In 2016, Emily Harpel was inspired to give a nostalgic childhood treat a chic upgrade. Emily secured all of the social media handles, ordered her first machine, and Art of Sucre was born.   Emily launched Art of Sucre as an events-based business, spinning out of the box flavors of cotton candy at weddings, parties, concerts. In 2020, Emily knew that she either had to pivot her business or lose everything that she worked so hard to build from the ground up.  Fast forward to today, and Emily has completely re-imagined Art of Sucre into an E-Commerce powerhouse (with a MASSIVE social following) offering hand spun cotton candy and the oh-so-viral cotton candy glitter bombs in a variety of colors and flavors (like Island Punch, Peach Bellini and Strawberry Bubble Gum... just to name a few).  On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations... Emily Harpel and the Art of Sucre.

Cleveland has no shortage of claims to fame, but Vic Searcy’s Chicken Sandwich stands out even in a city of bests. With locations in University Heights, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and Cleveland Browns Stadium, you’d think Sauce the City has been around for decades. On the contrary, Chef Vic launched (almost by accident) in 2018 when he won a location in the Ohio City Gallery. At the time, Searcy was earning advanced degrees in organizational psychology and directing social services activities for a rehabilitation center. But his passion for cooking drove his destiny and the signature hot sauces he was concocting at Kent State sealed his fate. Only five short years from launch, Chef Vic now has many claims to fame of his own, from selling 2,500 hot chicken sandwiches to MGK for peckish Ohio City residents to feeding thousands of hungry Cleveland sports fans at three stadium locations. It’s no wonder Sauce the City was voted Ohio’s #1 Chicken Sandwich. On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations, we're talking to Chef Vic Searcy of Sauce the City.

How do you prioritize a life on your own terms AND build a legacy of success for your family? Do what you love. Sharia Livingston has always dreamed of owning her own clothing business, but as a young mother, she opted for the safe bet and pursued a career in nursing. Her obsession with high-quality fashion never dulled and when her daughter was old enough to share her dreams, the mother-daughter duo launched their own brand, Living Rich, in 2015. Sharia Livingston and Sha’Miah Richardson are promoting a fashion empire, a vibe and a reminder to take a bet on yourself. A combination of their last names, Living Rich is a lifestyle streetwear brand boasting comfort, quality and style. They offer unique unisex pieces that promote confidence and individuality. The business was launched as an online retailer but quickly evolved to a pop-up and ultimately a brick-and-mortar. Today, Sharia and Sha’Miah are taking Cleveland’s fashion scene by storm. On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations, we're talking to Sharia Livingston of Living Rich.

The average US family will throw away as much as $1,500 worth of perfectly edible food each year. This waste costs our economy significant sums of money, but by avoiding this needless waste, we can redirect those funds to invest in infrastructure and services to divert that material from landfills. Since 2014, Rust Belt Riders has made it their mission to feed people, not landfills. The worker-owned social enterprise seeks to reframe waste streams as inputs to a circular and just economic model. Aiming to actively combat the global climate crisis, improve regional food security, and create place-based dignified jobs all while building adaptive 21st-century infrastructure. On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations... Dan Brown of Rust Belt Riders

When DaRon Henderson was a sophomore in high school, he was approached by a friend about the possibility of playing music at an upcoming junior high dance. He owned a pair of speakers and a set of turntables, so they decided to give it a shot to see what they could pull off.  They brought the proverbial schoolhouse down, and from there, more opportunities came rolling in. First $20, then an offer for $40, and by the end of the year the duo had worked their way up to $75 a gig and realized they had a full-fledged business. More than 30 years later, LO-KEY Entertainment is one of Northeast Ohio's elite and most reliable Entertainment Companies offering DJ Service, Uplighting, Photo Booths, Promotional Printing and and more. LO-KEY Entertainment DJ's have performed all over the country alongside famous entertainers such as Will.I.Am, Kevin Hart, Rickey Smiley, Russell Simmons, Deray Davis, D.L. Hughley and Outkast to name a few. On this episode of Small Business, Big Conversations... DaRon Henderson of LO-KEY Entertainment.