Author: lemonadmin

Little Munchkins Produce, a small, family-owned grocery store in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s Southwest Side, is a classic neighborhood corner store. 

Teresa Flores, the owner of this bustling shop, runs her small business with the support of her husband, Gilberto, and children, Christopher and Mayte. Little Munchkins has been in operation for 12 years, and the family also runs a nearby supermarket.

While working tirelessly to make her business succeed, Teresa credits 36Squared Business Incubator, a Business Support Organization within the Cook County Small Business Source, for offering valuable guidance. 

Advisors such as Erika Gonzalez, executive director at 36Squared, are ready to help. 

Notably, Erika’s fluency in Spanish helps build trust with clients like Teresa. Both women are from Mexico.

“If I've had any questions, I talked to you and you advised me,” Teresa told Erika during a recent interview at the store. “Knowing that you have someone who is always there for you, that's really great, because you know you're not alone anymore.”

Teresa immigrated to the Chicago area in 2002. Her first job as a cashier at a grocery store is where she gained key insight into how such a business operates.  

At Little Munchkins, 2022 W. 51st St., shoppers can choose from fresh fruit, meat and vegetables, as well as dishes made from family recipes, including carnitas.

“We have everything,” Teresa said. “We try to have the majority of things people need on hand.” 

She appreciates that she has an advisor like Erika to identify key next steps for her business.

Teresa connected with Erika in March 2024 while seeking assistance in applying for a State of Illinois grant. The state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recommended she work with 36Squared, and Erika helped Teresa navigate a detailed process. 

While Teresa didn’t receive the grant, she feels prepared for the next opportunity—and knows that Erika is there to help.

“Thanks to the support of Erika, I was able to complete the entire process for applying for a grant,” Teresa said. “36Squared and the Cook County Source program represent great support for navigating these types of processes, where many small businesses might not be able to succeed without guidance.” 

Erika stresses that small business owners like Teresa can always turn to The Source for answers to many of their questions.

“Log on to the Cook County Source, and you'll see that you're going to get that information from all the organizations that have programs, workshops, trainings and networking events, which is a great way to connect with more business owners,” Erika said. “There are a lot of programs where you can even get help with grants or opportunities where they can help give your business a boost.”

Teresa has learned valuable lessons at 36Squared-led workshops —including that her own well-being needs to be her top priority in running a business. 

“Even though you are the owner, you have to pay yourself first, because the business has to be enough to provide for yourself, and then also for others,” Teresa said. “You have to be well first so that everyone else can work well.” 

She also appreciates how the many networking events she has attended through 36Squared have helped her learn from other business owners. 

“You hear other people's stories and identify with what they’re saying—like ‘I also had this problem and now I know how I can solve it,” Teresa said. “I am not saying that my business has changed completely, but there are tools that I have been taking into account. I know that I will be implementing them little by little, and that they are things that will help make my business more prosperous, and, above all, that will help me to have better control and a better delegation of all my tasks.” 

Teresa is dedicated each day to making her business succeed. She works weekends and sometimes misses family events, but she takes pride in what her business has become. 

“It is something that is very satisfying in the long run,” Teresa said. “When you start to see that all your efforts and all your work is paying off, it is something that definitely gives you a lot of satisfaction.” 

Advisors like Erika hope to help Teresa and other business owners get more of that precious family time back. Better yet, Erika noted, advising from The Source comes at no cost to the business owner. 

“At the end of the day, that is something that you are entitled to,” Erika said. “So don't hesitate to contact our organizations.”

NOTE: This story is based on an interview that took place in Spanish. In 2024, The Cook County Small Business Source offered services in over 16 languages. 

Interested in no-cost advising from the Berwyn Development Corporation or any other of The Source’s Business Support Organizations? Sign up today!

Laura Santoyo likes to call her colorful cosmetics shop, Date Nite Beaute, “the glam headquarters of Berwyn.”

She built the business from the ground up four years ago and is eyeing even more growth in the coming years.

Her warm, inviting storefront represents her dreams becoming reality after she came to a crossroads while working as an independent makeup artist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laura credits the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC), a Cook County Small Business Source Business Support Organization, for helping her business grow so rapidly.

She participated in the inaugural Berwyn Shops, a unique retail incubator the BDC has hosted since 2022, and the BDC has connected her to grant opportunities and other organizations that can support her.

“You’re not the smartest person in the room—and if you are, you’re in the wrong room,” Laura said. “So, to get connected with a business advisor, it’s so important, to be able to grow—and grow your network. Your network is your net worth.”

Laura had been an independent makeup artist for about a decade when COVID-19 struck. Like so many others, she was left to wonder about the future of her career. But instead of sitting idly by while the world changed around her, she researched her industry further—and she boldly decided to open Date Nite Beaute in June 2020.

Laura worked from home initially, also participating in pop-up events while working with manufacturers to develop her own line of makeup products.

Two years ago, Date Nite Beaute was selected to participate in Berwyn Shops, a unique collection of storefronts located on Roosevelt Road in the heart of Berwyn, dedicated to supporting emerging entrepreneurs. Laura, who moved to Berwyn in 2019, had heard about Berwyn Shops through a friend and successfully applied to participate in the first cohort.

At Berwyn Shops, business owners sell their products in small, cottage-style storefronts three days a week from May to December, with the opportunity to not only boost sales, but to improve their operations and management skills. That experience “opened so many doors,” Laura said.
Literally.

In 2023, thanks to receiving grants she learned about through the BDC, Laura opened her storefront—and gave it the makeover it deserved to become Berwyn’s “glam headquarters.”

She utilized a $10,000 grant she received after “graduating” from Berwyn Shops to help offset rent, and she secured a Finish Line Grant from the BDC to help renovate the space. In 2024, Laura also received a $10,000 “Backing Small Businesses” grant, which is offered by Main Street America and American Express. The BDC also introduced her to that grant opportunity.

Besides offering a wide variety of makeup products and “glam accessories,” Laura also hosts makeup classes, one-on-one makeup consultations, and custom lipstick-color classes. She also received advice from the late Reggie Wells, a makeup artist for Oprah Winfrey.

With her business growing further, Laura continues to turn to the BDC—and other organizations—to help her with marketing, utilizing social media to grow her customer base, and other needs.

“There is a lot of growing that you need to do behind the scenes,” Laura said. “I’ve been in workshops through the BDC—and the Women’s Business Development Center [another Source Business Support Organization], which was introduced [to me] by the BDC—to be able to connect with all those advising classes, to be able to grow.”

Marcos Martinez, a BDC project manager, credited Laura for being a go-getter and “not just sitting back and waiting” for her business to succeed. When other businesses approach him, his answer is clear: “We’re here to help.”

Date Nite Beaute is proof of that.

“I take a lot of pride in seeing businesses grow,” Marcos said. “Seeing a business go from an incubator project to having their own storefront—when I’m walking around town with friends, I point it out: I worked with that business. All the credit goes to the business, being the driving force, but it’s a point of pride to be a part of that process and being able to help out.”

Marcos stresses that he can help entrepreneurs find the answers they need, whether it’s connecting them with the BDC’s vast network of partners or helping businesses navigate the many grant opportunities available.

“We always like to say that even if we don’t have the answers, we are pretty hungry to find somebody that can help them get to where they’re trying to be,” Marcos said.

Date Nite Beaute isn’t just a place to buy or try on makeup, Laura said—it’s a comfortable place where customers know they can stop in just to chat. She takes pride in supporting her community, including other businesses—because her customer could also be a nearby shop’s customer.

Berwyn is a close-knit community—not just among residents, but among those in the small-business sector. Laura and BDC staff love seeing each other out and about at local events—and inside Date Nite Beaute.

Sitting alongside Marcos in her shop, Laura heaped praise on the BDC.

“You’ve become family,” Laura said. “You’ve become friends.”

Interested in no-cost advising from the Berwyn Development Corporation or any other of The Source’s Business Support Organizations? Sign up today!

Mohammad Salehi opened his business, Heray Spice, approximately seven years ago. Since then, he has navigated a pandemic, made changes to his targeted customer base, and supported his employees in the U.S. and his home country—all while raising two young sons with his wife.

Thanks to support from Allies for Community Business and the Cook County Small Business Source, today Heray Spice, located in the Lake View neighborhood on the North Side of Chicago, is thriving—and looking to grow.

Heray Spice offers a long list of spices, including saffron, that can be used in a variety of dishes.

While Mohammad takes pride in being the well-educated leader of his business, he realizes the importance of receiving advice.

“They say to raise a child, you need a nation or a village,” Mohammad said. “I think to raise a business, you also need a nation. You need customers; you need advisors like … the Cook County Source, Allies for Community Business.”

Mohammad, who is 32, grew up on a farm in Afghanistan, and he served as a linguist for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in his home country.

He moved to Chicago in 2014—and earned two degrees in computer and cyber forensics from the Illinois Institute of Technology—but, never forgetting his roots, he opened Heray Spice in 2017, looking to ensure farmers receive fair compensation for their work.

Heray Spice grows its products on farms in Herat, Afghanistan, where over 70 employees work as part of a Heray cooperative. In Chicago, the business employs over 30 people.

Cumin, cilantro, cinnamon and mint are among Heray Spice’s products, as is saffron, which is ideal for cooking in rice, risotto and chicken.

He focuses on selling products online, but shoppers can also visit in-person, though appointments are required.

Heray Spice originally sold to restaurants in Chicago, as well as food distributors, but when COVID-19 struck—and businesses closed—Mohammad began selling to “home chefs”—essentially, anyone cooking at home.

In 2022, he sought out advice from Allies for Community Business, one of 11 Business Support Organizations within The Source that offer no-cost advising.

He realized he needed help with marketing his products, via social media, a digital newsletter and the Heray Spice website.

That support he received from Allies paid off.

After losing 95% of his business when COVID-19 hit, by mid-2023, Heray Spice’s revenue had nearly doubled.

“I had to learn that I have to be connected with my target audience,” Mohammad said. “If someone is buying a spice … an ingredient, maybe six or seven months from now, they need another jar. So, I have to always be in their mind. … Sending [customers] gift cards, or sending them a discount code, they will return, and they will refer you to their friends and families.”

When first working with Allies, he said, he wanted to be “like a sponge.”

“I came here like a student, willing to learn, and willing to apply for loans, for grants that I needed, for the team that I needed to build,” said Mohammad, who received a 2023 Source Grant. “And it was fantastic.”

Such humility has put Mohammad in a unique position to grow his business.

He hopes to employ over 500 farmers in the coming years, continuing to focus on providing fair wages, and he plans to open an 11,000 square-foot facility in Afghanistan.

He also wants to hire local career seekers, and his business donates 5% of sales to a nonprofit that helps women with schooling in Afghanistan.

Mohammad continues to learn about running a business every day— “You have to read books,” he said—and Allies for Community Business continues to provide a support system as he explores how to use his products in, perhaps, a chocolate treat, or a latte.

Rowan Richards, director of business coaching at Allies, provides advice that helps Mohammad as he looks to delegate some of his responsibilities—and spend precious time with his family.

“One thing we share with business owners as they are getting started and trying to think about building their team, especially early, is to spend the time early on to really focus on describing each element of your business, and the importance of it, to the overall success of your company,” Richards said. “Because people want to be part of something that’s successful, but they also want to feel that they’re empowered to do their job really well.”

Do you think no-cost business advising could you help you like it did for Mohammad? Sign up and get started today!

Rebecca (Becky) Wilson is a beauty vet. She’s been in the cosmetology industry for over 16 years as a stylist, instructor, and, most recently, a hair loss specialist. However, her journey to find her niche and build her business, Riveting Wellness Cosmetic Solutions, was not easy.

Becky has always loved to work with clients, starting out as a nail tech, then becoming a stylist and, ultimately, a cosmetology instructor. Despite her love for her job, she felt she “needed more.” While Becky reckoned with the career decisions ahead of her, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Rebecca returned to her hometown of Chicago and began to take in all new clientele because of the pandemic. Working with a new customer base, she found a recurring theme: that for many of her clients, the stress of the pandemic had exacerbated hair loss issues. 

Working with these clients was difficult, but Becky was up for the challenge. She wanted to help them regain their hair and confidence, but didn’t know where to begin. In Becky’s words: “I got frustrated with not having solutions for [my clients]. … So, I decided to take a few extra courses and become a certified hair loss specialist, pivoting my entire business after COVID.”

“I like to think that I am more invested in my clients’ complete well-being and health; I try to approach things from a holistic perspective,” Becky said. She went on: “I work with clients to address their particular needs, experimenting with ways to supplement their natural hair rather than pushing them towards full craneo-prosthetics (complete prosthetic hair replacements) and helping them address nutritional needs for hair growth. I want to help them heal from the inside out.”

Becky’s new niche has also led to changes in her business model and priorities. As a result, she connected with a Source BSO, the Chicago Urban League (CUL), to help her build her business and continue to pursue her newfound passion.

Most recently, Becky opened a private suite as “a stepping stone.” This was a priority for her business because it provides “the privacy I need to work with clients who are suffering with hair loss, while allowing me to save and build up toward a fully functioning facility where I can offer space for other hair stylists to work and train.” Now, with the continuous support of the Chicago Urban League and her advisor Diane McDonald, she is focusing on building her marketing and tech skills.

The Urban League’s online courses–such as nextONE, a 9-month business accelerator designed to help Black-owned businesses in Chicago scale and grow–have helped Becky “take the next steps” with her business. 

“It made me feel like I can really do this,” she said.

Think business advising might help you? This is what Becky had to say about it:

Interested in starting your journey to small business success? Connect with one of our expert advisors at no cost today! Learn more and sign up here!

This July, we connected with local Chicago entrepreneur Tracey McGhee, founder of Ms. Jetsetter, a travel accessories company for busy women on the go. Read ahead to learn about Tracey’s journey opening her business and receiving support from the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC) to ensure its success!

What led you to start your business?

Travel has been a passion of mine for years. However, I experienced many of the challenges women face while trying to stay organized on the go.

I know how frustrating it is to spend hours unraveling tangled necklaces after a long trip. I also know how unorganized makeup and toiletries can make you feel when on the go. Unfortunately, the options for stylish, functional travel accessories were limited. That's what led to Ms. Jetsetter – a line of stylish and functional travel accessories for Jetsetters on the go.

What has been your experience working with a Cook County Small Business Source Business Support Organization? (View Tracey’s response in the video below!)

How has your business changed since working with the CMSDC?

My business has changed in a number ways since working with the CMSDC. For example, I applied for and received my first certification with their assistance. Since working with the agency, I’ve acquired new accounts that are helping to stabilize my business, and I’ve gained exposure to other business owners and made some lasting connections. I was also awarded the CMSDC Supplier of the Year Award, Class I in 2022!

What is the most important thing you have learned from participating in business advising?

I’ve learned so much from my business advisor, Anita Hagan. One of the most important things I learned from working with her is how to have a successful tradeshow. She gave me some of the best advice from the small things, like making sure my booth was immaculate and inviting, to how to be more assertive when attending shows. Her tips have gone a long way!

Would you recommend business advising to small business owners who have never worked with an advisor?

I would definitely recommend taking advantage of business advising services. Running a small business is demanding and there are so many balls to juggle. Sometimes you might miss one or two of those balls, but having an advisor that understands you and your business can help you catch those balls before they drop. I can’t imagine running my business without my advisors.

Thank you Tracey for allowing The Source to work with your small business!

Interested in starting your journey to small business success? Connect with one of our expert advisors at no cost, today! Learn more and sign up here!