Melanie Bolin relocated from California to Kansas with her young family in 2004 — and though she soon settled into Midwestern life, she continued to miss the Pacific coast. She connected with fellow California transplant Lina Dickinson, and the two quickly bonded over their shared tastes and interests. In 2013, they launched MERSEA — a…
In 2013, husband-and-wife team Joel and Katy Waechter took over Joy Lane Farm in New Hampshire, inspired by Joel’s mom, who made goat milk soap as a hobby while Joel was growing up. The couple started small, selling their handcrafted soap at local farmers markets. As word of the all-natural cleansers’ gentle, restorative properties spread,…
Ten years ago, I launched my own art brand. My female-forward paintings, prints, cards, and hand-painted flowerpots celebrate color , confidence, and empowerment in the face of challenges.
WASHINGTON (September 2, 2025) — Connected Commerce Council Executive Director Rob Retzlaff released the following statement in response to the remedies Judge Amit P. Mehta imposed on Google in United States et al. v. Google. The remedies decision follows Judge Mehta’s ruling earlier this year that some of Google’s contracts with phone makers violated antitrust…
In 2011, Michael Salvatore had a novel idea for a business: a combination boutique bike shop and neighborhood café, all in one welcoming space. He decided to give it a try, launching Heritage Bikes & Coffee in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood. Patrons loved its quality coffee, locally-made bikes, and easygoing atmosphere — and the business…
SACRAMENTO, California (August 20, 2025) – Earlier today, Michelle Mak, founder of Mewl Baby, and Jerick Sobie, co-owner of Lucky Feet Shoes, spoke out against Assembly Bills 566, 1018, and 446. These bills would stifle small businesses’ ability to reach new customers, grow, and compete with bigger companies. AB 1018 would impose burdensome new requirements…
Returning to civilian life after serving as a decorated Army infantryman, Angel Rodriguez began running operations for a small security firm in Nashville. The owners were frustrated by the limited, out-of-date security training options in the area — and soon suggested Angel start training people himself. So in 2012, he launched Alliance Training and Testing…
In the 1980s, David McGraw was raising crawfish in Natchitoches, Louisiana, when a friend asked if he could ship some to the East Coast. That request sparked an idea — so he launched Louisiana Crawfish Company from his family’s kitchen table — taking orders by phone, hand-packing crawfish, and driving them to the airport himself.…