These 4 Georgia Small Businesses Will Inspire You to Shop Local!
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and restrictions are slowly lifted, the end of the pandemic may be in sight. But it’s still just as important as ever to support your local small businesses! Entrepreneurs bring a fresh perspective into the business world, offering new and innovative ideas with the potential to change their industries. Learn more about these four small businesses across our great state—you’ll surely be inspired!
Kemboocha – Douglasville
Douglasville entrepreneur Kemiko Lawrence is passionate about wellness and making it accessible to others. As a busy mother of five and a yoga instructor running her own practice called Harmony Wellness Angels, she is always looking for new things to add to her health routine. That’s why she was inspired when she discovered kombucha over 13 years ago.
Lawrence learned that the fermented tea beverage contained live probiotics and had been brewed and enjoyed for its health benefits for thousands of years. And since store-bought kombucha was so pricey at the time, she did some research and began brewing her own at home. She started out just giving bottles to her friends and family, but there was eventually enough demand for her to start her own kombucha brand, Kemboocha, which she launched in 2018.
Kemboocha brews four refreshing, original flavors including Sun Goddess, packed with pineapple, mango, turmeric, and ginger, as well as Moon Goddess, infused with blueberry, elderberry, acai, and ginger. Want to give it a try? Kemboocha is available to order online and in stores across metro Atlanta such as Sevananda Natural Foods Market, BUZZ Coffee and Winehouse, and The Vine Cafe & Market.
FIELD Botanicals – Augusta
This homegrown beauty brand is proof that following your passion and sticking with your goals can truly pay off! Augusta resident Jen Tinsley started FIELD Botanicals as a part-time side hustle, crafting natural beauty and skincare products in her own kitchen. She sold them at local indie fairs on the weekends, eventually building up her brand enough to leave her government job and pursue the small beauty business full-time.
Today, FIELD Botanicals has a charming brick-and-mortar store right in the heart of downtown Augusta and their products are sold nationwide at Urban Outfitters. And don’t worry—no bunnies were harmed in the making of this beauty brand! From their skincare and perfumes to their makeup and deodorant, every item they sell is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. With their clear values, clean ingredients, and fun packaging, we’re certain that FIELD Botanicals will continue to flourish!
Pouch Pies – Norcross
When Dave Malcher and his family moved from Johannesburg, South Africa to Georgia in 2010, they soon began craving the cuisine they had enjoyed back home. But they couldn’t find any local restaurants that sold meat pies, their favorite South African staple. So, they decided to create their own and introduce the savory dish to a new market—the metro Atlanta area.
That’s how Pouch Pies was born. The Norcross-based pie bakery offers 12 different flavors including steak & gravy, spicy chicken & chorizo, and lamb curry pie. And for the veggie-lovers, they have a vegetable curry pie as well as a spinach & feta pie (which won the 2019 National Pie Championship for the best pot pie!) Their traditional meat pies are sold online through their website and in local stores such as Taste of Britain in Norcross and The Queen’s Pantry in Marietta.
Local Love Box – Macon
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges for small business owners who already work so hard to find new customers and expand their business. Macon resident Rachelle Wilson was inspired to address this concern by connecting customers with small businesses through her new subscription box service called Local Love Box. The box ships to customers each quarter and is filled with hand-crafted, artisan items created by local central Georgia entrepreneurs and artists.
The most recent Local Love Box contains a graphic t-shirt, hand-poured candles, hand-painted tile magnets, a potted plant, and more. Each subscription box costs $50 but is valued at much higher than that. Wilson says that all of the money raised will go directly back to the participating small businesses.
