The Bison Store

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy. According to the Small Business Administration, they represent 99.9 percent of U.S. business firms and employ about half of all private sector employees. Opening a small business, however, is no small undertaking. It takes a high degree of risk tolerance, as well as an ability to balance the passion a business owner has in providing a product or service with the realities of commerce—marketing, logistics, supply chain management, payroll, financing, budgeting, taxes, customer service, legal arrangements, and more. Those who persevere, however, are part of the foundation of global capitalism. Here's a look at just at a few Bison who are open for business with products ready for sale.

• This article does not represent an endorsement of businesses or products by Howard University. Content presented is for descriptive purposes only and relies heavily on information purported by the company.

Ivey + Allen
Lifestyle Luxe Candles
iveyandallen.com

Founded by a candle-loving Bison couple in 2020, Ivey +Allen candles embrace their motto of “social, self-care and vibes” through a series of scents such as Deuces (mango + coconut milk), Inkwell (sunflower + sandalwood), and About Last Night (sheer vanilla + orchid). Candle themes are designed to be fun and to transport you to a unique experience in your private space. They work with the best vendors who stand by their high-quality ingredients and products. From ethically sourced wood for wicks, to eco-friendly and sustainable coconut soy wax blend and fragrance oils, Ivey+Allen strives to create a quality product, curated to bring a unique experience to your senses. The Dallas-based brand offers an exclusive 10% Howard discount when using the code “HU1867.”

Black Five/Fifths
blackfivefifths.com

The Black Five/Fifths brand features products that blend fashion, Black culture, and social justice. Items for sale include t-shirts, hats, mugs, pillows, bags and other merchandise emblazoned with thematic phrases like, “Black, Brown, and Anybody Down,” “My Only Opp is White Supremacy,” and “Stokely and All of Us.” The company's name repudiates the original Constitutional declaration that Blacks in America were only three-fifths of a human being.

Stoonic
stoonic.com

Stoonic is a luxury active wear brand that merges health and fashion to inspire women with a moving lifestyle to connect with who they are in order to push their limits. Stoonic means to be active and in style through comfort and motivation, and the company's collections for you are meant to project your style, edge, and energy in the gym or on the street. Founder Jasmine Knight (A.S. ’16) blends “two driving forces of women in the world: health and fashion.”

“I've cultivated each collection with love, care, and of course a commitment to quality. When I created Stoonic, I wanted to bring women together through style and movement,” Knight wrote on Stoonic’s blog. 

Their latest additions form-fitting flare leggings, boxy long sleeve bras, and flow sport cropped jackets and leggings come in soft colors such as lavender, nude brown, and baby pink. Bison shoppers can use the “HU20” code at checkout to receive a 20% discount on their order.

So Organic, So Suave (SOSS)
sossd.co

Co-founded by Vernon G. Yancy (B.S. ’16), SOSS specializes in grooming products for Black men. The company's comprehensive product suite of top-quality, all-natural beard care, hair care, and skincare essentials make grooming an enjoyable experience. SOSS’s ingredients are organic, natural, raw, and sourced locally. Products are designed to affirm each customer in the expression of their authentic self.

Like many, Yancy battled with self-acceptance at one time, leading him to start a business centered in self-commitment through grooming and hygienic products based on ingredients he used when he couldn't find the right product to care for his full, textured beard. He and co-founder Jeremiah Regis look to become community leaders for young Black boys to learn about hygiene early through their books like I Am King! Bison customers can receive 15% off of their purchase using the code “HUBISON.”

Shadae Renee Beauty
shadaerenee.com

How do you energize your inner “it girl?” That is the sole mission of Shadae Renee Beauty, a brand that offers wigs for both beauty and hair loss needs. “We believe that versatility is key, and our wigs are designed to be easily styled and customized to suit each person's desired look,” the company says. It also offers a medical wig that emphasizes the “cranial prosthesis” for those dealing with hair loss-related conditions such as alopecia, chemotherapy, and trichotillomania. The vision began in the Harriet Tubman Quadrangle when founder Shadae Renee Green
(B.B.A. ’13) began doing her dorm and classmates’ hair. Howard online shoppers can use the code “FAITH” to receive 10% off any online orders.

High Roller Club
highrollerclubhrc.shop

High Roller Club stands as a vanguard of style and inspiration, driven by an unwavering commitment to the never ending elevation of the determined youth. Their mission is to inspire and empower the next generation to fully express their creativity and individuality with no regards for other's opinions. Co-founded by Howard architecture student Mory Diakite and his partner Timothy Amankwah, the company specializes in trendy streetwear including t-shirts, sweatpants, and shorts.

Notorious Lifetstyle
notorious-lifestyle.com

“Be you until you can't” is the tagline of the Notorious Lifestyle brand. The collection of body suits, zip up shirts, and distressed pants and hoodies is inspired by the themes of prosperity, originality, and faith. The company is run by CEO Jawuan Freeman,  a business student at Howard, who believes that everyone can find their purpose through being themselves.

Platinum Hair
platinumhairextensions.shop

Started by Blessing Lockwood, a health sciences major, Platinum Hair offers a variety of beauty care products. The company specializes in extensions and hair care products, including bundles, closures, frontals, lace wigs, hair mousse, edge control, lashes, heat protectant spray, crimps, hot combs, lace glue, wax sticks,  and flat irons.