Christine and Melissa Stoen are making a name for themselves with their gluten-free baking mixes.  The concept for Simply Stoen’s (headquartered in Owatonna, Minnesota) came to fruition when the sister-in-law proprietors decided to create a product that could cater to people looking for a healthier alternative to traditional baked goods containing gluten.  In a
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After spending several years working at an AT&T wireless store repairing mobile devices, Shayne Morse decided to take his unique skill set for electronic wireless refurbishment to the next level by starting his own business.  Morse opened Wireless EMT in 2011, and his business is flourishing. The business is based in Worcester, Massachusetts, and caters
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With the costs of food in supermarkets in the United States skyrocketing, many people search for inexpensive alternatives to purchase groceries.  Residents in Rural Valley, Pennsylvania, face a similar issue, but Denise Marte is attempting to combat expensive food costs with the opening of Marte Mart, a food salvage store that buys damaged food supplies
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Finz and Feathers in Tullahoma, Tennessee, is celebrating its 17th year of business.  The family-owned pet store is a cornerstone of the community selling everything from pet food to pet supplies. The business consolidated its two locations to form one large store based on the company’s success. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA),
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Fotini Zounis, owner of Nine Muses (based in Crete, Indiana), opened her women’s and children’s clothing store 15 years ago as an upscale clothing and accessories boutique, but when the recession hit, and consumer spending changed dramatically, she knew wholesale changes were needed to stay afloat. After doing some research, Zounis noticed that more people
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  Chris Crider comes from a lineage of coal miners, but his chance to carry on the family tradition was curtailed when he lost his job due to the economic downturn and declining coal market.  Crider could have easily left his hometown of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, for greener pastures, but decided to stay and pursue another
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Halloween is only two days away and small business candy and supply shops across the country are prepping for a potential busy sales week.  John Weston, owner of Katy’s Kandy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is ratcheting up his efforts for the holiday with the opening of another store to serve his growing client base. After enjoying
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As the fall sports season rages on, fans of their favorite teams are patronizing sporting goods shops nationwide to purchase the latest apparel to show their team spirit.  One small business owner in Brush, Colorado, is planning to capitalize on her community’s fandom by expanding her product lines with the sale of apparel from one
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Finding ways to engage with customers is one of the core principles most small businesses believe is vital to company growth and success.  And with the advent of online review sites, small business owners now have a conduit to better engage with customers beyond in-store personal interfacing.   One small business owner in Santa Clarita, California
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The food truck became a staple in American culture during the economic downturn bringing affordability and convenience to locales nationwide.  One Florida-based food truck (900 Degreez) is taking the mobile cuisine paradigm to the next level, carving a niche in the marketplace with the creation of wood-fired artisan pizzas using a brick oven installed in
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