Small Business Profiles
Iowa Kitchenware Company Continues 77-Year Tradition of American Craftsmanship
In 1948, a small Iowa workshop began making kitchen knives from steel and aluminum no longer needed for the war effort. When the Rada family took over in the 1960s, they gave the company its current name — Rada Cutlery — and grew it into a national brand. Nearly 80 years after its founding, Rada…
Brothers Bring Traditionally Crafted, US-Made Leather Products to Customers Worldwide
Eleven years ago, when brothers Chris and Jason Angelini started handcrafting leather wallets in their parents’ Massachusetts garage, they never imagined they’d soon be running a thriving global business. But what began with a single wallet design and a few sales to friends and family quickly evolved into American Bench Craft — maker of rugged…
Boston Artist Brings Bold, Bright, and Unapologetic Statement Pieces to Customers Across the Country
In search of a creative outlet beyond her corporate career, marketing consultant Erica Goldstein launched The Blank Canvas Company in 2014 — sharing and selling her colorful, hand-painted designs on Instagram. What started as a passion project soon gained traction, and Erica started selling at local markets and pop-up events in 2018, steadily growing her…
“Mompreneur” Aims to Replace Throwaway Plates with Sustainable Alternatives
“Mompreneur” Pallavi Pande founded her Portland-based business, DTOCS (pronounced “detox: echoing with the meaning cleansing journey but with leaves”), to help replace single-use tableware with a chemical-free biodegradable alternative. Inspired by memories of meals served on banana leaves in India, Pallavi decided to source and process Areca palm leaves to offer elegant, all-natural, compostable tableware…
AI-Powered Business Helps Companies Make Sense Of Complex Laws
In 2019, longtime politics and policy enthusiast Pat Utz started his AI-powered firm, Abstract, to help people understand how complex legislative changes could impact their businesses. Today, Abstract uses advanced AI to analyze proposed legislative and regulatory changes, helping clients better prepare for likely risks and opportunities. With a growing roster of clients, the company…
Fashion Entrepreneur Brings African-Inspired Fashion Designs to Customers Across the US
For Addie Ajayi, fashion is more than just clothing — it’s a way to celebrate culture and identity. After immigrating to the U.S. from Nigeria, Addie found herself searching for modern, ready-to-wear African-inspired fashion that reflected her heritage. When she couldn’t find it, she decided to create it. Working from her small studio apartment, Addie…
Husband-and-wife duo create kitchen products that marry cheer and utility
Brandon and Julie Fuhrmann loved cooking in their Manhattan apartment’s kitchen — despite its extremely modest proportions. To maximize the kitchen’s utility, they started designing creative, space-efficient kitchenware and tools. Their innovations worked so well, they decided to share them with other design-conscious home chefs, launching online kitchenware shop Cooler Kitchen in 2014. Now in…
Son’s allergy inspires entrepreneur to launch healthful sorghum-based snack company
When Jessica Davidoff realized her son was severely allergic to corn — present in some 75% of America’s processed foods — she started experimenting with alternative grains to provide him with healthy, delicious snacks. Her breakthrough came with sorghum, an ancient “super grain” packed with nutrients and antioxidants. “It pops just like corn, but it’s…
A founder’s growth mindset brings scalp relief to suffering patients
After two decades working in corporate marketing — including a stint running a beauty-products brand — Sherrel Sampson wanted to use her product-innovation expertise to start her own hair-care company. Interested in providing ultra-gentle hair-care products to people with itchy, irritated scalps, in 2015 Sherrel started conducting research at farmer’s markets, speaking with potential customers…
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Iowa Kitchenware Company Continues 77-Year Tradition of American Craftsmanship
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