Hidden Gems: Local Businesses & Creatives You Should Know

Every day we have a choice. We can support an up and coming podcaster, try a new family-run restaurant, join a boutique gym started by a local fitness champ or we could keep giving away our money to the handful of giants who already control so much of our commerce. Our daily decisions impact the kind world we live in; if we want a world where small businesses are growing and artists and creatives are thriving then we should support them with our time, money and attention. We’re proud to highlight inspiring creatives and entrepreneurs each week in Hidden Gems series. Check out some of our latest local gem features below.

Caroline Brewer

I love creating and making jewelry! It has been such a fun and creative outlet for me to express myself. My husband is a photographer and we have had so much fun being our own creative directors when photographing the pieces and making a website we are proud of. I have felt empowered as a mother to be able to dream up something and then make it a reality. I am humbled by each order that comes in and take great joy knowing I am putting a little piece of myself out into the world. I also love showing my kids how to make something out of nothing and for them to know you can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it! Read more>>

David Rhine

Even though I still create functional pottery, the Ikibanas have now become the focal point of my production. I enjoy making them because of all the different possibilities they offer with form to function and how amazing they look with a beautiful floral arrangement. I have come up with many designs and sizes, various colors, surface designs and textures for people to choose from. I enjoy how the floral arrangement for an Ikibana vase is more intentional than a typical flower vase because you are using fewer flowers to create a display, showing the beauty of the individual flowers and dynamics of their placement. I typically sale all my work at the Nashville Farmers Market, plus a few festivals. You can find me at the farmers market every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00-3:00. Read more>>

Jayson Rivas

Twenty-one years later, I retired as a Green Beret after multiple combat deployments. At some point during my trips overseas, photography became my creative outlet. What started as a way to document memories in foreign countries, the culture, history, as well as photos of my six kids during the brief moments I was home between deployments slowly turned into a business. My girls were gymnasts, so I started photographing sports. Read more>>

Keith Nicholls

I’m juggling other jobs to pay the bills for my family, until I can get this to the point that it can sustain us by itself. And then there’s the bumps that come with trying to find clients, and convince them that the product I’m providing is a good one. As many realtors already have photographers/videographers that they like and trust and reflect their brand, so it’s a risk for them to try work with me. And I completely get that! So I’m aware that this will be a process and take time – but I’m here for it! Read more>>

Deana Henderson

Hello! My name is Deana Henderson, but to make life easier, people call me Dee. DeliveredByDee was born on April 26, 2020, the day the idea for this business was created. On May 6, I created my Facebook and Instagram pages, as those would be the main platforms I’d use to advertise and showcase my work. Both are @deliveredbydee. On May 28, 2020, I got my first delivery ever to a Walmart in Fairview, TN. I was desperate, so I took the order after finally convincing someone to take a chance on me. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have done that order, LOL. It wasn’t the greatest experience, but hey, you live and you learn. Read more>>

Story Balcom

Definitely not. My whole job is development and management over a team including hundreds of brand ambassadors, photographers, servers, tour guides, and anyone else a client may need. Some of them I’ve worked with for years and some I just interviewed the day before for an event hundreds of miles away and that can get stressful. Most managers work with the same team and know exactly what to expect from them. I had to get really good at reading people in a short period of time and trusting that I’ve prepared them to do the best job possible Read more>>

Nick & Kendra Jones

Smooth?! Anything but smooth. One of our biggest challenges has been trying to educate people about Texas Style BBQ and the concept of being sold out. Many people don’t understand how labor intensive the craft is. They also don’t understand that you can’t just throw on a brisket in the middle of the day for it to be done by supper. Read more>>

Silas Frayser

After a few years back home, I made the leap and moved to Nashville. I wanted to write, record, and surround myself with people who were chasing the same dream. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I also knew that Nashville is where it happens. Since moving here, I’ve been writing constantly, recording, collaborating, and pushing myself as a musician and a songwriter. In just a couple years, I’ve grown more than I thought I could. Read more>>

Maddie Toma

I saw first hand how much my food intake and food quality impacted that recovery. So I always had an interest in nutrition but never dared to believe that it could become a full time career. I always thought it would be something I would just look into for myself on the side. Once people started reaching out for coaching, I saw this was something I could actually pursue long term. Although I had plans to return to school for graduate school and possibly even go into law after Covid, I began having so much fun working with my nutrition clients that I decided to go all in with what I loved! I have had the best experience helping other females navigate exactly what I had walked through myself and found myself able to relate to them on a personal level. Read more>>

Dan Busch

Then I had a random encounter with a Chiropractor. I didn’t know anything about Chiropractic at the time, but I attended a lecture that he gave. I stayed behind After and told him what had happened to me and asked if he thought he could help me. He had me lay down on a banquet table and gave me my first “adjustment”. He then told me to stand up and touch my toes. I looked him in the eyes and told him “he was crazy, I already told you I can’t put on my shoes”! He said with confidence “just try”. So I did. With tears in my eyes I replied, “you just gave me my life back”! Read more>>

Meaghan Baker

My husband and I had done a few “flips” of our personal residences, so I had a bit of experience in real estate. I ended up getting my license and started working as a Realtor in 2016. It has been the most rewarding venture. I love seeing people achieve their goals of home ownership, and first-time homebuyers hold a very special place in my heart. I’ve also enjoyed building an amazing team of agents at our firm, The Baker Brokerage. We offer a very generous compensation plan to our agents and love seeing them grow as people. Read more>>

Brooke Larotonda

Some of my earliest memories are singing in church with my Paw Paw and going to live shows with my dad. Those moments made it so clear to me that this is what I want to do. I started my first band when I was about 15, and we played anywhere we could—two or three nights a week at bars all over North Carolina. At 21, I decided to make the move to Nashville. About two years in, I signed my first publishing deal, and since then, I’ve been incredibly lucky to share the stage with artists I’ve looked up to for years, including Willie Nelson, Gavin DeGraw, and Wade Bowen. Read more>>

Hannah Davis

When we started in 2019, we were unsure if we were going to be able to make it all work just because of the challenges of owning a small business. It was then we decided we go all in or we close it. The people working for us had just gotten married or had a new apartment– they were depending on us. So, we went all in and we are extremely grateful. Vertical Coffee Company has tripled in roasting, and our team members are like family, but like any small business, we still love growing and meeting new people every day. Read more>>

Jesse Watson

But while in college my love for drawing and art resurfaced. I minored in Art which allowed me to take all kinds of art classes. I decided to take a painting class and quickly fell in love with it. What I began to realize was that film and art go hand in hand. When making a painting or a camera shot, you have to think about composition, lighting, framing and color. Being a professional editor has helped me be a better painter and painting has helped me be a better film maker. I am now a professional video editor and camera operator and I often sell my paintings at local art fairs. Read more>>

Irvin “Funktion Junkie” Martinez

I started using hard drugs in 2009 right after my father passed away and in 2014 it started taking over my life noticeably. When I moved to Nashville in 2018, I came with nothing but broken pieces. I gave away everything, physically and emotionally because I was still in active addiction. I’ve been homeless out here, hopeless out here, and forgotten out here. I’ve stolen. I’ve robbed. been robbed, I’ve died. But I came bak. There was even a time where I wouldn’t allow myself to write lyrics or even create anything. I didn’t think I was worthy anymore and sometimes I still don’t Read more>>

David Alastre

I was born and raised in Venezuela, and my journey into music began in a wonderfully unexpected way. Growing up, my family didn’t have the resources to afford a piano, so my father did something incredible he drew one for me on a large piece of cardboard. That simple, loving act sparked my lifelong passion for music. Each day I practiced diligently on that homemade piano, combining creativity and imagination with the discipline of formal music studies that I began at age five at the conservatory. Those early years shaped the foundation for everything that came after. Read more>>

Brittany Grayson

Success demands effort and resilience. The journey to achieving your goals is constantly under development, and that means navigating through expected difficulties, such as roadblocks, detours, and recalculating your route. What matters most is your level of dedication and how much you truly want to succeed. Obstacles can emerge from multiple sources, including financial limitations, mental endurance, and physical health. Losing determination can momentarily alter your perspective, making you question your abilities. Nevertheless, don’t let those doubts linger. Remember, taking time to rest and recharge is vital, as an empty tank cannot fuel your business. Read more>>

Karter McCoy

From navigating complex deals to managing clients who were skeptical of my abilities, there were tough moments. But having mentors and support staff made all the difference. Their knowledge and guidance helped me tackle every obstacle head-on. Each challenge became an opportunity for growth, and I learned to turn objections into learning moments. Over the years, I’ve honed my skills, built confidence, and learned to thrive, even in a tough real estate market. Today, despite the ups and downs of the industry, I continue to produce and help clients successfully navigate the market. Read more>>

Dr. Thaddeus Jones

I’ve had moments where I questioned everything—wondering if betting on myself was brave or just borderline madness. But here’s the thing: I’ve never been afraid to build from scratch, learn the hard way, or pivot when necessary. Each struggle taught me something—about resilience, reinvention, and the importance of creating value even when the market isn’t clapping for you. Read more>>

John Wiser

I started in Digital Marketing out of necessity in the early 2000’s. My Dad and I owned an Electrical Contracting business, very small – just he and I, from 2006-2008. We did pretty well for a while, working on word of mouth and a few ads I had posted on Craigslist. Then all of the sudden, nothing. I knew, then, that we needed an online presence. We didn’t know anyone that we could trust to do it for us, so I dove in. I learned several lessons the hard way. Eventually, we had to close the doors on our company. However, I continued my education in Digital Marketing with a mission to help as many small companies so that they wouldn’t end up like we did. Read more>>

Ethan DaSilva

I started with local shows in Nashville, TN at currently retired venues like “The Muse,” and “The Rutledge,” and I put out my first studio project in 2011. My career really began to soar when I moved to Atlanta, GA in 2013. I gained a ton of notoriety and fan support, so I took my talents on the road for 2 years. After successfully touring through 13 different states, I came back to Nashville, TN to help my friends who also made music. I’ve spent the past 10 years performing my own music as well as recording, mixing, mastering, managing and educating performing artists, and helping elevate my community through artist led activism with Bang 4 Liberation: The Environmental Justice Army. Read more>>

Rich Guzzi

I started as a stand up comedian. Then added Hypnosis to the show and became a comic hypnotist. Then got into the training of hypnotists to be able to do the same thing as me. Which turned into Hypnosis World Dot Com. One of the leading resources for the training and implementation of hypnosis services world wide. Read more>>