30 Baton Rouge Small Business Women To Support During COVID-19

Each month I create a list of 30+ things to do in Baton Rouge. It includes something to eat, see, drink or do every day of the month. Since we’re in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, there won’t be a list of things to do this April. Instead, we’ll use the next 30 days to support our local females who’ve had to pivot and get creative during the Coronavirus to still serve us, their customers. Here’s my list of 30 Baton Rouge small business women to support during COVID-19.

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1- South Coast Organizers

Sara West is our local go-to home organizer gal. She’s added virtual organizing services through FaceTime or Zoom. Give her a tour of your space and she’ll coach you through the organizing process - just like in her face-to-face sessions. She’s also offering do-it-yourself plans where you have 1-2 video calls, then Sara gives you a step-by-step plan to follow. She gives you deadlines and check-ins, and she helps you with any roadblocks you may run into during the organizing process. Finally, she has gift certificates available. If someone wants to purchase a package for a future face-to-face session, you can get a gift card and schedule your session once the quarantine is over. Visit her website here.

2- Counterspace

This Baton Rouge bakery is making quite a few adjustments. Counterspace is available on Waitr for delivery or pick up. Plus, they’ve gone completely touchless! You can call in an order at 225-456-5002, and they will email you an invoice to pay from your phone. Then, they’ll have the order boxed and waiting on you at a table in the door. It’s safe, distant and sanitary.

You can also order a dozen cookies to share with medical employees at local hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. They’ll invoice you and you can pay online. They’ve also opened up online shipping options, so you can have a dozen of their signature chocolate chip cookies shipped to love ones who are quarantined at home. Visit Counterspace online.

Finally, owner Sarah Hays has started a broader initiative called “Shift Support.” This is a way to both provide meals for medical workers while supporting locally owned restaurants. There is a Venmo live for donations, and they use the funds to purchase meals from a different restaurant daily. They have a Facebook page and an Instagram account.

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3- The Hope Shop

The Hope Shop is a retail store by local nonprofit Hands Producing Hope. The Mid-City brick-and-mortar location was scheduled to open the first week of April, but this date has been pushed back. Instead, you can now shop online. Their site is full of Hands Producing Hope products, which help fund their artisan and education programs around the world. They have over 100+ families in the US, Rwanda and Costa Rica they employee. Now, they’ve added ethically-made goods from 15+ other organizations to their website. They also have gift cards available and ethical Easter Basket ideas. Check out their website here.

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4- Barre3

They are live-streaming classes from the studio on Zoom. You can get the same heart-pumping, body-balancing working out from the instructors you already know. Sign up on Mindbody — like always. Barre3 will email you the live class link and the replay link after in case you can’t tune in live. Normal class rates apply, but they set up a special promo code for us! Use code southernflair to get 20% off of any class package or membership.

5- Capital City Lighting

Bridget Tate is still working with clients through video conferencing! You can visit her online and click “shop now” to put together wishlists. If you email Bridget after, she can schedule a video call with you to learn about your project and get pictures of your space. She’ll get a feel for what you’re looking for and create a cohesive lighting quote. She’s offering free drop shipping on all orders, so you’ll get your delivery straight to your home.

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6- Andilynn’s Pure & Custom Formulary

Andrea Leyerle has closed her retail store and is asking customers to order online. If you choose local pick up at her Walker location, she will bring the orders to your car. She’s also using this time as an opportunity to provide education and solutions to support our wellness goals using herbs. Visit her online store here.

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7- Giggles

Toy store owner Whitney Coleman is offering virtual shopping via Face-time and Instagram. She’s offering free local delivery to your door, which is contactless and free shipping. Giggles is building custom Easter baskets to help you fill it by age, price point and interests. Visit Giggles here.

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8- MJ’s Cafe

This plant-based cafe is offering lunch to go-orders from 10AM - 3PM on select days. She is also offering Friday Family Meals that feed 4-6 people. Visit her on social media for menus.

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9- Baton Rouge Succulent Co

We have plenty of time to take care of our plants now, so BR Succulent Co is offering $3 local deliveries Tuesday - Saturday and curbside pick up on Saturdays from 10AM - 1PM. They’ve also re-vamped their website to sell plants, pots and kits online. They’ve added kids and adult DIY kits and crafts (materials included). Visit their website here.

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10- The Gilded Artichoke

Chef/owner Lisa Boudreaux-LeCoq is offering “Door to Door Touchless To-Go.” Family meals will be available for delivery with no contact. Customers can call to order, pay online and get the delivery without any interaction. Her main business focus is full-service catering, so she’s offering incentives for clients to book future events. She says keep planning our fall, holiday and 2021 events! She’s still taking calls, planning events and rescheduling if needed. Visit her online here.

11- Red Stick Spice

Owner Anne Milneck is hosting Facebook Live cooking shows on their Facebook page as a way to still educate and cook with her customers. You can also order Red Stick Spice products online. They’ll ship it to you, deliver if you live close by - or you can do curbside pick up. Visit their website here.

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12- Bella Rose Eternal Roses

Local florist Shannon Gutierrez is offering no-contact delivery or pick up options. Her preserved roses last for years - so you’ll still be enjoying them well after COVID-19! Clients can also still work with her designing via Zoom or by phone. Visit her website here.

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13- Clinkaway Events

Whitney and Lauren still want to help you get your bachelorette party planned! If you’re a bride like me and have had to reschedule or delay everything, they’ll help you plan your girls trip for after COVID-19. Visit their website here.

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14- Brew Ha Ha

Gabby has found a way keep you caffeinated without leaving your home. Brew Ha Ha coffee is available for purchase through her Etsy page. You can specify your roast and origin and choose between ground/whole bean. She also has gift cards available for purchase.

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15- Mason’s Grill

This is a family-owned biz, and Kristin and Shirlee are my girls! They’re offering delivery and curbside pick up daily - and still serving brunch with bottles of champagne! They’ve got daily specials along with their regular menu. AND Mason’s is giving 100% of its profits to pay their employees during COVID-19. See their menu online.

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16- Espresso Geaux

Brandi Plaisance is bringing her coffee truck around to neighborhoods. All neighborhood deliveries are open to the public, so anyone can stop by. She’s posting her weekly schedule and locations on Facebook.

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17 - La Divina Italian Cafe

This cafe and gelato shop is offering no-contact curbside pick up and delivery. They’re also offering $6 meal specials for essential personnel. They’re sharing the Vitamin C with FREE fresh squeezed lemonade with every entree purchase. Check out their menu here.

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18- Adriana Portraits

We can’t get in the studio with Adriana, but we can learn virtually from her. She’s hosting a free photograph challenge through her Facebook group. She’s teaching short video classes with an assignment for you to share at the end. Join her on Facebook here.

p.s. I have a full feature on Adriana and her self-esteem project here.

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19- Varsity Sports

Varsity Sports has temporarily closed its retail locations, but you can now shop online. You can also call or email an order for local pickup or delivery. 225-383-8913 // VSBRorders@varsityrunning.com

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20- REBL Creative

REBL Creative has been hosting a HUGE super sale with $5 earrings. With her proceeds, she’s been able to donate more than $2000 to local nonprofits like the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, The Junior League Diaper Bank and the Krewe of Red Beans, which provides healthcare workers and first responders with meals from local restaurants delivered by New Orleans musicians. Shop REBL online here.

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21- Geaux Flow IV Spa

They’re currently open M-W-F by appointment only. They’re also ramping up their concierge service, where a RN will come to your house and administer one of their customizable IVs any day of the week. As always, they’re sanitizing their treatment chairs before and after every treatment. And they’re taking steps to frequently sanitize all common area surfaces, including all furniture, front desks, doors, bathrooms, etc. Their nurses are required to wear masks and gloves to not only protect them, but also protect their customers.

They’ve been seeing an uptick in their “Booster” treatment, which contains Vitamin C, Zinc, and Vitamin D. Plus, they’re providing a lot more high dose Vitamin C treatments. They have more info on their Facebook page about how Vitamin C can help right now.

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22- Chef Schonberg’s Sweets

She’s always been a mobile bakery, but she has temporarily shortened her delivery radius from 40 miles to 20 miles. She’s offering contact-free delivery by leaving your order at the door. You can call or order online. Brides can schedule consultations through Zoom, and they’re even dropping off tasting boxes at the door!

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23 - Karen Giffel Interior Design

Karen Giffel has made her presentations virtual during this time. She’s a small design firm, but she’s able to access her library of furniture/accessories/window treatments/throw pillow/rug options from her office. She has a design studio with bulletin boards set up for each client’s personal “presentation.” She has lifestyle boards to communicate the options for each project. Once selections are confirmed, she creates an estimate chart for her clients to stay within their budget. She’s currently celebrating her 20th year in business (!!!!) and still has clients from 2000 who return to work with her! Visit her website here.

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24- Batch Baking Co

Owner Sarah Gardner is bringing back King Cakes but calling them Quarantine Cakes! (Side note: She must have heard me talking about her because I was literally saying this is something SHE should do - like two weeks ago! Crazy.) Contact-free pickup is available 7 days a week. Order online.

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25- Avant Tous Beauty Bar and Spa

They are closed for business right now, but are still offering curbside pickup on retail products. They’ve also created discounted skincare sets to keep your skin looking fresh during quarantine! Visit their website here.

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26- Java Mama Central Square

The new Central location has been under construction and getting ready to open, but you can still support them during COVID-19 by purchasing your membership. The monthly subscription allows the little ones to have some community playtime while the grown-ups have community work time. See more on their website.

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27- Mimosa Handcrafted

Madeline Ellis has created the HUG RING where a portion of your purchase will go directly to the Baton Rouge Emergency Aid Coalition’s #ScrubGrub effort to provide meals for health care providers. She has several order options available if you want one ring or to send rings to friends. At the time of this post, Mimosa has donated over $7800 for meals. Shop here.

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28- Be Kind Beauty Products

You can support this local beauty brand by purchasing her soaps (duh, clean hands during corona are important!), but she also has tons of Easter gift ideas like bunny soaps, egg bath bombs and more. She’s also offering local pick up as an option at checkout. Visit her website.

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29- Bliss Photography

Melissa Mcinnis is a local wedding photographer who’s had to reschedule her events like so many other people. Even with all the chaos she’s thinking of creative ways to give back and spread joy. She’s currently doing a giveaway for healthcare workers. She’s giving away one free session (engagements, family, lifestyle, or boudoir). You can head to her social media and tag any healthcare workers you know. She’s doing different giveaways each week.

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30- Baton Rouge Boutiques

I could have easily filled my list with Baton Rouge boutiques to support during the virus… you know they’re my people after all. We’ve had to delay the Baton Rouge Boutique Blowout Sale - now to Sunday, May 10. But I’m hosting FLASH SALES daily on my Instastories where you can shop with them. A “Retail ReBOOT” is also in the works to support our local retailers. I’ll share more on here once that’s finalized. Shop with your local boutique owners - so many are already online or have worked tirelessly to get their products online. Many allow you to shop through their Instagram feed. I’ve also seem a lot of free shipping options! #shopbatonrouge