Small Business Revolution Blog

Posted on November 7, 2019

Is franchising your small business the right choice?

Nooma is one of the small businesses in Searcy, Arkansas that we had the pleasure of working with this year on Season 4 of Small Business Revolution. Casey Cox and Nicole Hopkins started the business more than two years ago with one location in Searcy. Since then, they’ve opened two more locations in Arkansas: Little Rock and Rogers. However, they’re in a bit over their heads, with the Rogers location not turning a profit and relying upon the other locations for support

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Posted on November 4, 2019

Everyone is allowed a chance at success

Imagine signing up for your first yoga class at a studio in town. You’re not sure what to expect and don’t know anyone. But as soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by multiple women in yoga gear with friendly hellos who tell you to head upstairs and make sure you have plenty of water. As you walk into the room, you’re smacked in the face with a heat you’ve never felt indoors. You didn’t realize a workout facility could be this hot. And you’re supposed to work out in this for the next hour?

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Posted on October 31, 2019

Breathing new life into El Mercado

If you’ve watched every season of Small Business Revolution, then you may notice that we have a few experts that we bring back each year. Not only because we love them and they’re great to work with, but they consistently bring top-notch advice to the small businesses we work with and they love small businesses just as much as we do.

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Posted on October 28, 2019

El Mercado: A Family Affair

Every season of Small Business Revolution it seems like we find at least one business that is run by a husband/wife duo. This year was no different. El Mercado, a Mexican grocery store in Searcy, Arkansas, is owned and run by Jose and Catrina Mendoza.

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Posted on October 25, 2019

Willie Willette talks ARganic Woodworking through the Startup Stage

Coty Skinner had been incorporated for just over a month when he applied to be on the Small Business Revolution. A true startup, he was converting his passion for building furniture into a business that could support a mission. A veteran and a foster parent, he wanted to employ both kids aging out of the foster system and vets looking for work. But first, he had to have a successful business himself.

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Posted on October 22, 2019

Finding a purpose with ARganic Woodwork

How many times have you found yourself looking for your purpose in life? You’re in a job that feels drab and doesn’t make you happy, or you really want to get married and have children. Everyone’s purpose varies. Some of us find it sooner than others. Some of us pay people to help us find that purpose. But it seems rare to find not one, not two, but three, purposes in life.

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Posted on October 22, 2019

Ann Kim Inspires Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant with Focused Menu, More Help, Wider Client Base

Is the 2019 winner of the James Beard Award for “Best Chef in the Midwest” too busy to volunteer a helping hand to a struggling restaurateur? Absolutely not. Ann Kim is featured in Episode 2 of Season 4 of Small Business Revolution. There she sits in a small strip mall in Searcy, Arkansas, tearfully holding hands with Whilma Frogoso, emotional over the potential her humble restaurant has.

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Posted on October 15, 2019

Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant gets the help it needs

This is the story of how I ended up taped to a wall in Searcy, Arkansas.

It starts with Whilma Frogoso. She is the charming owner of a Filipino restaurant that has been open in Searcy since 2009.

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Posted on October 10, 2019

The Shakes Seen ‘Round the World

It’s good to have friends with friends, as Jessie Hohenstein has learned in a big way.

Jessie owns the Cookie Basket restaurant in downtown Searcy, Arkansas. Her business neighbor, Mat Faulkner, owns Think Idea Studios across the street. On May 23, Mat hosted a small office birthday party for his colleague and ordered four of Jessie’s crazy shakes, a new item she was giving a try.

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Posted on October 7, 2019

Top 10 Reasons to Watch Small Business Revolution Season 4

By: Jenna Paulus, PR Manager, Deluxe Each year we invest $500,000 into one small town and six of its businesses as part of Deluxe’s Small Business Revolution. This season, the stories are amazing, heartfelt and sure to give you all the feels. Need more reasons to watch? Check out our Top 10 reasons to watch […]

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Posted on August 19, 2019

Small Business Stories: Hopkins Braces

Dr. Jonathan Hopkins’ best-laid plans went right out the window the year he opened his small business. It was August 2006 and he was finishing his residency when Hurricane Katrina threw seven feet of water into his house. At the same time, his plans to buy a practice in Searcy, Arkansas from an orthodontist fell through, when the other doctor suddenly changed his mind.

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Posted on August 13, 2019

Small Business Stories: Dafni Greek Gourmet

Melissa owns Dafni Greek Gourmet in Biddeford, Maine. She sells olive oil grown on her family’s farm in Greece and products made with it. A big part of growing her business has been going to area farmer’s markets and other events to meet new customers, tell her family story and help people understand the value family-grown products bring.

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