Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Hannah Driscoll
It started right before I decided to go to rehab. I was homeless and an acquaintance ran into me at Walmart parking lot and offered to let me stay in her guest room and work with her cleaning. I enjoyed being away from all the chaos of my life at the time and making something like new again. Read more>>
Nikki Stromlund
I’ve always been a strong advocate for mental health. It’s something I care about deeply. I also discovered early on that I genuinely love the administrative side of running a business. Most people dread it; I thrive in it. When I started seeing how overwhelmed mental health professionals were, buried in billing, scheduling, and insurance calls, I realized I could do something about it. Read more>>
Holli McGee
I didn’t find the auction business—it found me. I grew up in it. My father ran the business, and my mother was the accountant, so from an early age I understood both the energy of the auction floor and the discipline it takes behind the scenes to make it all work. What started as exposure quickly became purpose. Read more>>
Karen Verm
We’re Craig and Karen Verm, two musicians turned innkeepers. Craig and I were brought together through a deep love of music. We met in graduate school in 2002 at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Read more>>
Toan Dao
I’m a Charleston native, raised West of the Ashley, and a first-generation Vietnamese immigrant who came to this country at seven years old without speaking a word of English. My family didn’t have much growing up, but I always had a fascination with nice cars and a drive to build something of my own. Read more>>
Victoria Armstrong
I went to college convinced I was going to be a special education teacher , and I did become one, but somewhere between classes and campus life, I accidentally fell in love with photography. It started with me taking photos of my friends… and let me be honest, they were painfully bad. Like, “please delete this immediately” bad. Then 2011 happened. Read more>>
Elijah Gansz
In 2015, I was recently married working 2 jobs. My wife and I both had 2 kids ages 6, 4, and two 3 year olds. Night time was hard to get them to settle down and in bed. So my wife asked for me to quit my night job as a grill cook at Fatz which left me with one job as a horticultural technician. Read more>>
Alayna Perryman
My introduction to photography happened during my senior year at Winthrop University. I took an Intro to Digital Photography class and was hooked. My final project was based on an artist who’s work we admired, and I focused on a composite photographer. I already had experience with graphic design, so this type of photography was right up my alley! Read more>>
Cheryl Lee
I’ve spent more than 30 years in healthcare, starting in cardiac and emergency nursing in 1991. While I loved the intensity and impact, I began to question why so much of medicine was reactive instead of proactive. Read more>>
Tasha Johnston
I didn’t start in esthetics or massage- I started with a PURPOSE. Years ago, after a traumatic situation involving my mother, I knew I wanted a career that would give me the freedom and financial stability to help protect and provide for my family, I’ve always managed to stay somewhat in the medical field. Read more>>
Thomas Parlmer
In 2021 I started working as a software engineer. But after about 2 years I felt like I wasn’t learning much. An opportunity came presented itself for me to work as a contractor, and since then I have been working with a variety of customers. The diversity of work projects drastically accelerated my learning. Read more>>
Ginger Kelley
From Vision to Vessel: The Story of A Classy Touch Photography In 2017, my path seemed set on wedding planning, but God had a different design. While planning my own intimate elopement, I was struck by how inaccessible professional photography felt for the average budget. Read more>>
Kelly Damiano
I founded Craft-DIY (pronounced “Crafty”) to bring my lifelong passion for creativity and design to life in a new way. Growing up, my love for arts and crafts was inspired by my mom, Kathy. Together, we were always working on hands-on projects—painting ceramics, creating Christmas ornaments, baking from scratch, and even sewing. My dad also played a big role in shaping my DIY spirit. Read more>>
Dan Diehl
My work as a creative is about my victory over fear and self-loathing. It is a celebration of survival in a world that seems so often determined to keep people like me silent. Read more>>
Matthew Eiken
I’ve been in chiropractic for nearly 30 years now, and my path early on shaped everything I do today. While I was in chiropractic college, my wife and I were trying to start a family and went through multiple miscarriages. Someone referred us to Dr. Michael Kale, who specialized in upper cervical knee-chest technique. Read more>>
Maddie Allison
I grew up with a mom who owned a home bakery, so I have been baking for as long as I can remember, for fun and then working for my mom’s bakery as my first job. I went to college received my degree in industrial engineering and currently work full time as an engineer, but I never stopped baking. Read more>>
Karen Verm
My husband Craig and I have owned the Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill for two years now. Prior to this, both of us were working as professional musicians. I worked as an opera coach and pianist at schools such as Carnegie Mellon University, Rice University, and West Virginia University. Read more>>
Tucker DeLoach
Hello, my name is Tucker DeLoach and I started Ranger Trash in November of 2024. I was exploring opportunities for a side business when a friend of mine mentioned doing residential trash pickup. We stumbled across some free trash cans on marketplace and he thought it would be a good idea. Read more>>
Andrew Krull
I have over thirty years experience in the restaurant industry , I’ve had 10 different restaurants and two food trucks, I reopened Veg -out to get back to my core belief that the key to health is a vegetarian diet and herbs. I have a master’s degree in western herbal medicine and nutrition, the cafe also has an herbal side to it. Read more>>
Shontell Francis
I started doing hair in 1998 after my father messed my hair up for picture day while my mother was in the hospital giving birth to my youngest brother. I later started in a salon as an apprentice at age 14. Graduated from Burke County high School in 2009. Later graduating from Virginia college for master cosmetology in 2015. Read more>>
Rev. Saaja
My story really started with a breaking point. I was in a very traumatic, narcissistic relationship that forced me to see myself differently. It wasn’t something I could just walk away from and be fine. It put me in a position where I had to shift. Staying the same just wasn’t an option anymore. And at that time, all I really had was myself. Read more>>
Dennis Winge
I’ve been a professional guitarist and music educator for over 25 years. I started out like a lot of musicians—focused heavily on technique and theory—but over time I realized that those things alone don’t necessarily lead to expressive, confident playing or meaningful performances. Read more>>
Cheryl Martineau
Where’d You Get That? entered a new era of ownership in 2023, What started as a thoughtful reimagining has evolved into a refined boutique known for its curated selection of upscale women’s fashion, accessories, and distinctive home furnishings. Read more>>
Clelia Reardon
I am a professional musician and started teaching private music lesson on guitar, bass, ukelele, banjo and mandolin 37 years ago at a music retail location. Two years later I opened my own teaching studio with several instructors. 10 years later I moved to a larger location and have had my own studio for over 35 years. Read more>>
Carmen Holley
I started Sweet Magnolia Travel in 2016 with a friend. We would travel together often, and during those trips we found ourselves constantly talking about how much we loved exploring new places and planning experiences. That shared passion naturally led us to the idea of starting a travel agency. Read more>>
Ken Glover
I started in the music industry 11 years ago to help friends find places to play concerts. I never had any intention of being a record label owner but, this is what was needed of me to continue to be able to help music grow. Read more>>
Sasha Gregory
Our journey really started through Complete Weddings + Events, where we’ve spent years helping couples bring their weddings to life through photography, videography, DJ, and coordination. Being part of so many weddings gave us a deeper understanding of what couples truly need, not just logistically, but emotionally. 108 W Main became personal for us before it was ever a business. Read more>>
Ashley Townsend
I started my journey as a licensed esthetician with a passion for helping women feel confident and put together in their everyday lives. What began as a side business offering lash services from a cozy, in-home studio quickly grew through consistency, word-of-mouth, and a strong focus on client experience. Read more>>
Ke Banks
I was born and raised in a small town called Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It’s a place that didn’t offer many opportunities. There was a lot of violence, a heaviness in the environment, and not many visible ways out. After surviving domestic violence for nearly nine years, I made the decision to completely break free and start over. Read more>>
Logan LaMance
Kanga started with frustration, uncertainty, and a gut feeling I couldn’t ignore. I was a student at Clemson when I had the idea. My friends and I were heading to a tailgate, and like always, we’d grab a cold case of beer and just drink it as it got warm. Not because better coolers didn’t exist—but because using one was a hassle. Read more>>
Tom Cullipher
I was on a business trip a few years back, flipping through channels in the hotel, and ended up watching Shark Tank. Something about seeing people pitch their ideas lit a fire under me (no pun intended). I kept thinking, “Why not me?” I have always had the spirit of an entrepreneur and so I started my business as a side hustle in 2019. Read more>>
