Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

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.

Seth Simmons

I started writing music in 2011 but I had been writing poetry here and there for as long as I can remember. I always enjoyed freestyling and writing so figured I should try making songs. After writing and releasing my first song in 2012 then receiving positive feedback I wanted to do more. I’ve stayed consistent on releasing projects and content since then and I believe the consistency has brought me to where I am now. Read more>>

Samario King

I started doing yoga with her then eventually made it part of my daily routine after I noticed the physical and mental benefits it provided. I wanted to share this experience with my community so I enrolled in Yoga Teacher Training at Franklin Street Yoga Studio and became cerrtified in 2019. I taught pop up classes and earned another 200 hour certification in 2022. I started teaching regular yoga classes in 2023 and I’m currently teaching Power Flow and Men’s Yoga at Bull City Yoga Festival Studio and Kemetic Yoga at People’s Solidarity Hub. Read more>>

Yevonne Brannon

It has successfully served as a fundamental resource for education and upward mobility for West Raleigh residents. The library, operated by the county, has extensive holdings including the benefit of being able to borrow books from the other county library branches. The library is well-known for its extensive children’s inventory and special programs for children. Local public schools (5) and numerous church-run and private childcare centers and preschool programs also utilized Athens Drive Community Library. Read more>>

Amanda Toppe

If you had told me years ago that I’d one day be a full-time artist running my own business, I wouldn’t have believed you. My career path began in the classroom, where I spent seven fulfilling years as an elementary school teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia. Ironically, I was the kind of teacher who steered clear of messy art projects – glitter was a firm no, and paint was definitely someone else’s responsibility. I left that to the art specialist and focused on structure, routine, and reading groups. Read more>>

Darius Copney

We would talk about wealth, generational impact, and giving back. People recommended books, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was one of the first. Over time, I started reading more, and my philosophy on life changed. I still made mistakes, but I learned not to make the same mistake twice. Read more>>

Madelyn

The journey to opening Madelyn Tattoos was far from easy. In the beginning, I faced a lot of obstacles and self doubt that made me question whether entrepreneurship was really for me. I always knew it would take hard work, but there were moments when I couldn’t see the vision clearly. It wasn’t until I finally took the leap—with no other option but to try, stay persistent, and keep my head high—that things began to shift. And now, looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Read more>>

Jennifer

When life shifted and I stepped away from full-time classroom teaching to care for my aging parents, I knew I still needed meaningful, flexible work within education. That’s when I took what I loved and launched Tailor Joy LLC. I started small, doing everything myself, from setting up the LLC to building the website, marketing, and writing many blog posts. As my business grew, friends began asking for advice on starting their own tutoring or coaching businesses, and that’s how my affordable Business Basics course was born. Read more>>

Courtney White

What matters most to me is helping people feel confident and cared for as they make one of the biggest decisions of their life—buying or selling a home. In North Carolina, there’s such a wide variety of communities, and I love helping my clients find the one that truly fits their lifestyle and goals. I’ve seen how overwhelming the process can feel, especially for first-time buyers, so I make it my priority to educate and guide them with clarity and compassion every step of the way. It’s not just about closing deals—it’s about building trust, and watching people step into a new season of life with confidence. That’s what keeps me passionate about real estate. Read more>>

Kayleigh Trickey

Everyday is different and everyday is fun. Not only am I spending everyday doing something I love, I’m also getting to know a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life. I have met some incredibly awesome people. I am incredibly thankful for each client who has ever trusted me with their hair. There are so many talented stylists in Raleigh so I’m always honored to be chosen. It’s truly an honor and not one I take lightly. I truly love what I do and believe when you love what you do, you’ll never “work” a day in your life. I have worked hard to get where I am and am excited for what the future holds for me and my career. Read more>>

Purvi Shroff

When I’m not working in mixed media, I’m either painting in fluid art or immersed in art journaling. I often switch between these styles, letting my intuition guide me. Each medium offers something different – fluid art allows for spontaneity and flow, while journaling gives me a more personal, reflective space to experiment and document inspiration. Read more>>

Tim Cabell

Dina and I have lived in Raleigh, NC for over 30 years all told, but we found our love for working with animals while we operated our family bed and breakfast in Charlottesville, Virginia in the late 2010’s. Tim was the cook and Dina was our farm manager. We had a hobby farm there with horses, chickens, goats, alpaca and 5 dogs. One of those dogs was our Great Pyrenees named Beorn who worked tirelessly as our livestock guardian in those days. He is now our company’s namesake and welcomes all of the dogs onto the bus from his front seat every day! Read more>>

Keyon Havner

Brief story: I had a Principal in high-school by the name Mr. Godbolt who was extremely fashionable, he had so many different color suit and tie combinations, he was always well dressed and I watched how he was well recieved and loved by everyone, he had great personality as well, a very kind but stern man but it was the suits and being well groomed that always caught my eye, it resonated with me I never forgot the impact he made and on me, till this day he probably dosent know what he did to the 15/16 year old version of me. Read more>>

Alexa Roussos

Born in Alexandria, Louisiana and raised in Mobile, Alabama, I knew from a very young age that what I felt around me growing up in the Deep South did not fit what I knew in my heart. That there was a big world out there that I wanted to see and experience. My first love was dance. By the time I was three years old, the stage was already calling me—and with it, a deep passion for performance, creativity, and stage makeup. And traveling as a dancer gave me a small glimpse of the world that in the 90’s only came from magazines and tv. Competitive dance gave me more than trophies; it gave me a spark that would fuel every chapter of my life that I wouldn’t even realize until my early 40’s. Read more>>

Janna Parrish

I built this company to serve couples who value intentionality, beauty, and authenticity. My approach is refined yet warm, with a focus on timeless, romantic design that reflects each couple’s unique story. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, inclusivity isn’t a trend, it’s a core part of who I am. I believe every couple deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. For me, weddings are about more than just beautiful details, they’re about connection, love, and legacy. Today, I’m honored to walk alongside my couples as we bring their once-in-a-lifetime moments to life with grace, purpose, and joy. Read more>>

Jeuron Wilson

I did plays for the remainder of elementary. Sadly in my Middle and Highschool we didn’t have theater, so I began doing YouTube video skits and gaming content to continue to express creativity. My acting career was then revived my last semester Junior Year at NCA&T when I became a featured background on Netflix hit show Outer Banks. When I was on that set even as a extra, I could envision what I wanted and appreciating how everything operated and how the crew worked in tandem with one another. While I filmed the cast members and I would talk and I wasn’t start struck, if anything I wanted all the advice I could possibly gain and that advice had gotten me 2 agents to represent me and a few managers looking to represent me. Many people say I made it, but I personally am still so far from where I want to be, although booking that one big audition can change my life forever. Read more>>

Faith Ellis

Fitness and health coaches should be helping other people, which is why I offer content marketing services for other coaches. I’m a unique multi-sided business doing what I love and what I’m good at. I get to help women struggling and overwhelmed with their fitness and nutrition goals, and I am helping other coaches help more people by taking over their content and marketing responsibilities. I really feel this is exactly what I was meant to do all along and I am super excited to see the business grow and the reach we achieve. Read more>>

Doug Ray

The status quo in Fayetteville wasn’t good enough for us. We wanted a patio bar in Fayetteville. Not just any bar. A craft cocktail and craft beer bar. That wasn’t enough. We also wanted a food truck court. There was no city code for the operation of a food truck court so we did the city a favor and wrote the code for them. We created the food truck court ordinance in Fayetteville and Cumberland County and we’re the first and only one to hold the permit. From incorporation (2020) to opening took more than three years. COVID slowed everything down in 2020 and then construction and renovation of an existing gas and service station for cars took some time. Our first day of operation was November 24, 2023.  Read more>>

Ashlynn King

Absolutely not — the road has had its fair share of bumps. I started CoStar Media with a business partner, and about six months in, they decided to step away. That shift left me with a talented team of creatives who were depending on this work full-time, while I was still working a full-time job elsewhere. My original vision for CoStar was always about building community, but in those early days, we were heavily focused on services — websites, social media, and videography — just to keep the business going and make sure the team was taken care of. Read more>>

Mirandia Belvin

My journey really began when I stepped into the world of entrepreneurship. I started small—helping others organize their businesses, manage paperwork, and build systems. That passion grew into iAssist Virtual Services, a consulting and virtual assistant agency where I now help entrepreneurs streamline their businesses and scale with confidence. From there, I launched additional ventures including a trucking logistics business, a vending company, and co-owner of a dry cleaners in—all built from the ground up with purpose, grit, and God. Read more>>

Alexander Pelliccia

The story begins with Rob, a masterful glassblower whose intricate lathe-made creations later allowed Sherlocks to provide only American-made glass pipes. All the local stores carried only imported glass. The allure of his glass work quickly spread throughout the local cannabis community, catching the attention of his childhood friend, Alex—his vision and dream perfectly aligned with Rob’s craft. Read more>>

Ray Pfeiffer

While still in college, I was working as a cook at a family restaurant and, knowing that I was always making pictures, one of the waitresses asked if I would be willing to photograph her wedding. Thinking that it might be fun, I said yes. Before too long other friends, and friends of friends, were asking me to create images of their families and other special events. Just a few years later I left food service for good, and my photography career was off and running. Read more>>

Rachel Thompson

Foundational threads throughout my work are designing instead of defaulting, creating the gatherings and communities I want to be a part of, operating with curiosity from a growth mindset and following my energy by being deeply honest with myself. My work and life are ever evolving, and I love being able to adapt and respond with ease. The Raleigh area has a dynamic and lively ecosystem of people, communities, and companies that align really well, so I love living here. Read more>>

Hannah Franks

I’ve heard about ArtCenter and decided to visit both the CalArts and ArtCenter campuses with my best friend (shoutout to my bestie since eighth grade Jessie Berman Hershko <3). I was scared about having to fly on my own and I haven’t flown much, so having my best friend with me was an experience that I will always cherish. We also agreed that we did like what ArtCenter had when we visited their hillside campus. It felt more professional and well put together that I could see myself attending. Read more>>

Alicia Dunlap

When I photographed my first wedding, everything clicked. I fell in love with the raw emotion, the story, the fleeting moments that so many miss. The mother tearing up during her daughter’s father-daughter dance. The groom holding back tears while listening to heartfelt vows. The family speeches that trace a couple’s journey from childhood to the altar. These aren’t just photos — they’re time capsules, and I’m honored to preserve them. Read more>>

Mariquita Reese

In general I’m a very quick learner and I pride myself on being able to communicate effectively exactly what we want and need for the show to run smoothly. I’m also proud of Lindsey and how she went from zero experience to a reliable pro in a few months. What sets me apart is my time management and attention to detail. I’ve never missed a deadline, our guests always leave feeling good, and I was able to write two manuals on how to edit and upload our podcast beginning to end. Read more>>

Liza Seymour

So, fast forward to 2018: I was loving life as an Account Executive for Lancôme, doing real estate classes on the weekends. At the time, I thought real estate might be my “someday” retirement gig. But life has a way of shifting your path when you least expect it. After having my daughter, everything changed. In the midst of 2020, with lots going on with COVID and changes in the retail industry, I felt this pull toward something more fulfilling — something that I felt truly passionate about. I had my RE license for a few years when my husband said to me, “Why not just try real estate now? You worked hard to get your license and I know you’ll be great at it.” So I took the leap and I bet on myself — and I’m so glad I did. Read more>>

Kellie Wingold

Fast forward to 2024, my company’s growth strategy changed and we parted ways so I took a little time to recalibrate. In true Kellie fashion, I jumped in to help a friend in need who owns a fashion retail brand. Immediately my mind ran wild with opportunities for increased efficiency, brand awareness and visibility, and different ways to position products for growth. In tandem, a past colleague who decided to start a restoration business reached out for support. Next, a teammate and mentor contacted me looking for project/consulting work for several businesses he was involved in. We decided to meet to discuss how I could continue to serve the small business community and individuals and the concept for Kellie Girl was born. Read more>>