Category: Business Owner Stories

Jeanne Frazer is the owner of vitalink, a Raleigh, North Carolina-based marketing and advertising agency specializing in branding and strategic plans for companies, including those in the education space, non-profits and law firms. Frazer attributes the business’ success to its conservative approach to growth and a passion to move the needle for its clients. The Start How did you get started with your business? I worked in television for a number of years for FOX and NBC. I knew the… Read More

Heather Andrews loves making special events truly special. She founded CustomSong.com to do just that. Using the CustomSong.com platform, customers can work with talented artists to create a recorded personalized song to celebrate events like anniversaries, weddings and graduations. In addition to songs for individuals, CustomSong.com has created songs for business promotion and motivational purposes. Customers simply visit CustomSong.com, choose from a library of artists, and provide information for their song, like personal stories or memories. The CustomSong.com artist will… Read More

Simple & Crisp makes artisanal dried fruit crackers that founder Jane Yuan calls an innovation in dried fruit and a disruption in crackers. Naturally gluten-free, high in antioxidants and high in fiber, Simple & Crisp products offer a great healthy alternative for cheese platters and a decorative way to add presentation to dinners, desserts and cocktails. What started as an experiment in Yuan’s kitchen is now a successful business selling its products in retailers nationwide. Simple & Crisp dried fruit… Read More

Along with partner Josh Arbit, Jacob Goodman is the owner of Fresh Prints Shop, a company that creates custom apparel and promotional products for groups and companies, most of which are collegiate organizations such as fraternities, sororities and clubs. Fresh Prints Shop employs a unique business model – only three members of its team of 60 are not college students. The company empowers its “campus managers” to handle all public-facing work for the business, including client relationship management, customer service,… Read More

Brittany Kollmer enjoys living life with the personal touch of DIY crafting. She creates customized hand-stamped jewelry and keepsakes that she sells in her online store B.Stamped, which she founded in 2014 as a way to stay at home and care for her son. Her business has since grown rapidly, and Brittany continues to keep it personal and true to her values. The Start How did you get started with your business? Before B.Stamped I worked as a registered nurse,… Read More