Bristol Black-Owned Businesses: Darkeur Earrings
In this series, Lucy meets local Black-owned business owners to find out more about themselves and their businesses.
Bristol Black-Owned Businesses: Bristol Clothing Pushers
In this series, Lucy meets local Black-owned business owners to find out more about themselves and their businesses.
Bristol has always been known for its thriving art scene, creative prowess and eclectic range of businesses. It seems wherever I go in Bristol a new business venture has popped up. From food, to exercise, to fashion – we are certainly not starved.
But even though these new businesses keep appearing, that doesn’t mean owning and running a business isn’t challenging – even at the best of times. And Black business owners face a whole different range of obstacles, often trying to survive and thrive in a social, political and economic system that was not designed for them.
Global events from this year have rightly shone a light on Black-owned businesses. In this series I’ll be exploring some of Bristol’s best and the incredible people behind them.
I met with Buzz from Bristol Clothing Pushers, a clothing and signage printers based in Stokes Croft.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your business
My name is Buzz and I run Bristol Clothing Pushers. We’ve been here now for just over two years. We print anything onto everything – except paper. We print stickers, clothing, windows, walls, signs… you name it, we’ll try to customise it and print it.
Why do you think Black-owned businesses are so important?
Black business are important to showcase what we are capable of and show that we’ve been held back from doing. Black businesses are important for the world.
Are there any barriers you’ve faced as a Black-owned business?
There are loads of barriers that you are gonna face running a Black-owned business if you haven’t started or if you are up and running. Being Black and running a business, they are both struggles.
What advice would you give to a Black person looking to start their own business?
Advice I’d give? Don’t give up. Just really don’t give up. Be persistent, keep at it. Be loyal to your customers, be persistent. Be honest with the work that you do and keep it real.
What are you most proud of about your business?
I would say I’m most proud of the time we’ve been here so far. It was hard work getting a shop at all. I’m proud of the shop, I’m proud of my customers and what they are achieving. Some of my customers have created their own brands and are going places.
Where can we find you?
You can find us at Bristolclothingpushers.com or Instagram @Bristolclothingpushers or Facebook at Bristol Clothing Pushers. Or you can just come into the store, 41 Stokes Croft.
What are your favourite Black-owned businesses in Bristol? Let us know on our socials.
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About the author
Lucy Turner
Lucy is a Bristol-based storyteller and content creator. After graduating University of Westminster with a degree in Fashion Buying, she went through a life-changing disease and decided to change course and began to explore creative ways to examine and work through suffering. 2019 was the year of creative recovery and healing for Lucy as she looked at ways to work through trauma, using theatre, performative dance movement and abstract art. She is passionate about telling stories especially around identity, trauma, gender, race and inclusion. You can find her dancing in her living room to Lizzo.
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