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…
“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…
Quicker than a karate chop, the Asian martial arts exploded across the country after the debut of the movies “Karate Kid” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” in the 1980s. The lure of self-defense skills, increased self-confidence and being part of a brotherhood attracted youth and adults to numerous martial arts academies. What they instill — in the form of blocks, punches and kicks — is discipline, respect, ethics and hard…
“This is the perfect place for custom weddings,” agreed Taylor and Martha Blanton of Casa Los Ebanos, a grand, 82-acre estate located just outside San Benito. The property has served as the site for hundreds of such events, as well as other gatherings, over the past 15 years. “Here we let you pick your own caterer, band, everything, and fit it to your budget,” said Taylor. Developing a cost-friendly yet…
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…
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…
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…
Keeping your independence as you age is a near-universal goal. Mobility is the defining characteristic of independence. Walking, driving or getting yourself around with a wheelchair, scooter or walker all contribute to that sense of independence. But with approximately 10,000 persons turning 65 daily, the market for mobility devices is predicted to keep growing. A brief look at the mobility market reveals some interesting facts. You can rent a mini-van…
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),…
Fabian Contreras recalled that his father, who owned several Mexican companies, told him to go start his own business. Contreras struck out on his own, diving into the U.S. trucking industry and learning its ways. Now, 13 years later, he is the president/CEO of Codysur Group, a trucking and logistics firm consisting of seven companies with 220 employees and revenue of over $40 million in 2014, serving automotive, electronics and…