Valentine’s Day can be a stressful time of year for couples as they scramble to plan dates and get the perfect gifts for their partners. If you need a last-minute gift and don’t want to pay the expedited shipping fee, check out these three local Black-owned businesses that have special Valentine’s Day products and deals. 

SkinDeepByAnita

Anita Smith of DeKalb started her business in Dec. 2019 after COVID-19 had hit and paused her esthetician program. Money was tight and she couldn’t afford to buy items that she loved like body scrubs. 

“I couldn’t purchase any so I just started looking at videos and stuff on how to make them myself,” Smith said. 

Smith has a ​​Valentine’s Day bundle that includes a card, a body scrub, a body oil and more. The last day to place orders for the bundle is Feb. 10.

If you don’t want the bundle, the shop also has individual scrubs and oils as well as products for men like beard oil. 

SkinDeepByAnita offers shipping and pickup for those who need a last-minute gift. 

The Serial Crafting Mama

The Serial Crafting Mama is a business owned by Porsche Patterson of DeKalb. She is a work-from-home mom who specializes in products like custom wine glasses for different fandoms. 

This Valentine’s Day, Patterson is offering Paint and Sip boxes that would make a perfect date night for you and your partner. The boxes include two canvases, two wine glasses, two paint kits, one candle and one bath bomb.

“I have four different versions: A naughty, a nice, a Galentine’s one for single women and a My Bloody Valentine,” Patterson said. “I love Valentine’s Day, but hate sappy chick flicks. I love horror movies.”

If you and your partner are horror movie fans and like film characters similar to Chucky and Tiffany, the My Bloody Valentine box would be a perfect choice. 

She offers shipping and pick up. Those interested can place orders through her Facebook page.

Rae’s Amazing Creations

Raven Proctor, a junior health and human science major at NIU, is the owner of Rae’s Amazing Creations. 

Proctor has always had a passion for cooking and baking dessert and so she decided to turn that passion into a business. 

“COVID made me realize that I had a passion for cooking and making desserts,”  Proctor said. “I took the advantage and sat down one day to start brainstorming business names and making menus.”

Rae’s Amazing Creations is having a Valentine’s Day Special with treats such as breakable hearts, wine box dozen strawberries with a dozen roses and more.

Proctor offers pickup and drop off. Drop off comes with a fee of around $5 depending on location. Those interested can place orders through her Instagram page.

Not only will you have your gift in time and date planned, but you will also be supporting local Black-owned businesses during Black History Month.