While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are often the biggest sales days for corporate businesses, Small Business Saturday — which falls on Nov. 28 this year — encourages you to support local business owners. This year, and for years to come, we suggest you consider supporting communities of color, including these Black-owned businesses from UCF alumni entrepreneurs.

Classé Closet

In January 2019, psychology grad Rashmy Delva ’11 launched her online boutique, Classé Closet. With a goal to help women develop a more sophisticated and classier look, the site features polished, modest clothing at affordable prices.

Location: ClasseCloset.com
Contact: Info@ClasseCloset.com

Daydreams Catering

With visions of becoming a chef and owning a 5-star restaurant, sports and exercise science grad Malik Brown ’19 is building his culinary skillset through his own catering business. Based in Orlando, Daydreams Catering offers private dining meals and buffet-style catering, with vegan options coming soon.

Contact: DM on Instagram @DaydreamsCatering; email Info@DaydreamsCatering.com

HR Connection LLC

Whether you need help with your resume and cover letters or could benefit from coaching or optimizing your LinkedIn, criminal justice and legal studies Holly Noon ’11 ’16MS can assist with your career needs through HR Connection LLC. As a certified Society of Human Resource Management professional, Noon provides consulting services for organizations to assist with talent acquisition, creating job events, holding training sessions, and matters related to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Contact: HRConnection.llc ; HRConnectionLLC@gmail.com

Inspired Counseling Center

The pandemic has impacted everyone’s lives this year, but it’s important to remember to get help if you need it. Located in the greater Orlando area, the Inspired Counseling Center, which was created by social work grad Shaenor (Harding) Ishmael ’12 ’13MSW, is providing tele-health sessions for a range of individual and relationship counseling needs.

Contact: InspiredCounselingCenter.com; Shaenor@InspiredCounselingCenter.com

Phnyx Solutions

After completing a minor in digital media, Marcus Francis ’19 is putting his graphic design skills to use with Phnyx Solutions. Specializing in logo design, motion graphics and marketing material design, the aerospace engineering grad aims to help new businesses develop their identity and established companies successfully rebrand.

Location: Phnyx.Solutions
Contact: Marcus@Phnyx.Solutions

Popcorn Junkie

Growing up, Minetta Crosier ’11 enjoyed making popcorn with her mother and grandmother, so much so the organizational communication grad has developed a business around the iconic movie snack. With a location on Church Street, Popcorn Junkie serves up more than 20 handcrafted, gourmet flavors, as well as a variety of premium nuts.

Location: 595 W. Church Street, Suite K, Orlando, FL 32805; MyPopcornJunkie.com
Contact: 407-634-0042

Rayne’s Noggin

As a young mom, public administration grad Adanma (Robertson) Francis ’18 struggled to find affordable hair accessories for her child and knew others likely did too. So she launched Rayne’s Noggin, which includes products such as reversible satin bonnets, durags and satin scrunchies in a range of sizes from newborn to adult.

Location: RaynesNoggin.com
Contact: Message on Etsy