Sweet Sistah Splash
Check out an OTR-based multicultural, multipurpose boutique that’s helping people experience culture, businesses and events in new ways.
Are you living in the Cincinnati area and want to experience different cultures? Sweet Sistah Splash, located on Sycamore Street in Over-The-Rhine, has a variety of classes, programs,events, and sells items that represent different parts of the world.
The name of the shop says that they “support women of all businesses, women of color,” says Nzingha Byrd, co-owner of Sweet Sistah Splash. The “sistah” part indicates an ethnic spin, and the “splash” portion of the business has to do with collaboration. “Splash indicates what I do, what she does, coming together, and splashing all over the city, whether it has to do with the programs, different artists and consigners that are on our shelves,” says Byrd. The mission of the business is to empower community and cultural education.
Sweet Sistah splash serves as a multicultural, multipurpose boutique. The storefront serves as a consignment shop, where Native American medicine bags and dream catchers, Japanese and Asian-inspired bags, artwork from Jamaica, and a lot of African art, books, attire, and jewelry are sold. Also, local artists are given the opportunity to make money by selling their items in their shop.
It’s also a bookstore where there are books about African experiences and culture, such as health, nonfiction, fiction, relationships, and even a few cookbooks. The shop also opens their doors for community events like a cupcake social, book releases, etc. Additionally, the store hosts regular programs in their space, such as Naughty Networking, where they invite companies like Pure Romance to come in, Belly Dancing, Movie Club With a Purpose, Rhyme A Reason, Open Mic Nights, and Yoga. Yoga, along with a meditation circle, is a part of Sweet Sistah Sundays, which is Byrd’s favorite program. The program is special to Byrd because it started in her living room a couple of years ago with two of her best friends. After a sleepover one night, the three of them decided to meditate, pray together, do some yoga, and then had some breakfast together.
They decided to keep the tradition, and they started to invite other “sistahs” into the space, and it still goes on to this day. “We are always trying to meet the needs of the community through programs and really figure out what the people want and bring it,” says Byrd.
Sweet Sistah Splash is a unique business for the Over-The-Rhine community. It is a personal brand that came naturally from Byrd and her team. Her business promotes individuality of everyone who comes into the space, and believes that nobody is the same. “The programs that we have are a direct representation of who we are as individuals. The programs don’t have a blueprint, a curriculum, or what type of event that we have in our space,” says Byrd. “All of the events that we have, they grow really organically from our heart, from our souls, so everything that we do is fresh and new, nobody else is doing it.”
There is never a typical day at Sweet Sistah Splash because it is based on the program happening. Byrd’s favorite thing about working for the business is the diversity offered through their programs. “It’s cool that we can have events that can really be beneficial and inspiring to the entire Cincinnati community, whether we are focusing on children, healthy relationships, health and wellness, or women that are entering into menopausal age,“ she says. “We cover so many different things in our space and it’s always exciting to see what comes into the space next.”
Sweet Sistah Splash is located at 1218 Sycamore St. in OTR. To learn more, visit their website www.shopsweetsistahsplash.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also contact Byrd directly at: 513-332-1575.
