Focus on Women Entrepreneurs (3 of 5)

Kristen Smith Young
@kcs_tarheel | Chapel Hill native and troublemaker

You may remember Kristen from her weekly conversation with Aaron Keck to give the Short & Sweet Business Beat. She’s back but for a limited time only. Inspired by so many women entrepreneurs and business owners she’s met and known, she decided to feature one woman a day in March on social media (follow her on Instagram and Twitter) in honor of Women’s History Month. Follow along and let us know your favorite women entrepreneurs. A digest of Kristen’s posts will appear right here in the Town Square section of Chapelboro each Friday in March.

Aaron Keck talked to Kristen on-air about her social media series on March 8, 2018, also International Women’s Day. Click below to hear their conversation:

 

Focus on Women Entrepreneurs (3 of 5)

Sending some love right back to this lady. @chelatu, in addition to being a martial arts master and clothing swap queen, was co-founder of the @chirbachirba food truck. The brains and brawn behind the business, Chela worked so hard to build the brand and deliver the dumplings. I was so fortunate to work alongside her at @carolinachamber and I’m blessed to call her friend. If you are a business owner, contact her ASAP about marketing your business on @wchlchapelboro. Chela, I can’t wait to see what you create next, but thanks so much for supporting woman entrepreneurs and for being a support to me. #womenshistorymonth #chirbachirbameanseateat #Tufortwo

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 16, 2018 at 3:16pm PDT

Today was such a pretty day and it marked my first shaved ice🍧 of the season. @iheartshaka is one of my favorite new businesses and I feel lucky🍀 to have met its owner Ana Mahoney. My friend Abby (@parcelax) introduced me to her and describes her most aptly: “She was part of a family shave ice business growing up and has made it a part of her own family’s life here in Chapel Hill. She’s committed to giving young people their first chance at work. She’s fierce and she really loves what she does—and loves making other people’s day just a little bit sweeter.” Go to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro border to find this mother-owned business and you’ll be addicted to this sweet treat. #womenshistorymonth #iheartshaka #itsnotasnowcone #Repost @iheartshaka with @get_repost

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 17, 2018 at 7:40pm PDT

I always try to don my Sunday best, but @lorenhope makes beautiful jewelry to wear on your wedding day *and* every day. Loren Barham is from the Triangle and a high school classmate of Dylan’s. I love the modern-take-on-vintage feel of her work and was so touched that she helped make clip-ons of one of her designs for me to wear as a bride. Today I’m eyeing a Carolina blue necklace and you can get 20% off sale items with the code SALEONSALE at lorenhope.com/collections/sale. Here’s Loren in her own words about her business and being a woman entrepreneur. #womenshistorymonth #lorenhope #Trianglegrown #Repost @lorenhope with @get_repost ・・・ As a jewelry designer, celebrating women is practically my full time job. 🙌 As a woman, I celebrate the opportunity to create for a living, and the connections I’ve made with other women around the globe through my work. A dear friend and biz colleague of mine once told me before a big meeting that “wearing Loren Hope was her armor” it was then I understood jewelry’s power to transform. It’s a humbling thing- that moment when you realize you create these objects that are so intimately tied to the most important days of complete strangers’ lives. I believe there’s magic in that. ✨✨✨Thank you all for every ounce of support. I love you! 💛 xx- Loren

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 18, 2018 at 11:00am PDT

Four years ago today I got the opportunity to interview sisters Wendy Mcmillan Smith and Bridget McMillan Pemberton-Smith, co-owners of @cameronsgiftgallery about being a #smallbiz owner at a @secufamilyhouse culture night. I wish I had a transcript! I’ve loved getting to know these sisters—they are smart business women, completely community minded, and have helped me shop for gifts for at least one, if not two, of the four decades Cameron’s has been in business. Lots of love💗💗 to these ladies, be sure to follow them at @cameronsgiftgallery, @the_shrine_room, and @prayerstoelvis and do not pass up a chance to visit them at their store at 300 East Main in #Carrboro. #womenshistorymonth #buylocal #feelfree #Repost @carolinachamber with @get_repost

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 19, 2018 at 2:54pm PDT

Featuring a fellow March baby and because if you’re like me, you feel braver with a blowout. @alliwebb is the founder of @thedrybar, a chain of blowout-only salons that grew to $100 million in revenue in six years. My friend Teisha (@powhataner) introduced me to the blowout salon concept and pointed me to the the Dry Bar in Dupont before a special visit to The @whitehouse (thank you Teisha!!🙌🙌) @vanityfair says of Webb, “She recognized a void in the beauty industry and ignored tales of failed start-ups in order to create an entirely new category of single-service establishments.” For those of us who don’t have a Drybar near us, we can pick up any of their product line at @ultabeauty. (I frequent the one at @eastgatecrossing.) Happy birthday to this woman entrepreneur and here’s to hair-raising and revenue-raising good times. #womenshistorymonth #Marchbabies #youblowmeaway #Repost @thedrybar with @get_repost

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 20, 2018 at 7:13pm PDT

I’m not sure why these wonderful women weren’t my *first* post because they certainly were the *first* women entrepreneurs I met in my life. For nearly forty years, Sharon Collins and Pat Garavaglia have brought joy not only to me, but to everyone, through their store @balloons_tunes and through their care for this community. This dynamic duo were at every birthday party, my birthday when I was student teaching, and my birthday when working at @carolinachamber. I did not know when they were making balloon arches at my parents’ house before a party, that we would also end up at the same Carrboro Board of Aldermen meeting two decades later. It also wasn’t until after many years of stopping by their store, that I learned about all they do for Orange County DSS all year round, but especially at the holidays, as well as countless other causes. They are so modest, I had to dig and make my own photo collage (Laurie, I’m glad you’re in here too!😉), but I am calling all locals to get to know Pat and Sharon, because to know them, is to love them. 🎈❤️ #womenshistorymonth #balloonsandtunes #patandsharon #thousandaires

A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 21, 2018 at 5:52pm PDT