AEDP and the Seedling Collective via Skin Scholars.
Elaina and Alysia Bright, sisters and owners of Skin Scholars, which one first place in a competition for a week-long pop-up at the Seedling Collective in Alexandria.
Three local businesses have won a rent-free pop-up that will open in August in Alexandria.
Last month, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP) announced it was looking for three fresh pop-up ideas to operate rent-free in the Seedling Collective for a week in August.
AEDP’s Pop-up ALX program arranges pop-ups around Alexandria, allowing vendors to test the market without making a long-term commitment. The Seedling Collective is a creative working space that opened in May 2019 at 121 S. Royal St.
The three pop-up shops that won the competition are:
- Elaina and Alysia Bright, Skin Scholars - This holistic skin care company will offer several products as well as a DIY Beauty Bar, allowing customers to create their own custom skin care products.
- Jennifer Allevato, Jennifer Allevato Fine Art - The artist will use the space as a working studio and gallery, which will host an evening gallery show event.
- Ezgi Kaya, Mom&I by EK - The jewelry company will host a beading class in addition to retail sales, and Ezki has pledged to donate 6% of her sales to ACT for Alexandria.
Runners up in the competition were:
- Nicole (Nikki) Marie Powers, Nourish & Refine
- Rahama Wright, The Pop Up Collaborative
- Kathryn Hupczey, rtsn Designs
- Jessica Hinton-Moore, District Hemp Botanicals
"We can’t stress enough how exciting this competition was for us in seeing how many talented business ideas are thriving in our area," the organizers wrote on the Seedling Collective's website.
The three three pop-ups will receive one week free in the Showroom, a 500 sq. ft. space designed to host pop-ups, events and more. The businesses chosen for the program will receive free wifi, decor furnishings, advertising support and A-frame signage at the King Street Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
For more information about AEDP’s Pop-up ALX program and for a link to the contest application and entry details, visit growalx.com.
The pop-ups will start in August.
