Business Profiles

Case Studies of Successful Small Businesses

Eric Kent Wine Cellars Survives Recession with Craftsmanship (and a Little Luck)

by Trevor Fehrman on February 14, 2012

The wine business was booming in 2002 when Kent Humphrey sold his advertising company and invested in starting Eric Kent Wine Cellars. Unbeknown to him, the global financial crisis lurked just …

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Lessons from The Wiggles’ Big Branding Mistake

by Kathryn Hawkins on February 2, 2012

As the mother of a 2-year-old, The Wiggles are a familiar presence on my TV. So, I winced at the recent news that the jolly entertainers had ousted lead singer …

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How One Independent Bookstore Survives and Thrives in Tough Times

by Kevin Casey on January 24, 2012

Digital publishing, intense competition from Amazon.com, and other factors have made it more difficult than ever for small bookstores to turn a profit. Even large national chains have struggled, sometimes …

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How to Run a Small Business While Traveling the World

by M. Sharon Baker on January 2, 2012

Betsy and Warren Talbot (pictured) wanted to travel the world for five years. In order to live their dream, they got rid of most of their possessions, including their house, …

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Brewing Up a Niche Coffee-Roasting Business in the Shadow of Starbucks

by Teri Cettina on December 28, 2011

When Pat and John Curry launched Buona Caffe, a specialty coffee-roasting company in Augusta, Ga., as a part-time venture in 2009, each entrepreneur had a “regular” job. Pat worked as …

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CloudFlare Founder on “Supercharging” Websites and Her Soaring Success

by Gil Zeimer on December 22, 2011

Michelle Zatlyn (pictured) is a go-getter, in every sense of the word. Armed with a degree in chemistry, she worked for Google and Toshiba, earned an MBA from Harvard Business …

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No Glitter or Highlights Needed for This Buzzed-About Beauty Website

by Vanessa Richardson on December 16, 2011

House of Mikko, which lets women recommend beauty products to one another, gets the kind of buzz and user interaction on its website that most businesses dream about: With a …

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Kitchen Retailer Survives Downturn by Closing 3 Days a Week

by M. Sharon Baker on December 15, 2011

Snowy weather and the recession nearly forced 30-year-old retailer Kitchen Kaboodle of Portland, Ore., into bankruptcy in 2009. But the five-store chain reinvented itself in a move many people thought …

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Edible Insect Chef Garners Attention

by Jan Fletcher on November 30, 2011

When Monica Martinez debuted her “pre-Hispanic snackeria” at the San Francisco Street Food Festival in August, customers lined up to try her tacos stuffed with insects and larvae. “Don Bugito …

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How Tour Manager Steve Lopez Keeps Widespread Panic’s Wheels Rolling

by Kathryn Hawkins on November 29, 2011

When you’re a touring rock band, your to-do list is never done. You travel to the venue for soundcheck, give interviews, do radio promotions, perform a concert, meet fans, and …

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Entrepreneur Sells Restaurant on His Own Terms

by Kristine Hansen on November 29, 2011

Sooner or later, you’ll ponder the idea of selling your business. But will you do it? That’s the question Michael Diedrick asked himself as the three-year anniversary of The National …

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8 Ways Small Businesses Can Support St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving Program

by Liz Magill on November 17, 2011

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, has been on a mission to save children’s lives ever since it opened its doors 50 years ago. The hospital treats nearly …

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R.U.B. BBQ Pub’s Randy Yono on Starting Up During a Downturn

by Gil Zeimer on November 14, 2011

Randy Yono had a hunch that, despite the recession, his family’s concept for a new barbecue restaurant and sports bar in downtown Detroit would work. He and his brothers set …

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Shoe Designer Sheena Garg Edwards on Maintaining Work-Life Balance

by Rachel Hartman on November 11, 2011

Sheena Garg Edwards seems to do it all. Lately, her daily routine includes designing shoes for the next season, planning for the holidays, and running three kids to and from …

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Frank Menard on Real Estate: ‘After Every Crash There Is a Boom’

by Brad Chacos on November 10, 2011

Some people look at the housing market and think the sky is falling. But real estate agents Frank and Carol Menard see opportunity in uncertain times. Or, as the duo …

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