Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.
Dain Polyniak
Not everyone has the ability to obtain all the tools they will need to safely work on their vehicle. I started The Shop DIY Garage to provide all the necessary tools and equipment you would need to preform basic maintenance all the way to more in depth jobs like motor/transmission swaps, while saving money compared to taking your vehicle to a dealer. Read more>>
Courtney Turner
Essential Oils combined with Lava rock and a touch of Sea Glass = the beginning of Lava The Sea What started as a search into the benefits of essential oils for me & my family, came an exciting venture that I never saw coming. Lava beads are naturally porous and carry essential oils really well. Read more>>
Les Carranza
I grew up in a family of restaurateurs — specifically taqueros — so the food industry has always been a big part of my life. My earliest memories are filled with the sounds and smells of busy kitchens and taquerias. Read more>>
LaChasity Cloud
CJ’s Play Corner started from my personal experience as a mom to an energetic two-year-old. Living in Azle, TX, we were close enough to bigger indoor playground chains, but the time, travel, expense, and crowds often outweighed the benefit. When we did go, I found myself wishing for something smaller, cleaner, and more intimate. Read more>>
Ryan Mendenhall
I grew up in the Northeast, but in 2001 my family and I moved down to Dallas, where I went to school in Rockwall. Even though I have a number of artists in my family, I never really pictured myself going into an art-related career. Read more>>
Natasha Mankins
Natasha Mankins PharmD FAAMM ABAAHP transformed her own health battles into a mission: helping others move beyond ‘normal’ labs and step into a life of energy, clarity, and balance. My path into functional medicine wasn’t just professional; it was also personal. For years I struggled; and doctors tried to prescribe me medications I didn’t want to fill. Read more>>
Krista Dodson
With over 26 years behind the chair, my mission has always been simple: help people look and feel their best. But 15 years ago, a personal health scare in my early 30s changed everything. It pushed me to question what we put in and on our bodies—and I didn’t like the answers. Read more>>
Alexander Feng
I’m Alexander Feng, and together with my co‑founder Cary Kraemer, we launched Peak Service because we saw a gap in the market: too many businesses were paying for generic marketing, overpriced agencies, or fragmented tools, yet seeing little real return or clarity. We believed in something better: lean, smart, high‑impact client acquisition that’s accessible, transparent, and scalable. My background has straddled real estate and entrepreneurship. Read more>>
James Chapman
I started this business as a side gig a couple of years ago while I was still working my 9-to-5 job. Money was tight, so one day I grabbed an old mower my mom and dad had given me and just went for it. I made a post on Facebook offering lawn mowing, and a client trusted me with their yard. Read more>>
Michaela Madrigal
I started Mirror Rentals with Calligraphy after becoming a stay-at-home mom and wanting a creative outlet. I’ve always loved calligraphy, so at first I was making simple signs like last name plaques. Then I came across someone in another state who was renting out vintage mirrors with lettering, and I immediately fell in love with the idea. Read more>>
Victor Phazz Clark
I began my career as a choreographer, traveling extensively across Japan in cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. After performing in more than 2,000 live shows, I was inspired to create the very music that fueled my passion for dance and choreography. Read more>>
Nina Mua
I started with a makeup brush in one hand and a camera in the other. In New York I started a Makeup Artistry Academy, teaching students from all over the world. We grew fast, but I quietly burned out. Years later, I was helping people to get into makeup while my own nervous system was running on empty. Yoga and sound healing were my reset. Read more>>
Stevie Lewis
My name is Stevie Lewis, and I serve as the Venue Sales Director for Classic Oaks and The Belle Manor, part of Edible Ideas Inc. I bring over 17 years of experience in sales, hospitality, and food and beverage, supported by bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Art History from the University of Texas at Arlington. Read more>>
Jordan Weiss
I was working at one of Dallas’s top restaurants when COVID hit, and after five years of loyal service, we all got an email saying that all hourly employees were laid off effective immediately. At first, I thought it was just going to be a two-week break to “flatten the curve,” but those two weeks turned into months. Read more>>
Brandy Herr
I grew up in Euless, TX and graduated from Trinity High School in 2001. I graduated from Penn State University in 2005 with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Theatre. After graduation, my mother and I lived in Virginia for a while before deciding to move back to Texas to be closer to family. Read more>>
Laren Ozzie
When I was 16 years old, I walked into a salon with the hopes of being hired as a receptionist so I could start my hair journey. I asked “Are y’all hiring?” and a stylist there replied “Can you start Friday?”. She hired me on the spot and took me under her wing to which I’ll forever be grateful. Read more>>
Victoria Kleeman
We started Radiance because we saw a real gap in the beauty industry when it came to facials. So many treatments out there felt “one size fits all,” and we knew from my own experience and training that skin care should be the opposite—customized, thoughtful, and holistic. Read more>>
Tamia Davis
Back in 2018, I started Events by Midollan by hosting networking events to connect venues, vendors, and companies planning memorable celebrations. I loved the energy of bringing people together, turning ideas into plans, and watching dreams take shape. Those early events taught me the power of community and the joy of guiding couples through logistics with grace. Then the pandemic hit. Read more>>
Dr. Miaya Love
My story has really been shaped by the women closest to me. My mom is a teacher who gave so much of herself to her students, and watching the way she cared for them inspired me to follow a similar path of helping and teaching. My sister has also been such a strong influence. Read more>>
Nicole Contrera
It all started after my 21st birthday. I found my passion for decorating and planning for my birthday party I then decided to start renting a candy cart that me and my boyfriend made together. This was kind of like a small project we decided to take and bring in a little extra money. Read more>>
Michael Tomlinson
So on a windy day in a dark ally! Just joking…. After spending over 15 years in corporate America, I suddenly found myself without work following a disagreement with the CEO I supported. Read more>>
Jermia White
At the age of 2, I was diagnosed with a degenerative muscle condition known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This placed many physical limitations on me, forcing me to use a wheelchair for maximum mobility and independence. I’ve always been ambitious and decided as a youth not to let physical challenges hinder me from living and loving life. Read more>>
Tye Nguyen
Our journey into roofing and construction started out of both necessity and passion. RCSA stands for Roofing & Construction Systems of America. We believe that knowledge and branding is critical and having RCSA as our name would allow us to scale at a healthy pace while also providing the quality service that our clients have come to expect. Read more>>
Dorkendra Austin
My journey started with a passion for helping others and creating opportunities for people to feel supported, respected, and empowered. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and later my Master’s in Therapy, which gave me a strong foundation in understanding people, communication, and problem-solving. Read more>>
Emily Ryan
One of the most frustrating things in this world is not fitting into clothes you were excited to wear. I am all too familiar with the feeling that comes from something not fitting, and while I wish I could completely remove that feeling from this boutique, I can’t, but I can be real with you. I can be honest and shop to fit the underserved. Read more>>
Karina Osorio
Our journey really started with a passion for creativity and community. Boujee K Boutique was born from the idea of bringing trendy, stylish, and affordable apparel to our local area, with a focus on making every piece feel unique. It began small, with popup shops in West Texas, mainly in our hometown of Lamesa. Read more>>
Tim Roach
We began as a locally ran operation in Texas, working with a small group of HVAC specialist and a simple goal, to make service easier and more reliable for National property managers and businesses. At first it was about proving ourselves in one market, but as relationships grew, property managers started asking if we could support them across different states. Read more>>
Simon
I’ve always had a passion for creativity and problem-solving, which started with photography and gradually expanded into design and digital work. Over time, I realized that many small businesses around me struggled with building an online presence, so I launched APEX Creative Agency to help them stand out. Read more>>
Tiffany Morish
I grew up in poverty, in a community where mental health was only acknowledged during a crisis. We were taught to keep our home lives private, wary of outsiders and the very real threat of Child Protective Services in the 1980s and 1990s. Silence became our survival tool, but it came at a cost; we learned to suppress, not to share. Read more>>
Marlow McGuire
I’ve always lived my life grateful, because my story begins with both loss and love. I was born in New York City. I was orphaned just three days after I was born and placed in foster care until a family chose to take me in. That experience shaped everything about who I am today. Read more>>
Tamaya Wright
I developed a love for gardening during Covid times, after having a little too much time on my hands. I attempted a few other hobbies before I asked my mother to come help me start a container garden in my backyard, since she was already an experienced gardener. Read more>>
Kate Briones
So I have always been obsessed with eyebrows. I had my brows done in a nail salon when I was 11 and was so upset about the outcome. Years go by and I become the brow girl in my family. Cleaning up my siblings brows, experimenting with shapes and brow makeup trends. Read more>>
Katherine Hernandez
My journey began with a love for design and a passion for celebrations for my kids 10 years ago. This passion turned into a profession when I realized I could use my skills to make magic happen. Everyone would always tell me that I was very talented and that I should take the next step. Read more>>
David Cutts
I actually got started photographing backyard birds almost by accident—it wasn’t something I set out to do. At the time, I was fairly new to wildlife photography and knew that, like anything else, the key to improving was practice. Instead of waiting for big trips to far-off places, I decided to practice right where I was, with the birds in my own backyard. Read more>>
Alexis Kubiak
I was brought up in an impoverished part of the Houston inner cities by a single mother with 8 children. Within my family system and the larger community i witnessed a myriad of social issues. Poverty and little resources often breed other social issues such as trauma, addiction, and mental health concerns. I longed for change in my life and within my community. Read more>>
Amaria Webster
I’m a 23-year-old from Dallas, Texas, and one of 14 children. Growing up, I was quiet, observant, and always drawn to creating with my hands — from culinary and construction classes to knitting and crocheting. In high school, I started my first small business selling $5 lip gloss, later expanding into durags and even doing hair on the side. Read more>>
