The Small Business Revolution!
By Angelica Ruiz
New York City is a hub of large corporations and chain stores. However, beyond the towering skyscrapers and massive billboards, there’s a rich tapestry of inspiring entrepreneurs. From home bakeries and independent car washes to nail techs and fashion boutiques, the streets of New York are teeming with local businesses, each one a testament to the dreams and aspirations of their founders. This is the small business revolution, and it’s not limited to a single industry or niche!
Let’s dive into the unique stories of these entrepreneurs!
Photo Given by @strawrbbys
STRAWRBBYS || Laila Balahna
Meet Laila Balahna, the founder of Strawrbbys, a one-woman crochet business she started in February 2023. Laila’s unique and custom crochet pieces are a testament to her immense talent and dedication. Her journey hasn’t been without its challenges. From learning to balance her studies as a college student with her business to navigating the world of social media marketing, Laila has shown incredible resilience. Her ultimate goal is to ensure her customers leave with a smile and that their visions come to life. Through her business, she has learned the value of kindness and stepping out of her comfort zone. Laila Balhana’s story is an inspiration, showcasing the power of passion and creativity in entrepreneurship.
✸ What inspired you to start a small business?
I’ve always been interested in art but never felt comfortable selling anything I made until I started crocheting and seeing it trend all over social media. I actually started a business because friends would offer to pay me for me to make them a crocheted piece.
✸ What experience do you hope your customers get out of working with you?
I hope all my customers leave happy and satisfied and get to see their vision come to life. A lot of what I like to make are ideas or concepts, so seeing them come to life in not only a cute but practical way makes me feel inspired, and I hope my customers do as well. I hope they get the next cutest thing, whether it be a cute bag, a pouch, or just a plushie, to show off to their friends and rave about.
✸ What makes your business unique? / Missions & Goals
My business is unique because it’s really a one-woman show. I’m currently a college student who handles everything in her business: making the products, pricing them, posting them to sell, marketing, and social media research. I feel that many companies, including small businesses, tend to have people to help manage the workload. Still, it’s just me in my business, which helps benefit me because I am a perfectionist, so nothing will go unnoticed. I give each item, and I make its own care and love. I also love to post my customers and even run a lot of deals and sales. I also show love to all my customers; if there are ever any problems or tweaks that need to be made or resolved, I am always willing to help! If a product is damaged or needs fixing, I am always willing to fix it free of charge. My missions and goals are to keep my business growing and active, look for many markets, and promote more on social media.
✸ What do you enjoy most about running a small business?
My favorite part about running a small business is seeing how much joy and happiness I bring to my customers or anyone interested in crochet. I also like to see how much I’m capable of and think, “Wow, I did this.”
INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK: @strawrbbys
Photo Given by @clean.and.classy_
Clean & Classy || Carlos Vidals
Carlos Vidals is a 21-year-old entrepreneur who started his business this year, focusing on autodetailing. What makes his business unique is his dedication to his craft and his ultimate goal and mission to make his customers happy while building a future for himself and his parents. He is driven by the motivation of retiring his parents and giving back for what they did for him and his family. Through his auto detailing business, Carlos has learned the value of patience; it really does take time for a company to grow. Carlos Vidals is a hard-working entrepreneur who paves the way for his future and family.
✸ What inspired you to start a small business?
What inspired me to start my small business was I always wanted to be my own boss and seeing my parents work so hard, I always said I would retire them one day. Growing up, my dad was always working, and I only saw him for about an hour every day because he had to work. I always said that when I grew up, I didn’t want to have that lifestyle, and I didn’t want him to continue having that lifestyle.
✸ What experience do you hope your customers get out of working with you?
The experience I hope my customers get from working with me is that they are happy with my customer service. I also hope our customers are satisfied with the results of their cars when they get them back.
✸ What makes your business unique? / Missions & Goals
My business is unique because we are always looking for ways to improve. We are also constantly learning to offer new services like wrapping cars, tints, and polishing so that we have different options for our customers to choose from.
“Don’t be afraid to start a business. People may doubt you, tell you to give up, or make you feel like you’re not going anywhere, but if you push yourself to be better and better every day, things will change little by little.”
- Carlos Vidals
INSTAGRAM: @clean.and.classy_
Photo Given by @queenofnailsbyliz
Queenofnailsbyliz || Lizbeth H.
Queensofnailsbyliz is a unique combination of mother and daughter. This business is not just about nails but also hand-designed pieces and artwork. Lizbeth provides incredible nail art and manicures, and her mother crafts crochet pieces. Lizbeth was inspired to own a business that created memorable experiences for everyone involved. Her main goal is to create a family-oriented business rather than a sole journey. This business truly aims to spread happiness, peace, and kindness through its fantastic work and creations.
✸ What inspired you to start a small business?
It has always been my dream to be a Latino owner of a product or service and to create a place where I can create memorable experiences for our clients and customers. I wanted it to be more family-oriented rather than a solo journey. Thankfully, my mom has joined me on that journey successfully.
✸ What experience do you hope your customers get out of working with you?
Aside from the service or product our supporters seek, I enjoy advising in any way I can. If I know the answer or where to find it, I share that information with them because I love helping people and making their lives easier.
✸ What do you enjoy most about running a small business?
The connections I make because we can then feed each other all different types of helpful information or experiences that can be useful in life.
INSTAGRAM: @queenofnailsbyliz
Photo Given by @queens_beebakery
Queens Bee Bakery || Andrea Vicente
Queens Bee Bakery, a thriving at-home venture, is the creation of college student Andrea Vicente. Each of her mouthwatering treats is lovingly made from scratch in the comfort of her home and delivered to her clients. The offerings at Queens Bee Bakery are a delightful mix, ranging from Hispanic guilty pleasures to your breakfast jam! Through her bakery, Andrea has discovered the power of patience — a quality that aids in personal and professional growth. For Andrea, her business is a triumphant return to a beloved childhood hobby, now transformed into a highly successful enterprise.
✸ What inspired you to start a small business?
I always baked when I was little, but then school, sports, and clubs took over my priorities. When the pandemic gave me the time to get back into the hobby, I took full advantage of it!
✸ What experience do you hope your customers get out of working with you?
I want to be a quality and accessible bakery that makes your events memorable. Whether that be accessible prices, door-to-door delivery, or making all products from scratch- everyone deserves a handcrafted addition to their special day or even their day.
✸ What makes your business unique? / Missions & Goals
When my customers bring me an idea, I draw up different possibilities and combinations to best fit their personality and interests!
✸ What do you enjoy most about running a small business?
Getting so much positive feedback about their customized desserts
INSTAGRAM: @queens_beebakery
As you can see the small business revolution is alive and well in New York City, with unique and inspiring entrepreneurs like Laila Balahna, Carlos Vidals, Lizbeth Hernandez, and Andrea Vicente leading the charge. These small business owners are driven by their passion, dedication, and desire to make a difference in the world. They serve as a reminder that with hard work, resilience, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, anyone can achieve their dreams of starting a successful small business. So, don’t be afraid to take that first step and join the small business revolution!
