Success Stories

Aloha Glamour is a clothing boutique in Gulfport, MS that specializes in colorful African and Hawaiian prints. The vibrant, playful clothes, accessories and home goods are an instant uplift and exemplify the founder, Alexis Williams,’ motto “Live Your Life in Color”.

In 2015 Alexis was in the Air Force and stationed in Hawai’i. After several personal tragedies, including the loss of her baby daughter, and a move to Gulfport, MS she found herself in a new place and still struggling to come to grips with a lot of grief and pain. After retiring from the Air Force, she decided to start her own business and focus on healing.

In Gulfport, Alexis was wearing the luau skirts she had bought in Hawai’i as fashion pieces. She got the idea to open her own business after so many people kept asking where she got the brightly colored skirts. Alexis added African prints to her inventory and Aloha Glamour was born!

Alexis had the creative ideas and the drive, but she didn’t know anything about starting or running a business. She contacted the Mississippi SBDC’s Gulf Coast office and met with business counselor April Holland. April assisted Alexis with constructing a solid business plan and suggested that she take part in the online workshop series. “There literally would be no Aloha Glamour without my business counselor April! She has helped me think on a larger scale, to process ideas and I appreciate her mentorship beyond words,” said Alexis.

When the pandemic hit, Alexis quickly pivoted and began using the bright prints to make face masks. Her small home-based business went viral after she was featured on CNN, GQ, Yahoo News and more.

Aloha Glamour now has a brick and mortar store in a popular and busy Gulfport, MS outlet mall and is doing extremely well – so well in fact she has plans to expand into other outlet malls across the region.

Name: Daniel Paul Parente

Name of Business: A Window Affair

Which branch of military did you serve in? Army

Why did you choose that branch?

17-year-old young and ambitious wanting a better Life

What was your rank? E-4

What did you do? 17 Bravo Field Artillery Radar Operator

How long were you in? 3 years

Where did you serve?

Fort Polk, LA. – TDY Camp Shelly Totanis. N.G. Fort Drummond New York. Exercise Campaign Reforger, Germany, Fort Irwin, California Desert Training.

What were three things you learned while in the service that serve you well today in your life as a business owner?

Discipline, Work Ethics & Respect

How did the Mississippi SBDC assist you?

Took classes at USM under Rita Mitchell – the Enthusiasm and pure honesty guided me with a confidence to keep striving for confidence in self.

What would you say to other veterans thinking of starting a business?

Set the goal and work, work, work! Take as many SBDC classes as possible. Your success depends on you. Appreciate every moment and opportunity. Never give up.A Window Affair

Name:  Cody Abadie 

Name of Business:  Eagle Action Sportz LLC. 

What branch of the military did you serve in?  U.S. Navy  

Why did you choose that branch?  

My grandpa served in the Navy during WW2 and Korea. I wanted to continue a legacy.

What was your rank:  

Petty Officer 3rd class

What did you do? 

 I was an Aviation Ordinanceman that worked in the armory on board the USS John C. Stennis. I trained sailors with small arms and crew served weapons. I also worked with torpedoes.  

How long were you in? 

5 years

Where did you serve?  

On board the USS John C. Stennis CVN74 homeported out of Bremerton WA.

What were 3 things you learned while in the service that serve you well today in your life as a business owner?  

I learned operational risk management, which taught me how to assess risks and decide the best and safest route. 

I learned integrity is one of the most desirable traits a person can have coupled with work ethic. 

I also learned that working hard gets you places if it is noticed. 

How did the Mississippi SBDC assist you? 

The Mississippi SBDC helped me create a watertight business plan. They helped myself and my partners assess the area and our area’s needs. They also assisted in helping us network and get our name out in the area. 

What would you say to other veterans thinking of starting a business?  

Starting off can be hard. However, with proper discipline and motivation coupled with creativity, you can make your dreams come true. It definitely takes patience, innovation, and discipline to make to make it in the business world.

Arepas, Starkville, MS  – Jose Elarba, owner

Tell us about your business! 

Arepas is a restaurant that features Venezuelan food ( family recipes ), great coffee and is a bar. We wanted to share our food and our culture, something new for everybody here. 

It has been open for 2 years in Starkville, MS. We are happy to have found such a good spot to start our business, a good opportunity.   

Describe the food:

The arepas of course !  Our main dish is cornflower bread that’s healthy. We use them to make sandwiches. It’s not thin like a tortilla, it’s thick like a bread and you open it and put fillings inside. It’s really good !  Cachapa – a corn pancake, is my favorite.  It’s a little sweet and we fill it with cheese and it’s incredible – I alway recommend that one. 

Is the food spicy? 

No, not at all ! It’s not spicy like Mexican food. 

Why did you decide to open a coffee bar and a bar? 

We wanted to have something for everyone! Come in the daytime and study with great coffee and come back at night for a drink and to relax – plus, the food is great with both. 

Do you or your family have a background in small business?  

Yes !  My dad had a construction company in Venezuela. I have always loved working with food and in Venezuela had a chicken restaurant. My family is very supportive of me.

How did the Mississippi SBDC help your business? 

They were there from the very beginning. I sent an email and then I met with Chip Templeton in his office.  It was easy and quick. He answered all my questions about my business plan and for marketing too. They’ve been there for everything that I needed! 

What did you learn that surprised you most about being a small business owner? 

I learned that if you own a restaurant you have to be here 24/7!  Another thing is all the people you get to meet and to know. I’ve made so many good friends and that’s really nice. 

What are your plans for Arepas in the future?

My dream is to expand this concept and have different locations all over. 

What would you say to others about the help that the Mississippi SBDC offers?

I recommend them 100 percent !  They will help you out for sure ! 

What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur? 

It’s a nice experience – go for it !  I love it!

Mississippi Woman Business Owner Utilizes Small Business Development Center and SBA Programs to Succeed in Construction Industry

by Carter Diggs

It’s no secret that business owners often derive a personal meaning from their creations.  To some, it’s self-expression.  To others, a sense of purpose.  For entrepreneur Vera Hall, it’s economic and personal independence from a previous marriage.

Hall discovered at Alcorn University that she had a knack for constructing things from scratch.  During an assignment where students were instructed to create something, Hall didn’t feel like joining the majority of the class in working on a motor.  Instead she took to carpentry, leading other young women in the class to construct a screen door.

From there, she began to have an interest in antiques and refurbishing old homes, but never made the link to construction until after she separated from her contractor ex-husband.

“He told the judge that I was just a figurehead and that he needed the company,” Hall said.  “Out of humiliation and offense, I was going to prove to them that I’m no figurehead.”

From there, Hall hit the ground running, going on to obtain her construction and contracting licenses.  Founding Innovative Performance Construction, she initially ran the outfit out of her bedroom.

However, after years of slow and steady progress, as well as counseling and support from the Mississippi Small Business Development Center and the 8(a) Small Business Development Program, she’s been able to see considerable growth.  Whereas she might have been limited to working on $50,000 projects in the beginning, she now has the resources, certification, and personal experience to undertake projects bidding at $2,000,000.

When asked about how accomplishing such growth on a construction project as a woman of color feels, Hall shed light on its personal meaning to her.

“To me it means liberation,” Hall said.  “Confidence. It’s a level of independence that is unspeakable.”

Even through multiple challenges and hiccups, Hall has managed to bring the company through perilous economic situations such as the COVID-19 lockdowns.  With the help of the MS-SBDC, she applied for the EIDL grant and was able to use it to keep everything running smoothly.

As lockdowns have been lifted and business is returning to normal, Hall has set her eyes on the future once again.  She wants to undertake bigger projects in bigger cities in (likely) bigger states.  In order to do that, she plans to build new offices for the business in new areas, and doesn’t seem likely to let anyone else slow her down along the way.

Like everyone else who owns a small business, Jeff Webb, was very concerned when Covid-19 hit and everyone had to shut down. Jeff owns the Sunset Marina at Hwy 43 outside of Canton, MS on the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The marina was in the last phases of a much-needed makeover. When Jeff acquired the business, it had fallen into such disrepair that most of it was a safety hazard. The docks weren’t safe and many of the houseboats and old fishing camp trailers were abandoned and falling apart. It took a long time to get all the old abandoned fish camp trailers and houseboats hauled off – twice as long as he had hoped.

In order to bring his full vision to life, Jeff reached out to his local Mississippi Small Business Development Center. A friend recommended that he Mississippi Small Business Development Center at East Central Community College.  After several meetings with the business counselor, he had a business plan and was ready to go to the bank. “My business counselor taught me a lot about commercial loans that I didn’t know. He was very helpful and saved me a lot of work and money.” said Jeff.

Armed with the commercial loan, the renovations went full steam ahead. The marina, now named Sunset Marina at Hwy 43 has brand new concrete pads and hook ups for campers, an updated on-site store and everything is safe and up to code for visitors.

Most of the renovations were complete and Jeff was expecting a busy summer for 2020 when the Covid-19 shutdown occured. He applied for and received a Paycheck Protection Program loans and an Economic Injury Disaster loan from his local bank that kept his business open during the pandemic. “The help it provided enabled us to not lay off or reduce pay for any of our employees. I’m happy to say we kept everyone working full time. It was a huge relief for a small business like ours,” said Jeff.  Able to keep his staff working during the shutdown, all the remaining renovations were completed and summer of 2021 is on track to be the busiest yet.

Eight years ago, April Shelby started her foray into the pottery business after winning an entrepreneurship grant when she was a senior at Mississippi State. She used her grant money to purchase a single kiln and start up a part-time shop.  As of 2019, with the help of the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, she’s turned her side-gig into a full-time venture.

One of the requirements of the entrepreneurship grant was that she meet with the MSU MSBDC and do a business plan. 

“In college nobody ever gives you a checklist of things you need to do to make your business legitimate,” Shelby said.  “Having that guidance took the pressure off so that I could focus on what I do know – making pottery.”

As she went through the process of forming and registering her business, the Mississippi SBDC was able to walk her through the processes.

“The whole process of getting an LLC and registering your business with the state seemed very overwhelming,” Shelby said, “but once my business counselor guided me through it, it was actually fairly simple.”

With the MS-SBDC’s assistance, she was allowed to turn her full focus to improving her craft and getting her passion out in front of others.  Before she knew it, she had outgrown the space where she started the business.

“After two months of doing this full-time I had realized I outgrew my garage and needed a space of my own,” Shelby said.  “Now I have a space outside my home about three times as big as my garage.”

Now running A. Shelby Pottery, Shelby crafts a wide variety of both commissioned and general pottery.  Well-versed in custom requests, she finds a lot of her business geared towards producing sentiment-filled handprint pottery and bible versed pottery.  

“I love to make something that is so specific and special for each person,” Shelby said.  “People will cherish anything with their children or grandchildren’s handprints in it and lots of people also ask me to use a bible verse on pottery because it spoke to them or shed a little light on them in a dark season.”

Since her business’ success, Shelby has become a proud advocate of the MS-SBDC, sharing the resource that got her off the ground with as many other people as possible.

“Whenever I hear about somebody who wants to turn their hobby into a full-time business I remember what it was like for me,” Shelby said.  “Since then I tell everyone I meet to go see an MS-SBDC counselor.  It’s just so helpful. I couldn’t have done it without my counselor’s help.”

“If you want to start a business but don’t know where to begin,” Shelby said, “I tell everyone to go talk to the MS-SBDC.”

Stephen and Deshawn Clairmont have built a successful manufacturing business that produces decorative home goods with inspirational messages, but their 12-year-old business, Clairmont and Co., took a hit when the economy stumbled because of COVID-19.

As soon as the shutdown hit in March, the Clairmonts began the process of applying for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury and Disaster Loan program and the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Business counselor Rita Mitchell, who works in the Mississippi Small Business Development Center office in Hattiesburg, walked them through the application process via texts, phone calls and emails.

“The loans were a definite game changer,” Stephen Clairmont said. “I could not have done this so quickly without the MS-SBDC’s help.”

The Clairmonts furloughed their employees for only two weeks while they retooled the plant with sewing machines to make masks and other personal protective equipment that was hard to find at the time.

“This is a great example of how our team has stepped in to provide assistance during this time of crisis for our small business communities,” said Sharon Nichols, state director of the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, whose state office is housed at the University of Mississippi. “We are here to be that boots-on-the-ground assistance that small businesses need, not just in time of crisis, but every day.”

The Clairmonts were high school sweethearts who grew up together in Laurel and returned to start their business and family after graduating from college. Clairmont and Co. and their retail store, HAND+made, are both in Laurel, which has garnered national interest recently due to the popularity of the HGTV home renovation show “Home Town.”

When the opportunity arose to keep the business open while serving front-line workers by supplying mask and gowns, it was a perfect solution for them.

“Stephen won’t volunteer this about himself, but he is so kind and generous,” Mitchell said. “He and Deshawn are very much part of the fabric of the community.”

The PPE business was brisk until the larger manufacturers caught up, then orders started tapering off, something the Clairmonts expected. Most of the masks they make are custom orders, and they are in the process of transitioning back decorative home goods, but with an expanded vision for the future.

“Now that we have the infrastructure in place, we’re going to use the sewing machines to add another product line,” Stephen Clairmont said. “This experience has opened up an avenue to add pillows and other soft goods. We already have some in product development right now.”

“The story of Clairmont and Co. is still being written, and the Mississippi SBDC is proud to help play a supporting role in the reinvention and relaunch that Stephen and Deshawn are bringing forth,” Mitchell said. “Stay tuned for the next evolution of Clairmont and Co.; I can’t wait to see what visionary ideas they come up with next.”

Visit Clairmont and Co. at https://clairmontandco.com/

At age 24, Da’Shawn Lindsay moved back to his small MS Delta hometown to start his business and give back to his community. He believes in the power of baseball to change kids’ lives by introducing them to sportsmanship and teamwork.

Looking good, Doing good! How to create a client oasis, and grow stronger with WOW results!

Located in West Hattiesburg and in Laurel, MS, this client’s 2 Aveda salons are upscale service-driven and personal care solution-focused masterpieces.

Lisa began her MS SBDC journey by working with the former JCJC office to develop a Low Doc SBA loan package to start her independent salon business ownership by buying out her partner in 2005.

This business has continued a relationship with the SBDC by becoming a client of USM SBDC in 2016 for data, information, National reports from IBIS about business expansion ideas and for Counselor advice and input.

Because of all the efforts of this exceptional client, along with her Counselor and her constant outreach, her businesses have grown with intention and with true entrepreneurial inspiration, with positive financial results to match her outstanding, community-driven, innovative practices.

1.  What inspired you to choose to start this particular business?

I have always loved cooking and entertaining people with good food and good times. And, I love mixing creative seasonings! We were always asked when hosting an event, “Why don’t you sell this stuff? This is the best fried fish in the world!”

So, we created a mobile concession trailer in 2002 to share and sell our fried catfish when we were in Texas. The secret really was in our seasoning bags, so when we relocated to MS, we decided to market and sell our seasoning package. Our first retail client was Mayders and Tayders in Seminary, MS. Now we are in over 100 stores in 4 states, including Ramey’s, Kroger, Corner Market, many “Mom and Pop” retail outlets, and we’re still growing!

2. Explain your business, and what is special or unique about it.

Carefully selected spices blended by hand for unique flavor, and created to be just enough seasoning to enhance the fish or meat … but not overwhelm it. That, plus the ease of use … just pat dry the extra moisture from your fish, chicken or meat, sprinkle on liberally, then fry or cook. Then let the magic begin!

Our seasonings are sold in transparent bags and bottles, with no hidden or unhealthy ingredients… just the good stuff!

3.What was your biggest challenge on the path to entrepreneurship?

When I first came to the USM SBDC, I thought I wanted to have a small fish café within a local produce and specialty store. After much math, family and feasibility conversation, we decided to market our seasonings first, to build C.J.’s brand awareness and create excitement. The huge initial growth showed us that THIS was our calling.

4. What was the most helpful resource / piece of advice / workshop at the MSBDC in your opinion and how did it help you?

The ease of getting advice, the workshops for business practices, the intense listening and feedback, all the resources and the

continuing help to make C.J.’s soar. The USM SBDC advice and guidance allowed us to grow without a huge investment or loan … and to grow at our own pace.

5. What did you learn at the MSBDC that surprised you?

That everything came to us at no charge! Also, the professional level of the advice and information, and the quick response to questions and requests.

6. Would you suggest the MSBDC’s services to other entrepreneurs?

I always do now, always have and always will! It’s the best business information and the most current – all at NO CHARGE!

1. What inspired you to choose to start this particular business / industry?

“I wanted to be an entrepreneur rather than continue to challenge the status-quo in restaurants where I worked when I KNEW my ideas would be better. I was constantly butting heads with the owners or the people who controlled the food prep.” Will

2. Explain your business and what is special or unique about it?

Seasoned with Love is the perfect place to choose if you want convenience, NO work, and great-tasting food results, whether for catering, take-and-bake casseroles, sides, desserts or whatever we can create together. We are dependably ON TIME, delicious, and available for ordering by phone, online, text or via EZ Cater and Wedding Wire.

3. What was your biggest challenge on the path to entrepreneurship?

“Definitely, planning to work with someone and not vetting it better beforehand. It was expensive and difficult to start-up then buy out a co-worker’s equity. Next would be developing a clear culture at work, then maintaining consistently high-quality products and delivering them on-time every time.”

4. What was the most helpful resource / piece of advice / workshop at the MSBDC in your opinion and how did it help you?

“Honestly, ALL of the advice was and is important, and all has been good. Having a process rather than not knowing what we were getting into and not knowing exactly how to go forward. It removed the mystery – all of that was helpful and important. It’s a beautiful thing to make a phone call or shoot an email and get a solid answer to our questions.”

5. What did you learn at the MSBDC that surprised you?

“The surprising range of services and help you all offer, available at no cost.”

Tiny plants are big business, just ask 22-year-old Daniel Quinn, CEO of MS Microgreens from Yazoo City, MS. Daniel grows trays of microgreens for his clients, some of whom are chefs in some of the most popular restaurants in Jackson, MS. Small but mighty microgreens, are taking the culinary world by storm. Chefs and foodies alike are extoling the virtues of the small plants that have more intense flavor and better nutrition profiles than their more mature counterparts. Only 2 to 3 inches tall, the plants are larger than sprouts but smaller than baby greens, with only two leaves. “Microgreens can be a difficult item to source for restaurants and they are happy to have dependable local source,” said Daniel.

MS Microgreens, only in the second year of business, sells out the entire crop of 20 trays each week. Daniel’s success may look it “grew overnight” but it is the result of months and months of careful research, planning and hard work before he ever saw the first tiny green leaf peek above the growing medium. Luckily, he had great support from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitative Services and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, who joined together to form a team to help Daniel start his business.

The MSDRS is a state agency that provides resources to help Mississippians with disabilities find new careers and live more independently. Daniel, who is on the Autism Spectrum, approached his vocational rehab counselor about hydroponic crops and vertical growing as business idea.

After a lot of discussion and research with his counselors, he settled on microgreens as the way forward.

After finalizing the business idea, the MSDRS reached out to Jim Harper, director of the MSBDC at Hinds Community College for assistance in getting the business set up and started. “I assisted with cash flow projections, market research and helped formulate the legal entity,” said Jim. “The MSRS then assisted with start-up supplies to get the business going,” said Kristin Brock deputy district manager for MSDRS. “We all met once every two weeks to stay on the same page. It was tiny steps at first, but we got to the top of the mountain.”

“Daniel a smart, hard-working young man with a bright future and we are happy that we were able to be a part of his story. We can’t wait to see what he does with this business and of course we are here to help chart his next chapter when he is ready,” said Jim.