“You have to spend money to make money,” said Vicky Rodriguez, owner of Tip O’ Texas Geckos. What started off as hobby four years ago to keep her calm has evolved into a business that breeds and sells crested geckos, a popular terrarium pet originally from New Caledonia. “I learned more about crested gecko colors and that the market fluctuates depending on lineage, which wasn’t important 20 years ago.”…

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When Paul Bonilla visited a doctor’s office in 2012, he noticed that the signs directing people to emergency exits were unattractive and flimsy.   “I thought I could do better.” And he did. At age 14, Bonilla launched Practice Signs, which makes customized emergency evacuation signs of doctors’ offices and other facilities.  In recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and innovation, the National Federation of Independent Business named him one…

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“A lot of people want my job, but they wouldn’t like the pay,” said Paul Terhaggen, a tanned and weathered business owner known as Jibber by windsurfing fans.  “I love teaching people.” At his Windsurf – The Boatyard, he has taught thousands how to windsurf, including children of the kids he gave lessons to years ago.  The one-man operation also rents stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. Terhaggen’s business has evolved considerably…

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Odette MacDonald may have been born in the wrong era, but she’s created a little time capsule that transports her clients back 50, 100 and even 150 years ago.  The owner of Odette’s Secret Closet shares her delight in the costume jewelry, clothing and décor of bygone times as a pre-estate sales consultant, vintage stylist and antique broker. Her vintage pop-up shop, which, of course, has no permanent address, opened…

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While window displays are of utmost importance to retail operations, the field of visual merchandising also encompasses exterior signage, customer movement inside the store, the use of mirrors and the grouping of products. Window dressing and coordinated signage are effective in attracting potential customers as well as upping the overall appeal of a street, according to Sarah Blankenship of the Texas Historical  Commission’s Texas Main Street Program.  She talked to…

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Etsy, the online store for handmade items and vintage (pre-1990) goods, had 1.4 million registered vendors in January 2015 with sales topping $1.9 billion. This year Mission joined   Austin and Dallas as the only Texas cities allowed to present the Etsy Craft Entrepreneurship program.  The Mission EDC negotiated to present the five-session training course, which is designed to help small craft entrepreneurs strengthen the business side of their operations.  Alex…

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When Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream attended a meeting of top American CEOs, they were shocked – shocked! — to find the CEOs had high ethical standards,  didn’t exploit their workers, their communities or the environment, and supported worthy nonprofits.  But as unevolved children of the ‘60s, Ben and Jerry cling to the mantra that all businesses (other than theirs and an anointed few),…

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