamaica and settled in New Haven. I would’ve have started my own business no matter where I lived and I had a fashion design company in Jamaica prior. 

What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business?   

 At the time I started my business funding was one of the major challenges, but now that I know better, experience was my biggest challenge. I have no regrets but for those who may be trying to start their own business. Get as much information as you can and make sure you can adjust your budget if you don’t meet your projections. Just find a way, dream big, act fast and never worry about failure.  Starting a business in Connecticut was not easy but could have been easy if I had a more confidence and push the limits a little much more and not compromise. Stay true to who you are.

Photos courtesy of Neville Wisdom’s Fashion Design Studio

Name: Carrien Davis

Business Name: Any Occasion Creation Florist, 1090 Chapel Street, New Haven

Year Business was started in New Haven: 2014

Why did you start your own business?

I gained inspiration from my parents, who kept flowers all throughout her home in the Caribbean Island of Dominica. As a teenager, I would be tasked with picking flowers from the family garden for the dinner table, and she enjoyed making arrangements.  

Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven?

My family immigrated to the United States when I was 17. Upon seeing the abundance of flower shops and craft stores, I realized that I could turn my interest into a profession and began taking orders for floral arrangements from friends.

What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business? 

It’s challenging to get support from the community, however, over time, I was able to develop a clientele.  People noticed my work and that turned out to be the primary driver for orders.

Photos courtesy of Any Occasion Creation Florist

Name: Alisha Crutchfield 

Business Name: BLOOM, 794 Edgewood Avenue, New Haven

Year Business was started in New Haven: 2021

Why did you start your own business? 

I started BLOOM because I have a deep passion for fostering creativity and providing a space where people can connect. I wanted to create a business that not only offers thoughtful products for purchase but also serves as an enriching community hub for thoughtful conversations and connecting. My goal is to inspire others through community, culture and commerce, while also creating a fulfilling career for myself.

Why did you choose to start your business in New Haven? 

I chose New Haven because it has a vibrant community that values local businesses and creativity. The city’s rich cultural and artistic heritage aligns perfectly with my vision for BLOOM. Additionally, New Haven has a diverse population that appreciates unique, locally-sourced products. It felt like the ideal place to establish a business that promotes sustainability and community engagement.

What challenges did you have to overcome in starting your business? 

Starting BLOOM came with its share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was securing funding and navigating the financial aspects of launching a small business. Additionally, managing the logistics of sourcing products and supplies while maintaining high quality was a task I had to learn to handle efficiently. However, with determination and support from the community, I was able to overcome these obstacles and establish a thriving business.

Photos courtesy of BLOOM