Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Heidi Knight
At A to Zinnias, we have a true passion for all things floral! My name is Heidi Knight and I am the owner of A to Zinnias. I have been a ‘florist’ since the young age of 3. Okay, so maybe that’s an exaggeration. Read more>>
Angela Siets
Well 6 years ago we decided to open up our nonprofit helping children and adults with disabilities to learn how to ride horses I fought my whole life with ADHD and dyslexia. I wanted a place where kids and adults that learn differently felt safe and could have fun and feel like they belonged. Read more>>
Barry Petrea
I am originally from Thunderbolt, Georgia and my family has been involved in local and state politics for over half a century. Growing up in that environment gave me a deep appreciation for community, service, and the importance of making a meaningful impact in people’s lives. Read more>>
Tara Gowen
My career in beauty began in a small town in Indiana at a chain salon. From the very beginning, what drew me to this industry was the opportunity to make people feel good about themselves. Read more>>
James Cooper
My wife Morgan and I started the Coop in 2023. We were previous members and coaches at Hyperformance Athletics (CrossFit Hyperformance), we grew as athletes and coaches under the tutelage of Drew McKenzie and wife Jen. They are who taught us about community, giving back and the benefit of health along with the camaraderie that’s built within the group setting. Read more>>
MariaNoel Polk
Honestly, I didn’t start this thinking it would turn into what it is today. I just genuinely loved doing hair and makeup. It started with friends, small events, and me saying yes to any opportunity that came my way. I quickly realized it wasn’t just about making people look good, it was about how it made them feel, and that part really stuck with me. Read more>>
Charita Davis
I started lashing in 2017 as a side hustle but in 2018 I became certified to do lash extensions I kept doing lashing as a side hustle until one day I decided I wanted to take it to the next level, so I decided to go to college in august of 2020 to become a Esthetician. Read more>>
Lauren Hearn
Photography has always been around me growing up. My dad was a photographer, so I spent a lot of my childhood watching him behind the camera capturing my childhood memories through photographs. That early exposure definitely shaped my love for photography. My brother-in-law is also a photographer, which continued to inspire me and gave me the encouragement to pursue it more seriously. Read more>>
DONNA MCMAHAN
I’ve always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, but the true spark for my business came from a gap I witnessed firsthand as a Physical Therapist. By 2020, I realized that a huge population of patients was falling through the cracks. In the healthcare world, there is a rigid line between Home Health and Outpatient care. Read more>>
Morgan Smith
Bellary (named after my 3 kids) is a jewelry brand based in Savannah, created to teach my children the joy of giving back. It began when we made necklaces for my son’s teachers for the first day of school. That small gesture led to multiple orders, and at the time we were raising money for PACK through his student ambassador program. Read more>>
Amber Dryden
Amber & Fig Boutique, formerly known as Fig Boutique, was created in 2020 as an online boutique shop providing unique, quality pieces from mostly American Made and Women-Owned businesses. Read more>>
Heather Smith
I’ve been married to my husband for 32 years and we have 4 amazing young adult and teenage children. We have called Beaufort, SC, home since 1998. I studied Nutrition & Food Management in college and after graduating with my B.S. in 1997, went on to do an internship and then took the comprehensive exam to become a registered dietitian. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Sabella
Makeup was never something I discovered, It was always in me. As a little girl, I was a perfectionist. I had an eye for detail before I even knew what that meant. My penmanship had to be neat and streamlined. I loved symmetry, I loved polished- I loved when things looked intentional. Every holiday season, my dad would take me on the train into Boston. Read more>>
Allison Meadows
I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset. From selling candy in high school to selling dinners in college, I knew that I wanted to have a business and work for myself. My media company actually started off as a management company, and I was working in the music industry. My company was called Management Matters at that time. Read more>>
Melanie Frances Allen
I absolutely love entertaining our friends, family and neighbors. For many years, I have made charcuterie boards for different get-togethers my family and I have hosted or gone to. Back in 2021 I took a formal class while my family and I were stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. At that point, knew I wanted to start a charcuterie business. Read more>>
