Spread holiday cheer by supporting alumni-owned businesses
The VCU Office of Alumni Relations is proud to support small businesses near and far this weekend for Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. The alumni-owned business directory lists more than 250 businesses from around the country. Use the directory to find the perfect gifts for your family and friends this year.
Spotlights
Read about two of our alumni business owners.
- Color & Culture, owned by alumna Fatima Smith (M.S.W.’12/SW). Started in 2019, Color & Culture is a Black father-daughter duo designing shirts and pillows that celebrate Black and brown people while giving back to the community. A portion of their sales is donated to support education of Black and brown students, survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Black mental health, youth who identify as LGBTQ+, Black transwomen and the mentorship of Black and brown girls.
- Studio Two Three, owned by alumna Ashley Hawkins (B.F.A.’07/A; M.P.A.’13/GPA; Cert.’13/GPA). Do you live in Richmond, Virginia, and want to support local artists and learn something new? Try a class at Studio Two Three. Also visit their Winter Market featuring 40-plus local artists at the studio daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 28- Dec. 24.
Give the gift of an experience
Buy a gift card from alumni-owned businesses and enjoy the experience when it is safe to do so.
- Kul Wheels Electric Bikes, owned by alumna Marna Bales (B.S.’97/MC). Traveling to Richmond, Virginia, or interested in playing tourist for fun? Kul Wheels Electric Bikes allows you to see the city without all the pedaling. The company also specializes in sales and service of electric bikes.
- Richmond Mural Tour, owned by alumna Kayla Diggs Brody (B.S.’10/H&S; Cert.’12/GPA; M.P.H.’12/M; Cert.’16/E). Richmond, Virginia, is filled with creative murals. Ever wonder what a mural means? Or why the artist designed it the way they did? Take a neighborhood-specific tour to learn more about the artwork that fills the capital city’s streets.
Live demos
Tune in for live demonstrations to make your holiday season even brighter.
- Dec. 3: Join Mixing Bowl Bakery’s Tracy Stevens (B.S.’00/H&S; M.T.’00/E) for an Instagram Live demo of winter cookie decorating tips. If you live in the Richmond, Virginia, area, buy a DIY Cookie Decorating Kit directly from The Mixing Bowl Bakery by calling (804) 288-2712. Kits cost $12.75 and include eight cookies, four icing bags and three sprinkle containers. Order yours for pick up by Dec. 1.
- Dec. 17: Join Honey Cotton Willow’s Janice Choudhury (B.S.’12/H&S) for a Instagram Live demo of the perfect winter tablescape design and learn how she became an event planner.