Meet the 16 Featured Vendor-Entrepreneurs Who Will Be at QB Connect in San Jose Nov 5-7
You probably know that QuickBooks Connect is an exciting, inspiring conference packed with entrepreneurs eager to learn about growing a successful business. And you know what makes QB Connect even better? All the amazing shopping opportunities that let you support small businesses -- and cross some items off you holiday gift list!
QuickBooks Connect 2018 in San Jose, CA (November 5-7) will play host to some superstar entrepreneurs at the Connect Bazaar. Stop by their booths and support your fellow small-business owners who will be selling their goods during the conference. Each of these smart, motivated entrepreneurs has a fascinating small business story to share. See for yourself in the profiles below.
Patti Lee-Hoffmann of Flutter Eyewear
As Patti approached the age of 50, she and her professional women friends wanted a more stylish version of the typical drugstore reading glasses. As co-founder of a 600+ employee consulting firm, Patti has plenty of experience setting a goal and achieving it, so she got to work creating the “Manolo Blahniks” of magnifying spectacles.
PROFILE: Patti Lee-Hoffmann's Flutter Eyewear Keeps an Eye on Stylish Women
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Arun & Anne-Michelle Frances of Ohana Board Shop
Arun and Anne-Michelle opened their first skate and surf board shop in busy, bustling Silicon Valley. Why here? Because Ohana Board Shop’s target market is overworked 9-to-5ers in the heart of the Valley who need to get out and play!
PROFILE: It’s Family & Fun First at Arun & Anne-Michelle Frances’ Ohana Board Shop
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Janna WIlloughby-Lohr of Papercraft Miracles
Janna says she was born to become an entrepreneur. She came up with her business idea for Papercraft Miracles while in college, and, in 2013, she launched her career as a full-time business owner.
PROFILE: Janna Willoughby-Lohr’s Gorgeous Eco-Friendly Paper Can Make Someone’s Day
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Andrea Cwik of Bliss & Bale gift boxes
Former corporate 9-to-5er Andrea had a big idea: What if she made gift boxes filled with things people actually wanted? Like fresh, local food items, beautiful artisan-made goods and even fancy tequila? ¡Sí, por favor!
PROFILE: Andrea Cwik Creates Curated Gift Boxes to Help Businesses “Gift Better”
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Sarah Bayot of Kicheko Goods
Sarah’s parallel goals of philanthropy and entrepreneurship came together in the form of Kicheko Goods. Today, she designs and sells original jewelry and turns each sale into a tremendous gift: Every purchase funds a scholarship for one month of education at a school in Eastern Congo.
PROFILE: Kicheko Goods Sells Beautiful Jewelry to Help Educate Congolese Kids
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Mallie Testerman & Stephen “Sven” Jobe of Sven Ceramics
Sven and Maggie sell their elegant, sturdy wares to cafes, restaurants and to private customers. However, they still make time to run an all-volunteer non-profit group that once a week distributes surplus food from local businesses to families facing hunger in San Francisco
PROFILE: Mallie & Sven Do It All to Make and Sell Beautiful, Functional Sven Ceramics
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Jeff Heil & Jake Fromer of WOOLLY Leather Goods
Jeff and Jake are dedicated to creating high-quality, minimalist wallets and accessories by blending modern manufacturing and traditional craft techniques, all with a “do-more-with-less” philosophy their Millennial customers love.
PROFILE: Jeff Heil Combines Quality, Craft and Innovation to Make WOOLLY Leather Goods
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Reena Vokoun of Passion Fit
Reena credits her Indian-American upbringing, her family life and her experiences both as a student and an employee as major influencers in her unique approach to Passion Fit -- educating others and helping them become healthier, more balanced individuals.
PROFILE: Reena Vokoun’s Passion Fit Helps Busy Clients Find Healthy Work-Life Balance
Courtney Robinson & Celia Glowka of Caramel Caravan
Celia and Courtney met at the Santa Clara University Food and Agriculture Institute while completing their MBA degree. For a graduation gift, they each received a Kitchen Aid mixer from their mom, and they took it as a sign they were meant to whip up delicious sweets in tandem.
PROFILE: Courtney & Celia Stick With What They Do Best -- Making Delicious Caramels
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Jane Lee of Wildebeest
When Jane adopted her “little mutt” from the San Francisco SPCA in 2010 she was inspired to create hipper, more chic dog accessories than the ones she was currently seeing on the market.
PROFILE: Jane Lee’s Passion for Function, Style and “Beests” Inspired Wildebeest Dog Accessories
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Sandee Ferman and Callie Milford of No Tox Life
Sandee Ferman has been committed to “clean” living for most of her life. No wonder she launched No Tox Life and developed a line of all-natural, handmade, toxin-free vegan body care products. It’s a women-owned business that’s also a family business -- the creative director is Sandee’s daughter, Callie.
PROFILE: Meet a Mom-and-Daughter Team Making All-Natural Products for a “No Tox Life”
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Arya Cayton of EST/WST bags
EST/WST backpacks, bags and accessories combine an urban functionality with eco-friendly, sustainable materials that are handmade by women who weave according to centuries-old traditions in rural India and Nepal.
PROFILE: Arya Cayton’s Sibling-Run Bag Business Supports Communities in Rural South Asia
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Gabrielle Lutze of Big Kiss Little Kiss
BKLK clothing is ethically made in the United States by garment workers who earn a fair, living wage and use recycled or “deadstock” fabric and materials. Gabrielle embraces the adage, “Make good. Feel good.”
PROFILE: Big Kiss Little Kiss Kids’ Clothing Is Stylish, Practical and Ethically Made
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Chris Viscount of Utopian Kitchen
Chris is one of those “accidental entrepreneurs” whose too-good-to-keep-to-himself hobby became a business. He was experimenting with various flavors of nut butters and trying them out on his friends. Their enthusiastic response encouraged him to start selling to the public.
PROFILE: Too Good Not to Share, Utopian Kitchen Spreads the Peanut Butter Love
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Erica Liu Williams of Gr8nola
Just a few months after selling her first batch of gr8nola at a local farmer’s market, Erica was selected to be a food vendor supplying gr8nola to Google’s campuses and micro-kitchens. The rest is “clean,” crunchy and delicious history!
PROFILE: Erica Liu Williams’ Gr8nola Is “Clean,” Crunchy and Craved by Techies
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Alexis Monson and Santiago Prieto of Punkpost
Alexis, Santiago and the creative team at Punkpost spend their time carefully creating original cards made by dedicated artists and handwriters who all value “slow,” meaningful communication in an age of instant, automated messaging. And, yes, there’s a Punkpost app for that!
PROFILE: Punkpost Lets You Send Handwritten Cards Without Visiting the Post Office
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We hope you’ll join us at QB Connect 2018 in San Jose. Already registered? Hop on over to our QB Connect group to get a head-start on connecting, sharing and learning!