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.
Jasmine Powell
Starting over from scratch wasn’t easy, but I took the leap and went to beauty school. While training, I found another passion—lash artistry. Since then, I’ve proudly been in the beauty industry for almost four years, specializing in facials and lash extensions. Being an esthetician allows me to blend everything I love—education, wellness, and customer care—into one career. Now, I get to provide educational beauty treatments, create the best experience for my clients, and truly live my dream. Read more>>
Liz Kamp
In the beginning, we saw our business idea as something similar to the traveling paint and sip options that were available in various communities around Minnesota. We traveled from pub to pub, putting on an evening of mischief and mayhem for ticket purchasers. After hosting these events for a little less than a year, we toyed with the idea of writing our own–I have dabbled with writing fiction novels quite a bit in the past after all and Jason is my sounding board for all my crazy ideas. However, we laughed at the idea and moved on. Read more>>
Kelsey Wulf
Back when I first made content I was really trying to emulate that sort of Magnolia farmhouse look. Lots of white, clean, pristine, subway tile kitchen type stuff. I would spend half an hour trying to make my house behind me in videos match that look. The fact is though my kitchen doesn’t look like that. It’s from the 1970s with wood stain cupboards and a fridge that is a giant cluttered mess of kids’ art and family photos. Read more>>
Rebecca Diwan
it all started with a tractor and a move across country. We moved to Minnesota the summer of 2020, wasn’t a great time to find a house, but on our last day we found a small farm that had been sitting empty, the house with only two bedrooms to fit our family of six, over grown pastures, and many fences to build. I don’t think i even went into the house just a matter of minutes, i spent the whole time outside walking the property. It was going to be a hard sell for my family, due to the lack of space in the house, I turned to my husband and said if we get this property you can get a tractor. And that was that, and the kids didn’t speak to us for a bit. Read more>>
Anna Rynders
Amidst the unexpected professional shifts of 2020, we found an opportunity to pursue our long-held dream of establishing an architecture firm. As a licensed architect in Minnesota and New Jersey, this has always been a dream for me and I am still amazed at what we have created. What began as a family-owned venture assisting designers with developing drawings has since evolved into a full-fledged practice. Today, we collaborate closely with clients, investors, and contractors, bringing projects to life with a commitment to innovation and excellence. Our journey has been one of growth, adaptability, and passion for architectural design, and we continue to build spaces that inspire. Read more>>
Bobbie Thomas
Our family created this blog as a way to share reviews with our followers as well as document our experience as a Black family in Minnesota. We provide reviews on food, entertainment, and travel. We promise to bring you REAL reviews. We pride ourselves on shopping small and shopping locally. If you want to find out about a business down the street, our thoughts on a new movie, what we are doing in California, a list of local Black businesses to shop with, or if you just want a peek into our lives then make sure you are following us. Read more>>
Laila, Lacey, And Tanya Olson
I shared this inofmration with the girls and one of them asked if we could make some and donate them. We explored the business part of it and they came up with a ‘Buy One, Give One’. So with each Kennel Blanket that gets purchased, they donate a kennel blanket to a local rescue. From there, other customers continue to offer ideas. Some people really wanted to support the girls but only had cats, so we did some research and created some cat products. The girls now have products that involve baking, sewing, and tying. Each year, we sit down and create new goals for themselves as entrepreneurs and the business. This year, their hopes are to create some wheat-free and peanut butter-free products. Read more>>
Rachel Holder
After graduating from McNallySmith, I began teaching in the vocal department. I also was hired as the contemporary voice teacher at Macalester college, where I still teach. I taught at McNally for 10 years before they closed in 2017. Many, if not most of the people I work with today are people I met at McNally. I also teach private voice lessons out of my home in St. Paul. I teach most ages (not kids under 11) and all levels. I love providing my students with the support and knowledge to grow as singers for whatever goals they might have, whether it’s a professional singer wanting to maintain stamina on a long tour or a retiree wanting to explore a new hobby or an aspiring singer looking for a way into the business. I find teaching voice to be extremely rewarding. Read more>>
Madeline Mainwood
I realized, I am the one creating these memories for others now. I have a hand in telling stories that will last lifetimes, that will turn into old stories and childhood memories, like the ones that have always felt so dear to me. My job as a photographer isn’t just a job, it is my passion and my outlet. I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am today, offering all different kinds of photography and getting to help tell people’s stories. Read more>>
Madison Simon
I feel that the beauty industry can be really unfair to those who are in it. We are taught and conditioned to put everyone else’s comfort before ours. To preach confidence without knowing where ours is. And of course, to never show emotion. After creating my ideal workspace, learning how to prioritize my comfort, and finding my confidence, I had to face what was happening outside of work. My marriage was now at the forefront; I was divorced by 24. I am a firm believer in “sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same”. Read more>>
Matthew Allen
Sexual Assault and misconduct is rampant in the music community. There are so many big names that you have to distance yourself from in order not to get caught up in that sort of stuff. And even outside of dealing with the perpetrators themselves there are people and institutions that have looked the other way for so long that when you stand up against it they often take it as a personal attack against their history of inaction. Read more>>
Jenny Omari
I design permanent (claspless) jewelry by microwelding together either a bracelet, necklace, anklet, or ring for my guests. It’s very important to me that I carry high quality gold, silver or rose gold chains with many options of charms and/or connectors for the guest to completely customize how they want. It’s important to me to have enough options to offer people so they can get as creative, or simple, as they want. I’ve had people actually ask me to design their personal piece of jewelry because “there’s too many options that I can’t decide!” Read more>>
Jin Dalsin
He told us of 2020 and the elections thereafter being very important as they would lead to major events that would change the entire course of humanity. We were very young and thought the ghost was just messing with us. In the meantime, I was able to hear a voice that would give me insights, guidance and words of wisdom. I just assumed it was my intuition and everyone had that. It helped me to have a successful career as a massage therapist, life coach and earning my degree in Mind-Body Transformational Psychology. This journey enhanced my vibrational frequency, honed my intuition and ultimately enabled me to channel and communicate directly with the spiritual guide Orin. Read more>>
Anna Gravening
After celebrating 5 years in business, yet another opportunity opened up which led me to the beautiful lake town of Annandale, Mn. It is often referred to as a “hallmark” town due to its small town charm and festivities. This move allowed me to rebrand a bit, shortening the name to Willow. I decided to go back to my roots of a more Northwoods theme which fits in nicely with the town being home to many cabin and lake home dwellers. It’s a place where beauty is all around and adventures are to be had! I am forever grateful for all those stepping stones that God placed along the way and look forward to where they’ll lead in the years to come! Read more>>
Becca Sandholm
I don’t think any business owner who went through 2020 would consider it a smooth road. My husband and I got married in 2015, the same year I started my business. I was ecstatic with the growth it had in those early years. I surpassed my wedding booking goal while still juggling another couple jobs. I went full-time in 2018 when we noticed I needed to pour more of my time into my business and my husband’s salary could support us. Read more>>
Emma Weber
After attending NDSU for Hospitality and Tourism Management, I spent 3 years in Australia in Missions. Part of that mission was growing my knowledge of coffee and management by helping run a Cafe we had on our center. After moving back home in 2021, the previous owner asked me if I would still consider buying the business from him. After purchasing the building in November 2023, I have completely remodeled the building to be a cafe that sells gifts. We now offer bagels, baked goods in house, fresh sandwiches, and soups alongside the gifts. Read more>>
Ashlee Cooper
Hi, my name is Ashlee. I have been in the massage industry for 11 years now. I started my journey toward holistic health and hands on healing because as a teen and into my adult years I had injuries (ACL and meniscus tears) and had surgeries to repair. Ever since then I have been on a quest to find non invasive ways to heal the body and mind. I realize that surgery is necessary in some cases, but the effects injury’s or surgery’s have on the body need other modalities to continue the healing process. This search than made me more curious about how the body works and how movement and non movement can affect the muscles. Read more>>
Romina Montanari
Growing up in Italy, I took Italian food for granted because it was available anytime and was all around me. It wasn’t until I moved to the United States that I realized how lucky I was for having eaten so well all my life. The thing I missed the most about home was the fresh pasta my mom, dad and I would make on the weekends for our family lunch. Making fresh pasta and teaching other people how to do it has been my passion for the last 10 year Read more>>
Danae & Ryan Albright
We strive to offer unique products that are not commonly found elsewhere, for example, pistachio, crème brûlée and vanilla berries Croissants or vanilla dark cherry or blueberry lemon curd Danishes. Read more>>
Corbyn Young
To build my portfolio, I started by photographing friends and family, and in 2022, I joined the school and family photography team at Slow Road Photo. It’s here that I honed my skills, gained confidence, and found a community of inspiring, like-minded creatives. This group has been a constant source of support, advice, and inspiration as I continue to grow a photography business of my own. Their belief in collaboration and shared growth reminds me daily that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Read more>>
Jake Laferriere
With great success, comes great responsibility. Each time we fundraise, we have the opportunity to create the program or resource for our beneficiaries. In 2018, after 3 Red Tie Galas we had raised enough money to open emergency housing units and open Camp RED for children and families. What started as a feasibility study around housing needs turned into meeting the demand of the Burn Unit families which got even more intense during Covid in 2020. Read more>>
Amy Sharpe
Amy Sharpe: I call myself a weaver who writes, or a writer who weaves, depending on my current project. I also work in fiber, paper and mixed media, do some photography, garden and love to cook for friends. A former newspaper editor, for 16 years I published “Homespun,” a magazine “celebrating the art of creative living.” I lead workshops on creativity, nature printing and journaling, and host travel adventures to inspire the artist within each of us. I dream in color. Read more>>
Becca Ogega
It hasn’t been the smoothest road. There were many times when I struggled with self-doubt, feeling like I wasn’t getting the recognition I deserved—wondering if maybe my audience didn’t connect with what I was creating and putting out. Even to this day, I still feel that way at times. But I’ve realized that’s just how much I love being a creator. It got to a point where I stopped caring about the likes and simply did it because I wanted to. Read more>>
Briana Barnes
Another major challenge was proving credibility in a competitive industry. The financial space is filled with misinformation, and many people are skeptical of business funding services. I had to build trust, establish a strong track record, and consistently deliver results for my clients. That meant not just talking about financial literacy and funding, but helping real businesses secure capital, repair credit, and create sustainable growth plans. Read more>>
Michelle Wall
We are an employee—and customer-driven business. We provide several benefits to our team. We have very unique and diverse retail products. We don’t want to have what others have, and Lauren spends so much time and care picking out quality products. We let our therapists and esticiticans excel in the areas they are passionate about. No cookie-cutter services! I am proud of the team that we are! The front desk receptionist are like no other! I have some of the best folks and exceptional customer service. I am beyond thrilled with each of them! Read more>>
Sara Wait
Another major challenge has been educating customers about the value of pure beeswax candles. In a market flooded with mass-produced, artificially scented options, many people don’t realize what makes a Slow Burn candle different. There’s an ongoing need to share the benefits—why beeswax is the cleanest-burning choice, how it naturally purifies the air, and why sourcing locally matters. Competing with big-box retailers and lower-cost alternatives has required Slow Burn to focus on storytelling, transparency, and building meaningful relationships with customers who appreciate quality and sustainability. Read more>>
Molly Troumbly
My journey into midwifery is deeply rooted in my passion for supporting women through pregnancy and birth. I started my journey as a doula where I witnessed firsthand the transformative power of birth. This experience ignited my desire to become a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Through extensive training and hands-on experience in home birth settings, I eventually founded Heart to Heart Midwifery. I am certified through the North American Registry of Midwives and licensed by the Board of Medical Practice in the State of Minnesota. My goal has always been to provide holistic, compassionate, and faith-centered care, empowering women to trust in their bodies and the birth process. Read more>>
Daynen Lull
D&D Auto Detail officially launched in late November 2024 and has experienced remarkable growth ever since. What began with just a few essential tools, high-quality detailing products, and a clear vision has quickly evolved into a premier mobile detailing service. Our commitment to excellence, patience, and an unwavering work ethic has earned us a stellar 5-star reputation, a rapidly expanding social media presence, and a loyal clientele across northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. At D&D, we take pride in delivering precision clean and premium shine, ensuring every vehicle we touch looks its absolute best. Read more>>
Tiffany Ohotto
My twin sister and I embarked on this exciting journey just over three years ago, fueled by our passion for crafting beautiful events and celebrating life’s special moments. It all started when we began sharing photos of our own gatherings on social media, and before we knew it, Tiffany’s Picnic and Parties blossomed into something truly special. We both thrive on creativity, and there’s nothing quite like the joy of being part of so many memorable occasions—whether it’s an engagement, a birthday, or a baby shower. Knowing that our customers trust us to help celebrate these milestones is incredibly rewarding. Read more>>
Joanna Craw
Through doing those I learned that not all avenues suited my business and I had to be more selective about business commitments. I slowly built an online following and local customer base and as those grew I found new ways to grow in my studio. I moved from my parent’s basement to a shared studio space and then to my own studio. That saying about how it takes 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to achieve mastery in a skill really rings true for me. It was doing things over and over and learning and pivoting that really helped me get past those initial challenges. Read More>>
Tasha Klockow
The process was a whirlwind. With Tasha 4 weeks pregnant in July 2016, the couple met with the Itasca Economic Development Council (IEDC) business consultant Shannon Benolken who agreed to take on whipping the Klockows into shape to open a microbrewery in Grand Rapids. They moved to the area December 2016, incorporated in January 2017, had a baby in March 2017, began brewering beers in August 2017 and opened the doors for business in October 2017 – an unheard of pace in any industry! Read More>>
