Iowa Small Business Stories

Allison Cabay knows something about herself: she loves to create. After a decade of being a full-time mom, Allison decided to reignite her passion for creating. Full days and nights of child-rearing had been fulfilling in many ways, but the creative passion that had fueled my younger years had faded to embers. I was more than ready to reignite it." - Allison For years, Allison used handmade soaps from farmers' markets because of the very noticeable effect on her skin. She also loved the … [Read more...] about Ember Tree Artisan Soap: The Full-Sensory Experience

Take a look at the Fine Art category on Shop Iowa and you will see, talent is not hard to come by. Nancy Cameron, who currently resides in Ottumwa, is one of the many talented artists in Iowa. Nancy has wanted to paint watercolor all of her life … but there was never enough time. Nancy began her watercolor journey just a few years ago following a career of teaching music. Nancy and her husband lived in Iowa, North Dakota, Montana, and Arkansas and traveled mostly in the western United … [Read more...] about Join Nancy Cameron on her joyful watercolor journey!

Honor and Respect started in 2018 when current Marion Police Officer and U.S. Air Force veteran Ron Slagle prayed about how he and his family could help first responders and military personnel with the current mental health crisis. It began small with the family coming together to design a shoe that would allow others to show their support, and has grown into a bigger plan that God had His hand on. In July of 2019 Honor and Respect was featured on Fox and Friends and the response was very … [Read more...] about Honor and Respect – Making Mental Health a Priority for Our Heroes!

A fascination with bees sparked decades ago turned into keeping a few hives... then a few more. Andy Joseph, Catherine Rihm and their son live in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines and currently care for about 200 hives. While the bees are located in and around Polk County including Madison, Warren and Dallas Counties, they run their small business out of their home. MeadowBlazing Star honey is 100% raw wildflower honey, a blend of honey their bees produce as they forage on the … [Read more...] about Meadow BlazingStar Honey – Straight from the hive!

As Midwesterners, we are very familiar with the four seasons. Ashley Hahn believes that while we celebrate the wonders of the changing seasons and moments that come along with them, we should take time to celebrate the seasons of LOVE and FAITH all year long. Which is why she created Shop Six Seasons. Ashley defines herself as a wife, mother, small business owner and all around lover of life! In her free time (when she's not taking care of her three children)  you can find her dancing in … [Read more...] about Shop Six Seasons – Lifestyle Fashion For All

Meet the proud owners of Purple Ribbon General Store, the Hunter family. Pete, Cindy, Sara, Ashley, Jess & Rylan Located in Clarion, Iowa, Purple Ribbon General Store is a one-of-a-kind, family-owned general store. They offer premium Iowa products such as home decor, candles, local foods and honey.   You can also find their namesake, Purple Ribbon Beef. They pride themselves on raising premium beef from birth to plate. Not only is their beef BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) … [Read more...] about Purple Ribbon General Store – quality standards & sustainable farming practices

Welcome to DKW Art Gallery & Studios! Owned and operated by Deb and Mark Weiser, DKW is an active and involved art gallery located in the heart of Marion, Iowa. DKW is a unique and fun exhibit of regional artwork, from various local artists, at affordable prices. They're proud of the fact that they've introduced many customers to their first original piece of art, as there’s no sticker shock as in most galleries. Deb has been an artist for over 30 years, working in a variety of … [Read more...] about DKW Art Gallery – Art Lives Here

Words can be powerful. SMACK, which stands for "Spreading Messages of Affirmation, Compassion and Kindness," was created by Michelle Stricker in March of 2020. After putting her full-time photography businesses on hold during the early stages of the pandemic, Michelle used her own experience with anxiety and channeled her passion to bring hope to the world to start a movement: SMACK. Michelle handwrites powerful and uplifting messages that are then scanned and … [Read more...] about SMACK – Together, Let’s Change the World

Zumi is a company that was founded on the love of beautiful, colorful fabrics and uniquely styled clothing and Lu Spaine's desire to find those items and bring them to her customers. Zumi began in 1992 and expanded in 2001 when a shop was opened in Des Moines. With the opening of her storefront she was able to expand her product line to include accessories, home decor & musical instruments. All products originate from countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Many importers she … [Read more...] about Zumi – Where Culture Inspires Fashion