All Entries in the "Spotlight" Category
My Méz
My Méz combines functionality and art. Méz is the Indian word for table, similar to Mesa in Latin/Spanish. The table is topped with a photograph and then finished with a coating that makes the table top durable and attractive.
You could say we give lasting form and function to people’s memories. It’s art so good that you could eat off it!
With our Indian heritage, Méz seemed like the perfect name for our business. However we’ve lived in RI for over 10 years now and made the conscious decision not to outsource the production but to handcraft our tables right here in Rhode Island. We are passionate about quality and believe that functionality and beauty can go hand in hand. Our artful tables add character to any home or theme-room and also make the most unique, custom gifts.
Biggest challenge: The biggest challenge that my husband and I have had is to balance our priorities for our start up while working full-time. It’s important to promote and market our product while being realistic about operational considerations.
Opened: June 2012
Number of Employees: 2
Website: www.mymez.com
RI Web Gurus
The RI Web Gurus bring knowledge, wisdom and authority to the website development and online marketing arena. Our commitment is to help any client that we meet. Whether you walk away with a brand new website that was built by RI Web Gurus, or just an idea on how you yourself can improve your website design, our goal is to be a resource for those looking to improve their presence on the web. Our goal is to be as transparent as possible while offering superb customer service to make for an enjoyable web experience!
We believe in small business as they are the core of our success; we are happy and proud to share in the growth of small businesses in RI.
Biggest challenge: Some of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is getting all of our proper documentation in place with the State of RI to ensure our filing for the tax year is correct. It is also a balance between providing our services, growing our portfolio and ensuring financials come in versus focusing on the core of our own business and growing it. (It’s a lot of fun though!)
Opened: March 2012
Number of Employees: 3
Address: 378 Main Street, Suite 9E
Website: http://riwebgurus.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/riwebgurus
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RIWebGurus
Laid-Back Fitness, LLC
Opened: September 2011
Number of Employees: 3
Address: 2800 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886
Website: http://laidbackfitness.com/
Biggest challenge: Leaving a high-paying career with awesome benefits to pursue my passion!
Profile:
At Laid-Back Fitness, we specialize in fun and challenging workouts using unique yet practical equipment. Founded by a former engineer and ironman triathlete, Laid-Back Fitness takes a systematic approach to training as it applies to overall health. Our workouts incorporate “play” while focusing on developing fundamental human skills and increasing efficiency of movement. All of these principles are geared to help people become healthier and improve their quality of life without being obsessive. While physical fitness is important, we believe a healthy lifestyle also involves eating responsibly, participating in recreational activities we enjoy, and taking time to relax when our bodies give us that message.
Lollipop Learning Center, LLC
Opened: February 6, 2012
Number of Employees: 7
Address: 2766B Hartford Ave, Johnston, RI 02919
Website: www.lollipoplearningcenterllc.com
Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge was getting the financing to get started. The banks wouldn’t help because I had to already be in business for a year to even be considered for a loan. The start up costs were so much that I had to start putting a lot of my expenses on my personal credit cards. My other challenge was going through commercial zoning clearance, fire clearance and construction inside of the building.
Profile
I have always been an advocate for children and my passion was to become a teacher since I was a young child. I started college at age 17 and studied Early Childhood Education. Throughout college I was student teaching ages preschool to second grade. After College, I immediately started working at a child care center. I knew right away that this was my calling and that I wanted to open a school one day. I taught preschool children for seven years and then I decided to go back into the education field for a degree in Special Education. I now have opened my own Child Care Center and continue with my passion to teach children.
My school is called Lollipop Learning Center, LLC and is “your trusted choice in child care”. We are committed to provide you the best quality child care . Our curriculum is based on principles of child development. Our goals are to give each child a sense of security by helping them develop at their own pace while learning the basic skills. We want the children to feel secure and confident enough to explore and grow in our stimulating educational and social environment. We will provide a variety of individual and group activities designed to help each child develop language and reading readiness skills. We provide programs that enhance physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth along with skills and attitudes which will increase your child’s ability to succeed in school and in the community.
