Business Name: Epperly Travel
Owner: Lindsey Epperly Sulek
Location: Columbus, GA
Website: epperlytravel.com
Instagram Handle: @epperlytravel
Offerings: Travel agency
What They Have to Say: "Over the years, my personal travels have stolen my words and returned them to me full of passion and with a dream of sharing this great world with my friends, family and clients.
My name is Lindsey Epperly Sulek and I’m the Founder and CEO of Epperly Travel. I’ve been in the travel industry for over 10 years and am most passionate about building a company that can be a part of your travel memories.
My journey through the travel industry began as a student at the University of Georgia, when I wandered into a travel agency in my hometown, looking for a brochure, and (accidentally) walked out with a job. I built up my personal book of business while still in college by looking at the career path as an entrepreneurial venture, which is one of the few passions I have that eclipse my love of travel. Being able to marry the two has been an absolute joy!
I launched Epperly Travel back in 2014 and have been thrilled to grow this team with advisors who embody our core values. My personal “why” is to help others believe in their value, so much so that it’s part of our company culture, and it’s been an absolute dream to help our advisors blossom into true travel professionals."
Business Name: SUTHINGIRL
Owner: Ashley Stamoulis
Location: Atlanta, GA
Website: suthingirl.com
Instagram Handle: @suthingirl
Offerings: Fashion, Food, Finer Things
What They Have to Say: "Born under moss-draped live oaks in Savannah and raised on a low country island surrounded by azaleas and saltwater marshes, I grew up at the heels of three generations of colorful, charismatic entrepreneurs.
A diploma from the University of Georgia in hand, I answered the siren's call of the big city and moved to Atlanta to pursue a Masters of Communications and embark upon an adventure in public relations, working with some of Atlanta's most recognizable brands. My next leap was Ashley Sparks Communications, a marketing and events company serving clients across the country.
Three kids and two decades later, I've come full circle to my family roots, promoting southern makers and entrepreneurs through SUTHINGIRL, one of the South's most celebrated lifestyle brands, and the SUTHINGIRL Box, a seasonal selection of southern style featuring today's top southern makers and brands.
Our mission at SUTHINGIRL is to celebrate the southern lifestyle, serve as the premier resource to Shop the South®, nurture and grow southern brands, and give back. "In the South, all our backyards touch." This is one of my favorite southern expressions and inspired our Look Good, Feel Good® campaign. We joyfully give 20% of our profits back to nonprofit organizations on behalf of the amazing SuthinGirls who shop our site."
Business Name: Sparkle Hustle Grow
Owner: Julie Ball
Location: Asheville, NC
Website: sparklehustlegrow.com
Instagram Handle: @sparklehustlegrow
Offerings: Monthly subscription and online community for female entrepreneurs
What They Have to Say: "Julie Ball is the Founder + Chief Sparkler of Sparkle Hustle Grow, a monthly subscription and online community for female entrepreneurs. Julie leads thousands of women through personal development and business training in a way that’s fun and supportive. Julie is an author, speaker, community builder, subscription box coach– featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Thrive Global, POPSUGAR, Mashable,and Buzzfeed.
After running her successful website design and development firm, Julie wanted to get out from behind the screen. This desire coupled with her biggest inspiration–the female entrepreneur community–is what led her to start Sparkle Hustle Grow.
Taking her knowledge of the entrepreneurial world and key products that helped her grow her business, she combined them into one product–delivered monthly in a fun-to-open package and has been able to help fellow female entrepreneurs on their journeys toward success.
A media studies graduate of Penn State University, Julie went on to get her Masters in Internet Marketing from Full Sail University. Before starting her own business, she worked in corporate music marketing, holding management level roles in a mostly-male dominated industry. Julie lives in the mountains of western NC with her husband and daughter."
Business Name: The Southern Coterie
Owners: Whitney Long and Cheri Leavy
Location: St. Simons Island, GA
Website: thesouthernc.com
Instagram Handle: @thesouthernc
Offerings: Resources and community for entrepreneurs
What They Have to Say: "The Southern Coterie is a virtual front porch for Southern creatives and entrepreneurs. Designed to offer a community of passionate business owners, makers and doers the opportunity to connect, collaborate and create, the “Southern C” is capturing the South’s entrepreneurial renaissance one post at a time on the blog and social media channels. From “get to know” Q&A’s to inspirational start-up stories, to tips from the top names in the media, blogging, and business community, the “Southern C” is the virtual version of a traditional front porch – a laid-back gathering place to share, inspire, encourage and nurture creative minds. Our membership program offers all of this at your fingertips 24/7/365. Members may participate in Mastermind groups, post questions in the many business growth forums led by experts, and glean from thought leaders on monthly webinars, as well as promote their events with fellow members."
Business Name: Edited by Elizabeth
Owner: Elizabeth Gumb
Location: Charleston, SC
Website: editedbyelizabeth.com
Instagram Handle: @edited_by_elizabeth
Offerings: Wardrobe Consulting, Personal Styling, Closet Organization
What They Have to Say: "What we wear - our Personal Style - is so much a part of who we are, what we say to the world, and an image of how we feel. As we grow and change in life, so does our style. Often in this fast-paced world, we lose sight of what our style is and how to get it back. As a mother of three, I understand how chaotic life can be and how your style can take a backseat as we drive through life.
Having helped friends and family dress for events and pack for trips over the years, I’ve been able to turn my love of dressing-up into a beloved career. I have a natural ability to help you figure out what your style is and what you should be wearing.
Specializing in wardrobe consulting, personal styling, organizing, and personal shopping, I will work with you in your closet to hone in on your own unique, personal style. Forgoing trends and rules, I will help you edit out pieces that no longer work, breathe new life into the ones that do, and add in any essentials that may be missing.
The end goal? You look beautiful, you radiate confidence, and your closet looks quite nice, too!"
Business Name: Work Well with Kate
Owner: Kate Gremillion
Website: workwellwithkate.com
Instagram Handle: @workwellwithkate
Offerings: Streamlining business operations and implementing organizational systems
What They Have to Say: "So what was the secret sauce? creating the right business systems, outsourcing what didn’t require me, and focusing on the top revenue-generating tasks in the business.
Finding the right tools, templates, people and resources to run my business totally changed the game. When I went from all-nighters on our office couch to frolicking around Paris with my business besties, I knew I had to share what I had learned with other women business owners.
So that’s exactly what I did! Work Well with Kate is my commitment to helping you build a business with more profit and less busy work. I will help you flourish financially without sacrificing the freedom and flexibility that makes entrepreneurship amazing. I will show you the same tools, resources, tips, and tricks I used to build my six-figure coaching business and the ones I still use today.
You were made for more than emails, excel sheets and an endless to-do list. Let’s build a business that shows it."
I'd love to know if you've made a purchase from any of these small businesses this year in our Shop Small Holiday 2019 Campaign - tag me on Instagram @maryfrancesflowers and share your goodies with #MFMshopsmallchallenge