Small Business Center
We believe in the power of storytelling, especially along the small business journey.
Here are some of our stories.
Stitching Together a New Beginning: Red Bird Thread Co. Finds its Home
Meet Sammie. Today, she is the owner of Red Bird Thread Co., a bright and inviting sewing and art supply shop inside The District Exchange, a new retail and dining hub in Downtown Concord. Red Bird Thread Co. is a place filled with color, creativity, and community,...
Brewing Connection: Soul Spire Café Builds Community Around Coffee and Creativity
Meet Christine. As the founder of Soul Spire Café, Christine blends her lifelong love of coffee with a deep desire to build community. Her vision is to build a creative hub in Cabarrus County where creatives, artists, makers and musicians can come together over a...
From Beer to Bakery: Barley Jean’s Builds a Business Rooted in Creativity and Community
Meet Melissa and Mark. Together, they own Barley Jean’s Bakery, which is about to begin a fresh chapter inside the newly opened District Exchange in Downtown Concord. Their first retail location will offer fresh-baked goods, dog treats and seasonal favorites in a...
Inspiring Others Through Words: How Yvonne Turned a Lifelong Passion Into a Business
Meet Yvonne. For as long as she can remember, Yvonne has been filling notebooks with poetry, stories, and family history. Writing was her outlet as a young girl, a way to process her feelings and capture the stories told within her family. Over the years, that passion...
Two Innovators, One Groove: The Makings of a Business
Meet Shrop. As a longtime creative, software developer and strategist, Mark “Shrop” Shropshire has been building digital solutions since the early days of the internet. Now, alongside creative partner Bayo Fodeke, he co-leads FocalGroove, a growing business rooted in...
When Self-Care Sparked a Startup
Meet Shani. From her home in Concord, she is redefining self-care one handcrafted product at a time. As the founder of Simply Care Box, Shani is on a mission to help busy people carve out small, meaningful moments of peace in the midst of everyday life. Her business...
Buzz-Worthy Business: A Local Entrepreneur’s Sweet Mission
Meet Mike. Inside a warm and inviting storefront on Cabarrus Avenue in downtown Concord, you’ll find Mike Elliott talking about bees. Not just selling honey, but sharing insights, stories, and the incredible science behind beekeeping. As the co-owner of Cannon Honey...
From Public Service to Small Business Success
Meet Susan. A Rowan County resident with a background in local government and a lifelong passion for helping people grow, Susan Nunn has spent her career developing others. Today, as the founder of Performance Potential Uncorked, she’s building something of her own -...
Local Entrepreneur: Rooted in Legacy, Growing with Purpose
Meet Janea. Nestled on a piece of farmland just minutes from downtown Concord, Janea lives and works on the land where she grew up - a place rich with family history, stories and now, new beginnings. Her company, Good Greene Gardens, is a tribute to that legacy. The...
Concord entrepreneur creates literacy tool
Meet Meagan. A Concord resident and lifelong educator with a passion for helping struggling readers. Meagan never imagined she would one day run her own business. But after 16 years of teaching, a spark of innovation led her to create a hands-on learning tool—one that...