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My Economy

Alabama toy shop owners prepare for the holiday rush

by Sofia Terenzio
Nov 22, 2024
Sisters Stevi Bell and Amanda Calhoun of Fantasy Island Toys, talk about their plans for the busiest shopping season of the year.
"It's the best job that I've ever had, and I do say that, like, multiple times a day," says Stevi Bell, left, about co-owning a toy store with her sister Amanda Calhoun.
Courtesy Stevi Bell
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My Economy

Violin maker crafts a strategy to deal with tariffs

by Sofia Terenzio
Nov 20, 2024
With import charges looming, Wesley Rule, owner of Knoxville Fine Violins, is considering alternatives to Chinese-made instruments.
Wesley Rule is a luthier, or stringed-instrument craftsman.
Courtesy Wesley Rule
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After Hurricane Helene washed away her tea business, she's calmly working to rebuild

by Amy Scott and Sofia Terenzio
Nov 13, 2024
"It is going to take funding, and it is going to take a lot of support," says Jessie Dean, owner of Asheville Tea Co. in North Carolina.
Jessie Dean (second from right), owner of Asheville Tea Co., works with chrysanthemums harvested after the storm.
Courtesy Jessie Dean
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Baklava baker prepares for the holidays with new products and kitchen

by Andie Corban
Nov 5, 2024
Rita Magalde moved Sheer Ambrosia from her home kitchen to a commercial space in Salt Lake City.
Rita Magalde, above with her baklava, has added granola, chocolate chip cookies and Greek butter cookies called kourabiedes to her offerings.
Carlos Linares/Photo courtesy Rita Magalde
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My Economy

Hurricane Helene ruined her business, but she finds hope in community and a PB&J

by Sofia Terenzio
Nov 1, 2024
Hannah Burnisky, owner of Cold Mountain Art Collective, talks about how the hurricane destroyed her business and how she plans to rebuild.
Hannah Burnisky stands in front of her business, Cold Mountain Art Collective, before the water receded.
Courtesy Hannah Burnisky
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My Economy

Three months into business, this arcade owner already has plans to open a second shop

by Sofia Terenzio
Oct 25, 2024
Le-An Than, co-owner of Crane Games in Aurora, Colorado, says business has been "thriving" since they opened in this summer.
Crane Games opened in the summer of 2024. All the claw machines had to be imported from abroad, says co-owner Le-An Than.
Courtesy Le-An Than
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Private equity is buying up businesses in the skilled trades

by Kai Ryssdal , Sean McHenry and Sofia Terenzio
Oct 24, 2024
Skilled trades businesses, like HVAC repair and plumbing companies, are seen as stable, future-proof business models. Private equity wants in.
Private equity firms will buy a few skilled-trade businesses, then combine them to make one much larger company. "The idea is you improve the margins and efficiencies," said Te-Ping Chen from the Wall Street Journal.
Craig Hudson/The Washington Post via Getty Images
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My Economy

Albuquerque's hot-air balloon festival is the busiest time of year for these innkeepers

by Sofia Terenzio
Oct 14, 2024
"We tend to be full until we're well through the Balloon Fiesta," says Steve Hiatt, who with his wife, Kathy, owns Bottger Mansion.
"We have to determine what our rates for rooms for Balloon Fiesta are going to be a year in advance," says Kathy Hiatt, who owns the Bottger Mansion bed and breakfast, above, with her husband, Steve.
Courtesy Kathy and Steve Hiatt
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My Economy

In a time of uncertainty, this businessman says sales of his trailers have slowed down

by Sarah Leeson
Oct 9, 2024
Mike Woglom of Cargo Trailer Sales in Pennsylvania sells equipment that's widely needed but often unnoticed.
Trailers like those Mike Woglom sells play an underappreciated role in the U.S. economy.
Marianne Todd/Getty Images
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Survey of small businesses finds slight optimism, but also a lot of uncertainty

by Mitchell Hartman
Oct 8, 2024
The September National Federation of Independent Business survey saw its sentiment index rise 0.3 points, but it was still well below the historic average.
Home builders are feeling more optimistic now that interest rates have stared to fall.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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