For many small business owners, running a business is a blend of passion and practicality. Erin Simons, owner of Pineapple Co. Art & Design, runs her art business by combining her expertise as an educator, her Filipinx culture, and her passion for Tahitian dance. Erin’s work as a full-time agriculture teacher fused with her talents…
The past two years are often described as a rollercoaster due to the pandemic, but for Shelby Cormane, founder and owner of Aloha+Fronds (A+F), the most accurate part of that rollercoaster was a “steep drop.” “A+F started in the summer of 2020. When the shutdowns occurred during the pandemic, I unfortunately had to stop my…
When it comes to apparel, Sama Tayo centers on clothing that people will be proud to wear. Owners Alex Reyes and Jeannette De Dios Reyes created their brand with purpose and impact in mind. “We find inspiration in our daily lives as Filipino Americans, and it reflects on our apparel,” Alex said. “We initially focused…
There’s one thing all businesses hope to do – grow. For Daisy Banaria, owner of Well Rooted Clothing, every new idea means a possibility for growth. In 2020, Daisy and her husband already owned Whats.Proppin, a small business specializing in handmade wooden plant propagation stations. So, when Daisy found a new passion, she decided to…
The perfect holiday gift can be hard to find – shoppers often spend hours browsing and brainstorming. But for AnnaLynn Quismorio, owner of Elk Grove nursery So Frond of You, finding the perfect gift means one thing: making sure it brings joy. “A friend and I fell in love with plants right before the…
Nestled inside the Arthouse building in the R Street Historic District is one of Sacramento’s most unique shops: Tea Cozy. The retail tea store specializes in loose leaf teas, tea brewing accessories, teapots, cups, and gifts. Owner Nami Thompson has welcomed customers through Tea Cozy’s doors for more than 23 years. “My husband and…
It’s that time of year – holiday shopping is in full swing, and this season isn’t just busy for shoppers, but it’s often an essential season for small businesses. As you check off your gift list, make sure you’re finding the perfect present while simultaneously supporting the Sacramento small business community. For the second year…
The Creative Space is well-known among Sacramento small businesses, not just for its mission of hosting local vendors, but also for its ownership: a powerhouse sister duo. Sisters Jennifer and Remy Tokunaga were working and attending school in Southern California when they first dreamed up The Creative Space, a small event space in Midtown that…
If you’ve visited Saigon Alley Kitchen + Bar in midtown, you’ll be a fan of its delicious spin-off, Sit Lo Saigon, located in Elk Grove. (If you haven’t visited either, add both to your to-do list!) What makes Sit Lo Saigon unique isn’t just the team’s individual stories, but also how they work together to…
Every small business owner knows that the dream starts somewhere. For Amy Fan, her dream started in her kitchen at 15 years old. As a self-taught baker specializing in pies, Amy worked in a few bakeries in the Sacramento area before pursuing her dream of running her own bakery online, The Whiskful Kitchen. Amy took…