Today, major e-commerce players like Lazada and Shopee are having their annual midyear sale. While huge discounts are all well and good, why not spare some of your money to support zoomer-founded small businesses and side hustles too?

Here’s a secret: small businesses tend to be better because all their products are made with extra care and passion that huge retailers just can’t match!

From handmade soaps to fashionable streetwear to mouth-watering delicacies, we picked out seven top-quality brands and products that should be a staple in your household.

Here are seven small businesses owned by Gen Z’ers that we absolutely love!

1. The Care Creatives Company

What We Love: Have you ever tried organic soaps and shampoo? They feel amazing on your body especially when you don’t have to worry about the price tag. Keeping a brand affordable despite having a zero-waste advocacy always gets one giant thumbs up from us!

What You Should Buy: The Charcoal Shampoo Bar (PHP 120)

Tell Me More: The Care Creatives started out as a small project by Red, 22, to encourage the members of our local community to engage in more responsible and enjoyable self-care.

As we’ve immersed ourselves more into the market, we found that a lot of people have been looking towards joining environment-friendly movements like the #plasticfree and #zerowaste movements but are unable to do so because of financial as well as access-related constraints.

To respond to that, we made it a point to make our brand both financially and geographically inclusive: growing our brand to accommodate essential demands with our affordable and plastic-free artisanal care products.

Price Range: PHP 25 to 250

Delivery & Shipping Information: They deliver on a daily basis within Metro Manila and Rizal, while they ship on a weekly basis to Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao.

2. The Chai Bros Co.

What We Love: It’s 2020, but we’re still suckers for great milk tea! Do you know those cheap boba places that just don’t taste like they’re made from “real” tea and milk?

Well, The Chai Bros Co. delivers that authentic taste you’re craving for!

What You Should Buy: Thai Milk Tea (PHP 150)

Tell Me More: We make traditional home-brewed tea, delivered to you. Our teas are made from high-quality loose leaf tea and 100% real milk. We offer Thai and Hong Kong milk tea as well as three fruit teas—yuzu, butterfly pea lemon, and grapefruit tea.

Price Range: PHP 150

Delivery & Shipping Information: Delivery within Greenhills and certain areas in San Juan is always free. They also deliver to certain areas in Makati, Pasig & Taguig for free on Sundays.

Keep an eye out on their Instagram for updates on random free delivery routes!

3. Midnightcavings_

What We Love: I mean would you look at all that fudgy goodness? As someone with a sweet tooth, this tempting cake definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to a perfect dessert: delicious, rich, and indulgent.

What You Should Buy: Midnight Chocolate Cake

Tell Me More: Established during the quarantine period by Sabina, 20, and Tanya, 17, Midnight Cravings will surely be the one-stop-shop for your cravings. They started with their midnight chocolate cake — luscious, gooey, and made with premium ingredients.

Every bite will surely satisfy you. Stay tuned because more products are in store!

Price Range: PHP 400 to 1400 (depends on size)

Delivery & Shipping Information: Delivery is available within the Metro Manila area only, via courier or pick-up in their location. Make sure to send them a DM for inquiries!

4. Payak Estilo

What We Love: There are so many streetwear brands out there, but this one stood out to us because not only does it look amazing, but you can actually easily see the Filipino influence in their designs.

We love a brand that embraces its Filipino roots! Fun fact: a percentage of the profit they got from their first shirt design was donated to our jeepney drivers struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. Watch out for their upcoming design coming soon!

What You Should Buy: ALON Shirt (PHP 500 to 600)

Tell Me More: Payak Estilo is a clothing and apparel brand founded by Andrei Mendoza, 20, and JoMa Binghay, 19.

Payak’s logo embodies a figure of Juan dela Cruz who is the national epitome of the Philippines, often used to represent the Filipino people. Payak aims to encapsulate various cultures that conveys a story which other generations can relate to by fusing it to streetwear apparels.

Price Range: PHP 500 to 600

Delivery & Shipping Information: You can pay through cash on delivery (COD) or through courier service. Make sure to hit up their DM for inquiries.

5. Plantsies.ph

What We Love: If you’re not into the whole plant craze, then I have bad news for you: you are way out of touch.

If you want something to spruce up your boring space or just want a “baby” to look after, then Plantsies.ph probably has the right plant for you. They have a diverse collection of beautiful plants in equally beautiful containers!

What You Should Buy: Sansevieria Trifasciata (PHP 250)

Tell Me More: Plantsies.ph is co-owned by two friends from Bulacan: Lea, 21, and Dane, 22. They had just started their business a few weeks ago, but just like their plants, they are sprouting! Whatever plant you choose to buy, know all of them are perfect for your loved ones.

Price Range: PHP 90 to 480

Delivery & Shipping Information: They deliver around Malolos City, Bulacan. But what’s great is that they offer shipping on select items!

6. Sestra Quisina

What We Love: “Sobrang worth it” was the first thing my friend said when Sestra‘s lasagna was brought up.

And as a pasta lover, how can you disagree? You definitely won’t feel cheated out of your money when you buy their lasagna because every bite is filled with all the cheese and meat you’ll ever need in life!

What You Should Buy: Cheesy Meaty Lasagna (PHP 450)

Tell Me More: Sestra Quisina is a small passion project cooked up by two sisters, Ayra and Kayla. It all started from our love of food — playing around the kitchen, and serving those closest to us.

Sestra Quisina wants to make you experience the same feeling of comfort and excitement that everyone else has felt every time they’ve taken a bite of the sestras’ homemade dishes.

To start this passion project, we chose to sell our bestseller: the Cheesy Meaty Lasagna. This recipe has been a crowd favorite right from the start. Our friends wanted to get a taste of this every time we brought this as our baon. And, it was a complete wipeout in the bazaars!

It’s a cheesy, creamy, saucy, and meaty dish all baked with layers of love… what more can you ask for?

Price Range: PHP 450 to 1500 (depends on size)

Delivery & Shipping Information: They deliver within some areas in NCR, and occasionally, Rizal and Muntinlupa. To ensure their customers don’t spend too much on delivery fee, they book customers in nearby locations together. Make sure to send them a DM!

7. Taji’s Confectionery

What We Love: Talk about comfort food! From cinnamon rolls to milkbread to their cookie giants, Taji’s Confectionery just gives you the warmest feeling from one bite alone.

Heck, just looking at their IG feed makes you feel like you’re at home. No matter what you order from their extensive menu, it’s bound to be great!

What You Should Buy: LoloKaldereta’s Special Beef Kaldereta: A Katigbak Family Recipe (PHP 650/tub)

Tell Me More: Taji’s Confectionery is a product of my passion. I’ve been baking since I was 11 years old, and 11 years later, I am still in love with the craft.

It is my creative medium and an outlet for the things I want to share to the world. From confections, desserts, pastries, to our family’s beloved Kaldereta (recipe of which was made by my lolo); these are the things I personally love and want to showcase to the people around me.

Price Range: PHP 95 to 750

Delivery & Shipping Information: They deliver in Rizal and the Metro Manila area, while the delivery fee is shouldered by the buyer.

And that ends our shopping spree for today! I hope you were able to check out what these brands have to offer and keep them on top of your mind.

There’s nothing like zoomers supporting other zoomers, right? There are a lot of other small businesses owned by younger people out there, and to them I say: more power to you!

Support these Gen Z-owned small businesses by sharing this post on Facebook! And I guess we are a small blog ourselves, so if you want to help us out, feel free to sign-up for our newsletter to get more product recommendations and content you’ll love.

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Looking for books to help you get through the pandemic? Read up on our recommendations that you can buy in Fully Booked Online here.

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