Posted on by Emily

#ViaStories – Small Businesses We Love (and a $50 Visa Card giveaway!)

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Regardless of where we end up, we all come from somewhere via someone or something. Whether you’re a maker, small business owner, a blogger, or all three, The UPS Store truly believes that your story has the potential to make a positive impact on someone’s life. We see it every day in our stores: small business owners who are inspired by others like themselves, and learn that they’re not alone in their struggle. —viastories.theUPSstore.com

Small businesses are the fabric of our communities – they are the backbone of our economy, and are emblematic of American individualism and entrepreneurship. Jenny and I feel strongly about supporting small businesses, and we’re excited to highlight a few of our favorites today. All of them are amazing at what they do, and beyond that, they’re genuinely good people who want to do their best for their families, communities, and customers. They inspire us!

The Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center of Dayton
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Founded in 1998 by Dr. Patrick Prikkel, The Chiropractic Health and Wellness Center of Dayton is the ideal place for those who seek compassionate, custom-tailored health care. They pride themselves on providing the finest staff and customer service, exceptional doctor-patient interaction, quality, affordable care, and individually prescribed exercise programs. They rely on a word-of-mouth marketing approach, and patients spread the word that the staff seeks to exceed expectations every step of the way. Dr. Prikkel credits his mentors with encouraging him to “do the right thing, not the easy thing,” as his business grew.

Scooter Media
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In 2012 Shannan Boyer hung up her own shingle and opened Scooter Media, a public relations and social media agency in Covington, KY. The agency serves a wide-range of small to mid-size clients, with a roster that includes Fidelity Investments, REACH USA, Vision 2015, The Carnegie, Bouquet Restaurant and Wine Bar, UpTech, Pinnacle Orthopaedics and Izzy’s Restaurant. In just 2.5 years the agency has expanded to a new, larger office, hired two full time employees and two contractors and has served more than 30 local, regional and national clients. Shannan credits her husband Marty with encouraging her to open her own business, and says he was very vocal in encouraging her to follow her dreams. “I’m inspired by working with clients that are making our region a better place to live, and knowing that the work I’m doing makes a difference,” she says.

Dabble Creative Studio
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Dabble Creative Studio is an art education resource for students of any age to share, play, and explore art through its history and materials. They offer camps, classes, open workshops, and private parties for kids and adults. Their mission is to have fun through creative exercise and our hope is to inspire learning, innovation, and community collaboration. Dabble Creative Studio began in 2012, when owner Angie Riner moved back to her hometown (Germantown, OH – holla!). A trained art educator, Angie quickly discovered that there were no teaching positions open for her to even apply for. “Art is a program that quickly gets cut from schools on a tight budget, so I sought out to create my own teaching position and get kids back in the art room,” she says.

My kids took part in Dabble's day camps last spring. This is the float they created for our local 4th of July parade. Kate and Sam LOVE Dabble!
My kids took part in Dabble’s day camps last spring. This is the float they created for our local 4th of July parade. Kate and Sam LOVE Dabble!

There you have it – a few of our favorite small businesses! We want to hear about your favorites as well.

Enter to win a $50 Visa Card by leaving a comment that tells your #ViaStories – how a small business has impacted your life. For extra entries, share your stories on social media using #ViaStories and leave a separate comment here telling us you did so. Comments will be closed and a winner will be chosen on November 30. Good luck, and let’s hear some #ViaStories!

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This post was sponsored by The UPS Store and TheMotherhood.com. Opinions are my own (but they are correct, and you should totally patronize all of these businesses).

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41 Replies to “#ViaStories – Small Businesses We Love (and a $50 Visa Card giveaway!)”

  3. Brewtopia, small locally owned coffee house that serves the best coffee and tea has given me a peaceful sanctuary on stressful days

  4. My family eats the most amazing and authentic Italian food from small business owners in our area that own a restaurant called Chianti. We have come to know the owners personally, and always celebrate our special occasions there! We have made tons of great family memories at their restaurant.

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    wildorchid985 at gmail dot com

  6. about 10 years ago, my husband and I were on vacation and found an incredible little shop that inspired us so much that this past January, we opened up our own storefront ourselves! It has been an entire lifestyle change to say the least, but we are living our passion and wouldn’t have it any other way!

  7. There is a small restaurant in the small town of Timberlake named Country Kitchen. They have the best homemade biscuits! We have eaten there since my daughter was a baby (16 yrs) and the owner and ladies who work there are very sweet. They know who we are and usually know what we are going to order. When my Daddy passed in 2012, they sent us a card and gave us hugs when we came back in the restaurant!

  8. One of our local small business stores offers ethnic cooking classes, I learn to make my favorite Japanese dishes.

  12. Our local pet shop is a great place with personalized service and high quality pet food. I shop there for my dog and cats and always get the best service. #ViaStories

  14. There is a local bakery that makes the most amazing cakes. We always buy cakes from them for special occasions and we have come to know some of the workers there personally. We have some amazing memories that have come from days spent with their baked goods.

  16. We go to a local small hardware supply store when we are doing home improvements. They are always so helpful and friendly. #ViaStories

  17. My favorite local business is Esther Price Candies in Dayton, Ohio. I often send gifts to friends and family out-of-town of our wonderful locally made candy and I often receive a box from my sweet husband.

  18. I love the Sleepy Bee Cafe. Yummy local breakfast and brunch.
    I also love supporting my friend who owns Kellerful Creations, an etsy shop. She makes beautiful kids clothes, embroidered shirts and bags, and fNtastic diaper bags and purse!

  19. I live at Indian lake and our whole town depends on tourists supporting local small businesses. My bf works at Bud’s Marine which is a small family owned shop. The whole crew is like family!

  20. We have always used a local bakery for all our special occasions. It has been in the same family for 50 years and they just treat us so special and we love them

  21. I have an amazing photographer friend, at Waterkopf photography/graphic design, in Bellefontaine. It’s a huge difference having someone take time to capture memories vs the rush of an in-store “portrait studio”.

  22. There’s a new local restaurant that started up that has promised to be as locally sustainable as possible and I used them for catering for work and they’ve been incredible. Small little venture that is thriving – i love it.

  23. There’s a local family own donuts shop near my home. they got best donuts in town,but they have to work so hard to keep the business going. myfamily love them.

  24. We have several local small businesses that we love!! One is a small jewelry store that sells a lot of vintage and gently used items – we get all our jewelry (like ring resizing or a broken chain) and watch needs met and have directed many friends to them as well. They often fix things and insist on no charge, are always so friendly and we enjoy seeing how many friends we can get to them. 🙂 Another is a small toy store that’s filled with many fun items, new and vintage/gently used, they also are incredibly friendly and helpful and it’s great to support them instead of some giant toy retail store where you are stressed and have to fight for deals. 🙂

  25. Our local hardware store has the best employees. Fairfax Hardware has helped my husband and I with so many projects it is ridiculous! They always know just what we need and take the time to help us out. Lowes and Home Depot are no substitute in my mind!

  26. i live in a very touristy place full of nothing but small buisiness’. The small buisiness that changed my life was my grandfathers woodworking shop. it provided our family with income when my dad worked there and it gave us wonderul wood creations which we still own. #ViaStories

  27. We have small shops of various services … the one that I like is the vegetables and fruits and cakes. It allows me to get the food fresh and sometimes organic . Which is better on the health and your pockets #ViaStories

  29. I worked for a small business and saw how hard it was for the owners to achieve success and how thrilling it was when they succeeded big-time.

  30. I found the best wet bags for my cloth diapers at a small business owned by a mom. Works better than any factory made, mainstream wet bag brand!

    katherinedibello (at) gmail (dot) com

  32. A small local floral shop was very helpful when my family was buying flowers for my father’s funeral. We also have gotten some great flowers there in the spring from their little greenhouse. Wonderful begonias!

  33. We have local Chinese Restuarant that we have gone to for the last 20 years. This past week, they celebrated their 20th. Anniversary by giving their patrons (like us) gifts!! How cool is that!.

  34. I love going to the farmer’s market in Norfolk. The produce is amazing and it supports our community! #ViaStories

  37. Does having our own small business count? My hubs and I have had a small business for about 10 years now. It’s in the housing industry so times haven’t always been the best. We had a few absolutely fantastic years! But then the economy kind of tanked and our business tanked with it. It’s been a long struggle back, but we’ve stayed in business through the hard times, and have finally gotten back to a point that we are comfortable again. It’s taught us a lot about saving money and being prepared for the future. I don’t feel like we’d be the same people without all of those hard times! We love our business and are so glad that we were able to keep our dream alive!

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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