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.
Natasha Jenkin Hall
In 2017 I attended a 3-day seminar for entrepreneurs designed to show us tools and strategies to create wealth. It was a three-day event and most of what I remember are details on how to sell products on amazon and ways to get approved for lines of credit to get your business started. Neither of which I had much interest in. Throughout the 3 days, however, I did take notes and talk to mentors and professionals about what kind of business I wanted to start and what my goal was or the business. I learned that I didn’t have to create a new business from scratch or reinvent the wheel. I could simply put a new twist on something already existing. The workshop also taught me how to focus on my end goal with my business, something I never thought about. The best jewel I took away from the workshop was to “Shoot First, Aim Later” to me this meant to just get started. Not to wait for things to be perfect, but to begin and grow along the way. With these nuggets tucked in my pocket, I decided to jump out there and get started. Read more>>
Jessica Scully
I was athletic and involved in sports from a young age. I swam competitively growing up, ran half marathons with my dad, and rowed crew in college. After college, I was looking for something that provided that “team” dynamic, and I found CrossFit. It provided both a physical and mental transformation for me. After a couple of years, I decided to pursue my L1, which is the first coaching credential required to train others in CrossFit. In 2017, I took a leave of absence from the gym I was coaching at to have my son. Upon returning to the gym, the owner approached me with a discussion about buying the gym. It wasn’t something I had ever considered, but I’m a big fan of jumping into things that challenge you and figuring it out as you go. So, I jumped, and I haven’t looked back since. Read more>>
Abbey Little
I was born in Charlotte, NC and have loved living here in the Carolinas my whole life! I went to college at UNC Charlotte and graduated with a BS in Psychology because I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but did thoroughly enjoy all of my Psychology classes. I graduated in 2005 and did nothing with my major, but started a career in Corporate America. I was eventually married and had my son in 2013, and became a stay-at-home mommy. But, not for long! I left an unhappy marriage in 2016 and was ready to get back to working! I cherish that time I got to have with my son, but I actually love to work, and staying home with a baby was unfulfilling for me. So back to Corporate America I went. Read more>>
LaTonya Renee
I am LaTonya Renee. Wife of 1, mother of 3, and a serial entrepreneur. I would say my Entrepreneurship started on Oct. 4, 2012 – it was that day that I realized that my purpose in life was to help others. Over the next years, I hired coaches, attended workshops, took toast masterclasses and so much more until I finally understood how I was supposed to help and who I was supposed to help. I started several businesses over those years, but it wasn’t until Summer 2021 after seeking God’s desire for me and listening to his voice that I was able to finally “walk” in my purpose. I started 2 businesses. The first one is called F.A.C.E. – which stands for Female African American Christian Entrepreneur… F.A.C.E. Is a social enterprise. A brand by a Black Woman to empower Black Women and products for all Women. Currently, you can shop from or e-commerce store. We have plans to launch in fall 2022 with some products that’s made with Black wine in mind! I also am the founder of its sister. Read more>>
Adam Hall
My first exposure to chiropractic was as a high school athlete. I had a back injury from weight lifting and couldn’t stand up straight or take a deep breath without severe back pain. Our sports trainer referred me to a chiropractor when the traditional sports injury treatment didn’t correct the issue. After the first adjustment, I was able to stand up straight and take a full breath without pain. I didn’t consider it as a career until I was in my junior year at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. At that time, I was on the pre-med track but knew I didn’t want to go to medical school. My dad had been really sick and I spent a lot of time in hospitals and doctors’ offices with him. I knew that wasn’t for me. Around that time, I met some students from Sherman College of Chiropractic in Spartanburg, SC. I was intrigued with the philosophy behind chiropractic and loved the idea of using my hands to heal and help people feel better. I enrolled at Sherman and graduated in December of 2009. One of my professors gave me a piece of wisdom when I asked about getting into practice. Read more>>
Dan Wallach
I was born and raised in Chicago as a White Sox fan. I grew up watching the movies Eight Men Out and Field of Dreams, which each came out a couple years after I was born. I’ve always loved baseball history, and the story of Joe Jackson and the Black Sox scandal was always very interesting to me, as a Sox fan. My parents retired and moved to Travelers Rest in 2009, so I went to visit them in their new house. It was soon after the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library opened, so we decided we would go check it out. We fell in love immediately. I happened to be there a few days before the inaugural Vintage Base Ball Games between the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and the Ty Cobb Museum from Royston, Georgia, so I was lucky enough to be able to play in that game. Read more>>
Bradley Shuffler
Growing up life wasn’t perfect for me. My biological mom and brother were highly addicted to drugs and alcohol. I have never drunk or done drugs in my life and instead, I turned my pain into passion. I had a lot go on I didn’t show anyone. I always had a feeling God created me to be much more, I just had to wait to figure it out. My dad, who has always been there when I needed him most, is a very successful radio show host on over 50 radio shows around the US, and my stepmom is a very successful teacher of coaches for the state’s school districts. At 8-11 years old, I became interested in film production, editing and, photography when I would create stop motion videos using Legos, shortly after, at age 14, I started creating skateboard videos for fun using my skateboard as a dolly for rolling shots. A little while after, at age 16, I began shooting film with my drones and editing videos on my phone, and taking pictures while outside during sunsets or walking around. I started by building my own drones with some friends and then, at age 17, I fell into the more cinematic versions of drones. Read more>>
John Harris
I started playing basketball in 2nd grade. My idol was Michael Jordan. I played high-level middle/high school travel ball and played collegiately at Aiken Technical College, with aspirations of playing Division 1 basketball. During my freshman year of college, I found out I was going to be a father, so I stopped playing basketball and began working. Through different jobs and changing my college major multiple times, in 2010 God opened the opportunity to coach JV boys’ basketball at Augusta Christian. I also started working with players for free to help them with their skills. That is where I found my “safe haven.” When I was in the gym nothing else mattered. I loved working with the kids. In 2013 I was afforded the opportunity to be the varsity head coach. We had success and my training business began to grow more. I worked under an NBA skill trainer for 2 years and then I started John Harris Basketball in 2014. Read more>>
Maria Crain
I never thought I would be a business owner or an entrepreneur that was just not something I ever thought about… the pandemic however changed things. Before I became a nail tech, I was a mechanic at Boeing for almost 2 years. When the pandemic hit, people were getting let go and overworked and it made me realize that no matter how hard you work if you are a worker ant, no one really cares about you. I loved my job and was good at it and even though I was going to be kept, I wanted to take one of the biggest leaps ever and quit my job during the middle of a pandemic to attend nail school. I figured I could make as much or more being my own boss. I begun learning nails and taking clients in my free time. I just saw so many women trying to do their own nails at home while salons were closed. and I thought to myself oh I can do that! So, I turned to YouTube and dug in, spending all my free time outside of work dedicated to mastering nails. Read more>>
Bailey Morris
I grew up in a family that loved cooking and I always enjoyed helping my parents cook or bake. As I grew a little older, I started to cook and bake more on my own. It started with simple cakes and breads, and over time I had many friends and family tell me that I could sell what I made because it was so good. Around age 13 I started my business, The Tasty Fox, selling cookies and breads to friends and family. When I was in middle school, I was obsessed with foxes so I included it in my business name and it stuck. I took a break from baking during my first years of high school to focus on sports and friends. In 2018 I got into a baking groove, wanting to try new things and possibly start selling again. My business took off and I started selling what I baked through social media. I participated in the 2018 Landrum Famers Market and would sell out every week. I came back to the farmers market again in 2019 but only for a few weeks as I was plenty busy with my job and baking orders throughout the week. As my love of baking grew so did my desire to try new things and experiment more, which sometimes didn’t turn out how I wanted it to but always taught me a lesson of what not to do next time. Read more>>
Jessica Neumann
I came to Charleston as a college student from Germany in the summer of 2010 while road tripping through the country with my boyfriend (now husband, dad, and business partner). A friend of ours had told us about Trophy Lakes on Johns Island which is a short 15 min drive from downtown Charleston. This was my first time in the South and being from Germany I fell in love with the easy-going lifestyle down here. We had a dream of being able to live in Charleston and with the opening of the Charleston Aqua Park in the summer of 2019 this has slowly become reality. Read more>>
Lisa Grant
I purchased my first home in my 20’s as a single Mom. I became active in my community and elected President of my homeowner’s association (HOA). A few years later my mother had a massive stroke and was unable to return to her townhouse. We decided to rent her home however, we had a major water leak and decided to repair, renovate and restore the home. I was having so much fun renovating the home I decided to obtain my real estate license. We eventually sold her home and it provided so much joy to a single Mom. This led to my real estate career. When my mom became ill it broke my heart, it was sudden and it was painful. I went through the stages of grief and real estate was my outlet, it kept me busy but it also allowed me to provide a meaningful service to my clients. I found my true calling, I became connected to my clients, joyful, expressive, empathetic, and purposeful. Read more>>
Chip Michalove
I was born in Lexington, Ky. My dad always took me fishing on the weekends, I usually got bored so id chased frogs or crawdads while he fished, but the outdoors were in my veins at a young age. When I was 4 yrs. old my parents took a vacation to Hilton Head, SC. They booked a charter fishing guide named Fuzzy Davis. I was intrigued immediately. We ended up catching a 6-foot shark and I was scared to death. By the time we got back to the dock, I thought Fuzzy Davis was a God. Little did I know that shark would change my life. When I got back to Ky, I knew there was nothing else I’d rather do than fish for a living. When I was 9, I put signs all around a lake saying “guide for hire, call Chip”. I never got a call, but I knew I could what I wanted to do. My family moved to Hilton Head when I was 14 and my lifetime goal was now in reach. I bought my first boat at 22 without my parents knowing and started running charters illegally without a captain’s license. When you’re 22 you think you’re untouchable. I finally confessed to my dad, and without a strange aggravating tone, he told me to go to sea school and get my license, that he’ll pay for it. Read more>>
A+R Tactics
We are a tactical training center that offers self-defense, firearms training, CQB Shoot House, and Vehicle training utilizing Force on Force marking rounds. Our mission at A+R TACTICS is to bring all of our professional experience to bear in providing our community members the right courses, the right facility, and especially the right opportunity to train, in a reality-based environment, so that they can develop critical lifesaving skills to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Read more>>
Betsy Tanner
I’ve learned that sometimes it is other people’s choices, even poor ones, that impact or shape your life. In 1980 there was a young woman in Columbia, SC who found out that she was pregnant again. She was divorced, had a 4-year-old, and had already placed another child for adoption. She was depressed and in no place to raise a child. The baby’s father was not an option for parenting. She chose life and, in the spring of 1981, I was born. I went into a foster home for the first 7 weeks of my life. I’ve heard that I was carried constantly and loved well. I’ve never met that family, but I’m still pretty sure that experience has shaped me. Sometime in April of that year, my parents and older brother were in Disney World. My Aunt was watering the flowers at their house when the phone rang. Obviously, these are the days before cell phones and obviously, she was comfortable enough answering the phone at her sister’s house. Even more obviously, God’s timing (even when it comes to watering flowers) is perfect. Read more>>
Megan Gardner
I’ve always loved candles. The smell, the atmosphere they give; it’s relaxing after a long day. During the Spring of 2021, I was waiting to test for my Esthetics license, working part-time, and very much looking for a hobby. I still remember clearly, sitting on the couch in my mom’s office while she worked and suddenly exclaiming, “I’m going to make candles!” It was all downhill from there, I spent months testing, going through various branding ideas, but wanting to stay true to these ideals: strongly scented, safe, scents designed for everyone (especially men!), and to retain the ability to express my creativity. I launched 626 Handcrafted in October of 2021 and we’re continuing to spread our reach and test the limits of home fragrance. Read more>>
Charlotte Marra
My background is in Fine Art and I earned my Master’s degrees in Art History, Theory, and Criticism. These studies embedded me firmly in the art world and subsequently, I spent ten years working in commercial galleries across the globe as a gallery director. My career has taken me from New York, through Chicago, Zurich, and London to my current home in Charleston, SC. The urge to return to a more creative bent set me on a path to transform the ways in which we design and equip our children’s nurseries, playrooms, and bedrooms. This began as a personal crusade when my daughter Audrey Ottoline was born. The great design impresario William Morris once famously said ‘have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or beautiful.’ I took this dictum to heart when decorating Audrey’s bedroom-come-nursery in our small cottage in London. As any parent will know, anything that can aid sound sleep for little ones is an absolute must, and blackout blinds and shades will often be at the top of new parent wish lists Read more>>
John Olbrych
For as long as I can remember I have worked in kitchens. Whether it was washing dishes or prepping. I found my passion and love for cooking at a young age and knew that my ultimate dream was to own my own business. Covid made that dream a reality. In early 2020 I took a job as a sous chef at a new restaurant. Covid caused the restaurant to shut down and I knew this was my chance. My father and I found an old church bus in Myrtle Beach, SC and decided it would be a great vessel for my business. We completed gutted and remodeled the truck. With my design and my father’s ingenuity, Johnny Focaccia was born. Wood-fired pizza has always been a passion of mine and I am grateful that I get to finally share that passion with and for others. Read more>>
Liz Duren
I was a wedding and portrait for 17 years but a history lover all my life. As a 10th generation Charlestonian, my love and respect for this city was DEEP. I often found myself taking my couples on walks downtown for engagement shots or bridal portraits and I would catch myself telling them the history of the beatific buildings and garden around the… and then I thought… what a great idea for a TOUR! Read more>>
Preston Riley
We got started like many other small businesses. We found something that we were passionate about and we ran with it. We started doing small pop-ups at businesses, apartment complexes, and events around Charleston and eventually decided to move into a brick-and-mortar location. Read more>>
Amanda Verhage
My husband and I moved from Wisconsin in 2016 and had our oldest child, Vayda in 2017. I always had my phone out and was taking photos of her as a tiny baby to remember every single moment. I looked forward to taking her monthly milestone photos throughout her first year, setting her up on different blankets, and in special outfits, trying to make them look as professional as I could with an iPhone 5. Over the course of my maternity leave, it evolved from something fun for Vayda and I to do together, to something I would plan out weeks in advance and would count down the days until I could take more photos. Once I realized the joy and excitement that documenting these moments brought me, I decided to purchase my first professional camera and set out to learn as much as I could about it. Researching settings and techniques really drove my desire to continue to grow as a photographer and learn as much as I could as quickly as I could. I even began giving myself little photography assignments around the house and the neighborhood so I could work on different aspects of my photography. I got very lucky that my daughter and our two cats had a lot of patience during the learning stages. Read more>>
Andrea Chiorazzo
I have a passion for baking which I believe started or maybe developed with my grandma Lele. I always enjoyed and loved to bake – and eat – cakes and desserts. When I came to the US many years ago, I wanted to sell alfajores and other cakes very common in my country – Argentina – but due to other goals I wanted to achieve, I put it on the “to-do list”. After years of learning, achieving goals, and acquiring diverse experiences from the working field, I’ve decided to start with my own company. Read more>>
Jenniffer Wilson
I was going to school at Trident Technical College to finish up an Associate in Arts with plans to go on to a 4-year college for a teaching degree but life happened and I’m so glad it did. I had to take some elective courses and took up photo 1 which I needed a film camera for. My stepmom lent me a Sears K20 film camera she got from one of my great aunts. Eventually, I was told I could have the camera which was awesome. Photo 1 took me through the entire process of loading the film in the camera to developing and cutting our own negatives and processing prints in the darkroom. I loved everything about it. So, when I finished my associate of arts degree, I stayed at Trident to get a certificate in photography. The teachers and classes were awesome but also challenging. We learned on film cameras, digital cameras, medium format film cameras, studio lighting, the works. I had a teacher towards the end of my time at the school that told me I should go to school for management and that I was all over the place (working several jobs, and school very busy but still got my work done) and that he hoped I’d use my photography one day. Read more>>
Shelby Ring
I fell in love with video production + storytelling as a yacht chef in the British Virgin Islands in my early twenties. My personal “Aha!” moment was realizing how fleeting this moment may be, and I wanted to remember it. So, I grabbed an outdated GoPro on the boat and dove into the water at Guana Island while freediving with a ball of baitfish. I was so in love with my life. So proud of all the fears I’d faced in that chapter of life. It would have been negligent and irresponsible to not document these sweet stories worth telling – in my personal life and for clients. And I’ve felt that way ever since. In this year, we’ve filmed world-renowned athletes, extreme sports above and below sea level, weddings, erotic portraits, cancer journeys, lingerie lines, distilleries, breweries, celebrations of lives that have ended too soon, healers, special forces veterans, chefs, men dressed up as women. To me, it’s all the same — telling stories worth telling. Read more>>
Jade Joyner
2016 was a big year. Three years after meeting and falling in love, newlyweds Jade and Graham Joyner went into business together. Metal + Petal, their full-service interior design firm, marries the best of their talents while offering an all-encompassing list of services that appeal to both residential and commercial clients alike. From conception to installation, and everything in-between, they quickly made a name for themselves thanks to their modern approach to traditional design. Balance is at the heart of Metal + Petal, as they seamlessly pair simplicity and decadence, masculine and feminine, Southern-style with a European flair, and sophistication and soul in every space. Jade Joyner is the co-founder, principal designer, and chief creative officer. She is an energizer, dream-chaser, and arbiter of beautiful designs uniquely adapted to meet her clients’ needs. Graham Joyner is the co-founder and chief executive officer. He is a problem solver, trend-spotter, and early-adopter of practices and technology to enhance and perfect the client experience. Read more>>
Jennifer Zare
I established Pathways Counseling Center in 2009. My vision was to build a practice that would strengthen relationships throughout the community and help promote widespread resiliency and healing. I have always felt a strong calling to serve others through psychology and counseling. After having my first child, I realized how important it was to me to have a work-life balance that would help me to provide a nurturing environment for myself as a wife/mother/therapist and for my growing family. It is hard to be a good therapist if you don’t take care of yourself; my mission was not only to provide a service to the clients we serve but also to the therapists that choose to work with me. I believe therapists are often too quick to sacrifice their own happiness for others, and I wanted to make sure they see how valuable they are and how important it is for them to care for themselves as well. Read more>>
Lisa White
I started doing cake decorating and treats in 2012. It was an outlet for me. I used to have anxiety really bad and doing treats was my escape plan. I legit didn’t worry about anything but make things look pretty. For the past couple of years, I told myself I would finally take it serious and do treats but wasn’t motivated to pull the trigger. After I had my second son, I knew I wanted to start a business and what else to give my time to but treats. Even though I’ve done treats for years I was still nervous to move forward with my business. When I seen everyone was doing treats that put some doubt in my mind. How was I going to stand out? What made me any different? I just knew I had to just focus on what I was doing and nothing us. I took a few classes and just practice, practice, and practice a little more until I was confident with my work to start taking customers. My customers are the best which I know every business feels. They give me an extra boost to continue with growing my business. I can’t wait to see what the next couple of years will look like for my business. Read more>>
Kimberly Brown
Kimberly Brown and I’m the owner, creator, and out-of-the-box thinker at Oliver&Co. A handmade company that’s creates fun, festive, and unique collars and accessories for your pets. I started my journey in the small business world by receiving the cutest sausage dog puppy in the world. Having no children of my own, I knew I wanted him to best dressed and sassy always. I had a hard time finding exactly what I was looking for and thus Oliver&Co. was born. It started with collars and bow ties that easily attach to any collar or harness and quickly morphed into over-the-collar bandanas and flowers plus the bow ties and collars I was already making. I started just part-time and online, still working as an event coordinator but picking up local markets or festivals when I had time. People seemed to be really loving what I was creating… ‘these are amazing, so funny’. And online reviews seemed just as great! I didn’t quite give up my full-time gig working events but started to work less and less. Read more>>
Alexis Doktor
Alexis Doktor Designs is the result of a walk down a few different paths… My story begins in NYC where I was born, raised, and graduated from FIT with a fashion design degree. Not satisfied with the idea of just one career path, I also danced professionally as a ballet dancer, which is what originally brought me to South Carolina. As a ballet dancer with the Columbia City Ballet based in Columbia, SC, I was able to perform and experience a level of artistic freedom, as well as challenges, that one doesn’t get to experience in other more ‘typical’ jobs off of the stage. As well as being on stage, I was also working in another area behind the scenes. I put my fashion design degree to use as the costume designer for the company, and after years of being fully involved with the Columbia City Ballet on those two levels, I began wearing yet another hat within the company and started working on their fundraiser events. At first, it was small scale assistance, but as our fundraisers grew in both size and complexity, I found myself taking on more responsibility with those events, which eventually led me to helping fellow dancers with their weddings, other nonprofit companies’ events, and the rest shall we say is history. Read more>>
Mary Catherine Kunze
I am the MC in Uniquely MC (just in case you were wondering)! My story is ordinary enough. I was born and raised in Columbia, SC which I’ve come to appreciate and see as a good thing. Unlike some people, I never had a grand vision for my life. I’m more of an inspired dreamer than the goal-driven type. I’ve always loved to be creative, however, I did not fully tap into my creative potential until I went to college. Fresh out of high school, I headed to Winthrop where I decided to major in interior design. It seemed to me to be the most practical artsy career in the bunch, so I headed off to school ready to tackle the world of T-squares and colored pencils (among other things). College, despite being challenging and stressful, was exciting and surprisingly opened my eyes to my creative instincts. I’ve come to discover that being creative and a free bird is an innate part of who I am and who God created me to be. I graduated from college, in essence, with an unwritten book in my hands. Read more>>
Athena Smith
I have always loved flowers. I had a full-time work from home job when I moved to Charleston in 2012 but felt the need to get out and meet people. I applied for a part-time position at a local florist’s downtown in 2013 called Tiger Lily Florist. I was able to work with flowers under some very talented designers. They later moved me out to The Sanctuary on Kiawah to run their shop there and provide flowers throughout the hotel. When they decided to close that location, I continued to work for them downtown and provide arrangements for hotels and restaurants around downtown Charleston. I moved on to wedding design shortly after and fell in love with designing all over again. Event design is my favorite! I continued to work downtown with flowers for approximately 3-4 years. Cut to 2017 I was working as a pastry cook at Cassique out on Kiawah. I loved my job there but was approached by a friend inquiring if I would be interested in having my own flower shop at the Charleston City Market. It sounded like a dream come true. Read more>>
Elizabeth Chiarel
Like so many children of Greek immigrants, I spent most of my childhood visiting Greece every summer to spend time with my family there, including both sets of grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins. Every time I would visit, I loved shopping in the city of Athens and of course the Greek islands. I fell in love with Greek ceramics in my teen years and remember the first piece my mom ever bought for me. I began collecting colorful ceramics made in a variety of workshops. Many years later I heard of a European ceramics sale happening in Northern Virginia so I was eager to go. I couldn’t believe the number of people there purchasing beautiful serving pieces from Italy and Hungary. I decided at that moment to source a line of ceramics from Greece. Later that summer my husband and I were in Greece and visited one of the islands and found a beautiful line from a workshop in Patra, Greece. We made contact with the family there and three years later participated in an international gift show in the Washington, DC area (where I grew up) as a vendor. The rest is history. Read more>>
