Simple Elegance empowers mature women by providing beautiful accessories that reinforce a sense of confidence and uniqueness of style in a youth-centered culture. Simple Elegance specializes in hand-crafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. These works of art accentuate even the most conservative attire and amplify the presence of any mature woman tastefully and elegantly. Company Name: Simple Elegance Location: Newark, New Jersey What products/services does your business offer? Accessories (hats, sunglasses, belts, shawls, etc) and hand-made jewelry Milestones and Accomplishments:  In 2013, Valerie Dixon became the third Rising Tide Entrepreneur [...]

Kiwan N. Fitch founded The EmPOWERment Corps., LLC with the mission to “equip women in transition with resources needed for victory.” She has authored two volumes of Confessions of a Welfare Mom written by and for women who have at one time been on welfare.  “I’m honored that so many women were able to search within their lives and decide to share their stories. It is the hope of this project that women will read the stories and get hope- hope for a future, hope for success.” All contributors share [...]

After 18 years in the New York fashion industry, Dana Osborne-Biggs decided to focus on what she loves doing most- designing one-of-a-kind leather bags and accessories.  As founder of Urban Heirlooms, Dana designs and crafts fashion accessories distinguished by high-end leather, gorgeous antique and vintage keys, and vintage textiles.  Every handmade piece is “a piece of history”. Company Name: Urban Heirlooms Location: Atlanta, Georgia What products/services does your business offer: Urban Heirlooms offers high-quality leather bags, card holders, cuff bracelets, wallets for women and men, antique key necklaces and more! Milestones and Accomplishments: [...]

“When mommy looks good she feels good, and when she feels good she can be a good mommy” – that’s the philosophy which guides Mrytle & Flossie Maternity, a one-stop shop for the fashion and beauty products mother needs before, during and after pregnancy. On the Mrytle & Flossie website, mothers can find comfortable, fashionable attire as well as organic body products that are safe for mother and child. Founder and CEO Nia Reid-Allen draws inspiration from her 15+ years of experience in the fashion and beauty industry and her [...]

From an early age, Nicole ‘Nik’ Rivers exhibited a passion for art and design. Her talent brought her success including a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and jobs with Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. However, she finally realized her dream when she launched her own business. Launched in December 2011, One Third Tribal specializes in the retail sale of one-of-kind home goods from around the world and the creation of beautifully distinct interiors through the full service interior and event styling services. To every project, Nicole brings innovation [...]

Property Maintenance Guys provides building, exterior and preventative maintenance as well as handyman services across New Jersey. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, PMG offers the highest quality services at affordable rates. Find us online at www.PropertyMaintenanceGuys.com. Company Name: Property Maintenance Guys Location: Jersey City  What products/services does your business offer? Building Maintenance  plumbing, HVAC and electrical maintenance and carpentry Exterior Maintenance including snow clearing, lawn maintenance, power washing, and window cleaning Handyman Services including clean outs, painting, door replacement and hanging flat screen TVs Preventative Maintenance including checking and replacing carbon monoxide detectors/fire extinguishers, [...]

Moira Brett is the CEO of Buttercup Cosmetics, LLC and the creator of GreenShave, a line of all-natural shaving cream made to be enjoyed by men and women. Healing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, aloe vera and green tea leave your skin feeling silky smooth after every shave. You can make your purchase online at www.GreenShave.com or by visiting Caprice Beauty Bar in Jersey City. Company Name: GreenShave Location: Jersey City What products/services does your company offer: GreenShave is a line of all-natural shaving cream for men and [...]

Keepsake Creations is dedicated to capturing important memories with high-quality photography and graphic design. Founder and CEO Tonya Handy is passionate about photography and creative design. She not only offers portraits but also event photography, chomakei photography and graphic design. Contact or stop by her office for a free consultation today. Company Name: Keepsake Creations Location: 180 Danforth Ave, Jersey City     What products and services do you offer: Portraits Birthday Parties Glamour Shots Portrait Parties Fashion Show Photography Chromakei Technology Graphic Design Video Milestones and Accomplishments Opened a shop in Jersey [...]

Vance has a passion for baking and good food which comes across the moment you taste one of his Not Just Cookies creations. All of his products are homemade, preservative-free and made fresh-to-order. His top sellers include his “famous red velvet cake, addictive carrot cake, and mouth watering chocolate cake”. Inspired by his mother, “the best apple pie maker in the world”, Vance hopes to one day open a bakery serving the highest-quality, flavorful baked goods. Company Name: Not Just Cookies Location: Jersey City   What Products/Services does your business [...]

The Jersey City Food Co-Operative was founded on the belief that all people deserve access to good food. That’s why they work to make wholesome, delicious food available and affordable for all of Jersey City’s families. The Jersey City Food Co-Operative is a member-owned and operated food store — an alternative to commercial profit-oriented business. As members, people contribute their labor: working together builds trust through cooperation and teamwork and enables members to keep prices as low as possible within the context of their values and principles. Company Name: Jersey City Food Co-Operative Location: [...]

Elizabeth Migliore is the founder of Jersey City Veggie Burgers, an all-natural line of savory, vegetarian burgers. “We offer bold-tasting burgers that don’t need to be smothered in ketchup to taste good,” said Migliore, who relies on fresh ingredients and spices to flavor her burgers. Inspired by ethnic flavors, the Sweet Collard Green Burger has a hint of peanut and West African spice while the White Bean Broccoli Rabe Burger has an Italian flair.Sold in packages of four, they can be purchased at the weekly Hamilton Park Farmers Market. Read [...]

With over a decade of experience in the electrical field, eco-preneur Nyaima Smith founded J. Davis Electrical Group to combine her skills with her passion for environmental sustainability.  A socially conscious electrical company, J. Davis Electrical Group helps customers reduce operational costs and eliminate inefficiencies. J. Davis Electrical Group’s team works with both residential and corporate customers.   Company Name: J. Davis Electrical Group Ltd. Location: Jersey City What products/services does your business offer? Creation of corporate sustainable energy plans Installation of renewable energy technologies Energy analysis, audits and retrofits [...]

Using original stories and group story-building activities, Story Haven nurtures creativity and confidence in children by providing a safe space to play and stories to inspire. Along the way, participants learn fundamental life skills, including group collaboration, creative problem-solving, confident presence, clear communication and respect for the ideas of others. Story Haven was created by actress Anna Nugent and continues to grow with the help of performer/educator Amy Elise de Jong. All story Haven facilitators are professionals in the fields of entertainment and education. Story Haven partners with schools, families [...]

Moms’ Choice LLC is an in-home care provider that assists families in need of child or senior care throughout Northern NJ and New York City. Through a screening process which includes a background check, face-to-face interviews, and family application, Moms’ Choice LLC matches clients with care providers that best match their individual needs. “For many American families today, getting quality care in the comfort of the home is not an option, it’s an absolute necessary. Moms’ Choice LLC is committed to ensuring that your loved ones receive that best in-home [...]

Lori Childs founded BCBL Credit Solutions to help consumers evaluate and learn how to significantly improve their credit score. BCBL (Better credit, better life) Credit Solutions provides one-on-one consulting with a 100% money back guarantee. “It’s never too soon to start working on improving your credit score. A good score can be the difference that saves you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage, auto loan or credit card,” said Childs who also teaches free monthly credit score workshops. See contact information below to learn more [...]

Style Haven boutique in Montclair, NJ carries women’s vintage clothing, emerging designer pieces, gifts and accessories. Every article of clothing in the store is in-season and hand-picked by stylist and Style Haven founder, Corin Wright. In addition, Style Haven provides a number of styling services which include closet makeover, personal shopper services, and alterations. “There aren’t many boutiques that offer the array of services that you’ll find at Style Haven,” says Wright, who opened her store after 10 years working in the fashion industry. To learn more about Style Haven [...]

CORE Compass Coaching is a life-coaching service designed to assist women with clarifying their life goals and mapping out the steps needed to achieve those dreams. The program is intended for women seeking to improve their lives in a specific way, such as changing careers, finding a healthy relationship, taking their business to a new level, or deepening their self-understanding. Coach Michele Ashley guides her clients through this process during one-to-one coaching sessions tailored to the needs of each woman she works with. According to Michele, “Here at CORE, our [...]

Located in Jersey City, Flowers N Favors is “committed to offering only the finest floral arrangements and gifts” to add a unique touch to your next special event. Flowers N Favors specializes in live and artificial arrangements, but also offers a selection of gourmet fruit baskets, gift baskets, greeting cards, plush animals, balloons and more. Since the family-owned business opened its doors in 1999, Flowers N Favors has been serving families across Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne, Newark and surrounding areas. Company Name: Flowers N Favors Location: 728 Grand Street, Jersey City, [...]

As featured on Essence.com, Immaculate Collections is an eco-friendly company specializing in natural beauty, bath and body products. A firm believer in natural beauty, founder Qiyamah Smith, makes all of her products using all-natural ingredients from around the world such as shea butter from Ghana, argon oil from Morocco and essential oils from Egypt. Shea Soufflé Body Butter and the fragrant Cocomango 3-in-1 hair butter are the most popular products, but there’s something for everyone in the extensive line. All of the products can be ordered online or purchased at [...]

Angela Huggins made her first yarn doll as a child and has been making them ever since. She now shares her dolls and doll-making techniques with others through her Jersey City-based business, Angel Hugs. “Dolls are therapeutic. Whenever I make a doll, I search for colors and objects from my environment that bring peace and evoke good memories,” said Angela, who is also a certified nurse. “Through my business and my dolls, I hope to share those same feelings with others”. While she specializes in cloth dolls, Angela also makes [...]

Mix of Nature jewelry, characterized by their bright colors and bold designs, are made available to women throughout the U.S. through R D R Global Solutions, LLC- an international company founded by entrepreneur Rafael Del Rosario. Mix of Nature jewelry are made from gemstones, semiprecious stones, fresh water pearls, porcelain, Swarovski and Chinese crystals. “We don’t use plastic or resin in any of our designs,” said Rafael Del Rosario, the founder of RDR Global Solutions and the jewelry line, Mix of Nature, “The natural beauty of the stones are what [...]

D Jordan Leather specializes in hand-crafted leather wallets that are designed to catch the eye. “Each wallet has a unique patterned interior. Additionally, leather lacing gives each wallet a distinct look and ensures that they will never fall apart. You won’t find any other wallet like mine on the market,” said founder and craftsman Donald Jordan. Donald comes from a family of tailors and taught himself how to make wallets. He has been crafting wallets for nearly a decade before turning his hobby into a business in 2010. In addition [...]

Step-up Technical Solutions is made up of a group of senior level IT service technicians each with years of field and office experience. Their services include on-site and remote repairs, computer network installations, regional site management and more. They offer in-home residential computer repair and on-site business computer repair in New York and New Jersey. For Melvin Hernandez, owning and operating Step-up Technical Solutions is a dream come true. “I’ve been working in the computer industry for many years and love the work that I do. I have always had [...]

Winston Trumpet is the founding CEO of Strategic Business Associates, LLC which specializes in business coaching for leaders of nonprofits, small businesses and religious organizes. In addition to one-on-one coaching, he also organizes seminars and workshops for groups. His long list of former clients includes companies such as Circuit City, the YMCA, United Way and Goodwill. Most recently, he was also hired by Rising Tide Capital as a Community Business Academy instructor. Prior to starting his own business, Trumpet has counseled others as a nonprofit board member, YMCA project director, halfway-house volunteer [...]