"You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there." ― Edwin Louis Cole

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and restrictions are slowly lifted, the end of the pandemic may be in sight. But it’s still just as important as ever to support your local small businesses! Entrepreneurs bring a fresh perspective into the business world, offering new and innovative ideas with the potential to change their industries. Learn more about these four small businesses across our great state—you’ll surely be inspired!

Kemboocha – Douglasville
Douglasville entrepreneur Kemiko Lawrence is passionate about wellness and making it accessible to others. As a busy mother of five and a yoga instructor running her own practice called Harmony Wellness Angels, she is always looking for new things to add to her health routine. That’s why she was inspired when she discovered kombucha over 13 years ago.

Lawrence learned that the fermented tea beverage contained live probiotics and had been brewed and enjoyed for its health benefits for thousands of years. And since store-bought kombucha was so pricey at the time, she did some research and began brewing her own at home. She started out just giving bottles to her friends and family, but there was eventually enough demand for her to start her own kombucha brand, Kemboocha, which she launched in 2018.

Kemboocha brews four refreshing, original flavors including Sun Goddess, packed with pineapple, mango, turmeric, and ginger, as well as Moon Goddess, infused with blueberry, elderberry, acai, and ginger. Want to give it a try? Kemboocha is available to order online and in stores across metro Atlanta such as Sevananda Natural Foods Market, BUZZ Coffee and Winehouse, and The Vine Cafe & Market.

FIELD Botanicals – Augusta
This homegrown beauty brand is proof that following your passion and sticking with your goals can truly pay off! Augusta resident Jen Tinsley started FIELD Botanicals as a part-time side hustle, crafting natural beauty and skincare products in her own kitchen. She sold them at local indie fairs on the weekends, eventually building up her brand enough to leave her government job and pursue the small beauty business full-time.

Today, FIELD Botanicals has a charming brick-and-mortar store right in the heart of downtown Augusta and their products are sold nationwide at Urban Outfitters. And don’t worry—no bunnies were harmed in the making of this beauty brand! From their skincare and perfumes to their makeup and deodorant, every item they sell is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. With their clear values, clean ingredients, and fun packaging, we’re certain that FIELD Botanicals will continue to flourish!

Pouch Pies – Norcross
When Dave Malcher and his family moved from Johannesburg, South Africa to Georgia in 2010, they soon began craving the cuisine they had enjoyed back home. But they couldn’t find any local restaurants that sold meat pies, their favorite South African staple. So, they decided to create their own and introduce the savory dish to a new market—the metro Atlanta area.

That’s how Pouch Pies was born. The Norcross-based pie bakery offers 12 different flavors including steak & gravy, spicy chicken & chorizo, and lamb curry pie. And for the veggie-lovers, they have a vegetable curry pie as well as a spinach & feta pie (which won the 2019 National Pie Championship for the best pot pie!) Their traditional meat pies are sold online through their website and in local stores such as Taste of Britain in Norcross and The Queen’s Pantry in Marietta.

Local Love Box – Macon
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges for small business owners who already work so hard to find new customers and expand their business. Macon resident Rachelle Wilson was inspired to address this concern by connecting customers with small businesses through her new subscription box service called Local Love Box. The box ships to customers each quarter and is filled with hand-crafted, artisan items created by local central Georgia entrepreneurs and artists.

The most recent Local Love Box contains a graphic t-shirt, hand-poured candles, hand-painted tile magnets, a potted plant, and more. Each subscription box costs $50 but is valued at much higher than that. Wilson says that all of the money raised will go directly back to the participating small businesses.

Atlanta startups raised more than $725 million in April (Atlanta Inno)

Microsoft buys 93 acres of land in Douglas County for $13.8 million (Datacenter Dynamics)

Six "Small Business ROCK STARS" named by GA Dept. of Economic Development (Valdosta Today)

Georgia's first Black-owned brick-and-mortar brewery opens in East Atlanta Village (Black Enterprise)

Ford sticking with plans to buy electric vehicle batteries made in Georgia (AJC)

Georgia consumers are engaged, informed, and expect more from big businesses, report shows (SaportaReport)

As a married couple, Brittany and Andrew Bennett are each other’s greatest strength. Whether involved in a community event, attending church, or making wine—one of their favorite hobbies—they’re side-by-side through it all, and that doesn’t change throughout the work week.

Like most parents, the Bennetts tag team, getting their two young children fed and packed up with activities and snacks before dropping them off to their morning destination, which often includes grandma and grandpa’s house.

But unlike most couples, the pair doesn’t part ways when the morning hustle ends. Instead, they pack into their car, follow one route, and stroll into the same office building, where they head up their own operation: Bennett Law & Mediation. “It is really incredible to have a partner to lean on,” says Ms. Bennett. “Someone to share in the successes and the challenges.”

The firm became an ambition of Ms. Bennett’s, founder of Bennett Law & Mediation, when it became apparent that she had more to offer than what she felt she was able to through her previous role as associate attorney. A born leader, she was confident she could cultivate a practice centered around what clients really wanted. “I wanted to be the one making all of the decisions and the one to build a brand centered on honesty, integrity, collegiality, and zealous advocacy,” says Bennett.

With Mr. Bennett on board as her partner in life and law practice, the duo has conquered myriad challenges for clients and—having launched in 2018, they’re only just gaining momentum.

Together, the couple cover vast ground in a unique mix of practice areas, including business law, employment law, wills and estates, family law, military family law and criminal law. Their specializations may be similar to other law firms, but what sets Bennett Law & Mediation apart from the rest is that every attorney in their office is also a Certified Mediator. “Mediation has helped us find unique solutions to the most complicated legal issues,” says Bennett. “And we believe that not every case needs to be litigated."

This distinction signals the firm’s desire to place both clients’ interests and pocketbooks first. Mediation not only helps clients avoid dumping money and time into lengthy, stressful court cases, but presenting it as an option also boosts the firm's ability to tailor the representation and trajectory of resolution to each client’s need.

The Bennetts’s unique focus on client satisfaction is attributed in part to their long background in the hospitality industry, including retail and restaurants, which has shaped their client-first mindset and empowers them to connect with clientele naturally and in a meaningful way that delivers reassurance and comfort. “To us,” says Bennett, “Every client is a human being first, and a client second.”

As the Bennetts plunge into each day conducting initial client consultations and determining the best gameplan for every case, one apparent value of theirs is their accessibility and responsiveness.

“We never miss a phone call and we are always available,” says Bennett. But the Bennetts take care and responsiveness to another level: if they can’t take your case, they’ll find someone who can. “Everyone’s case is important,” says Bennett. “And we are dedicated to assisting in any way we can.”

Since its establishment three years ago, the firm has already made waves on a national scale. Ms. Bennett won a large sum for a client in a dispute against an insurance company―a case that garnered attention from across the country. And Mr. Bennett was awarded the Houston County Bar Association President’s Award in 2020.

In addition to winning several cases on dispositive motions, the firm has also attained remarkable results in child custody representation. “There is little more important in life than one’s family,” says Bennett. And she speaks from experience.

The Bennetts attribute their growth and success in large part to both sides of the family. “Being able to pick up the kids from grandma’s has really made it possible for the business to thrive,” says Bennett. “Without the support of both parents on each side and each other, our practice would not be able to achieve what it has. Our parents have instilled in us both work ethic and respect for people, which are implemented in our practice every day. For us, family keeps us grounded and lifts us up when we need it. That balance is crucial to success.”

To schedule a consultation with Bennett Law & Mediation, call 478-328-8316 or email info@bennettlawga.com. Learn more at bennettlawga.com.

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