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.

Bridget Jarecki

I went to Boston University and earned my degree in magazine journalism. Right after graduation, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion- I genuinely thought I was going to be the next Carrie Bradshaw. My first job was as a receptionist at The Wall Group, a premier agency representing hair, makeup, styling, and fashion talent. Within seven months, I was promoted to assistant to one of the top-performing agents, who taught me the fundamentals of talent representation: thoroughness, attention to detail, thinking three steps ahead, and anticipating questions or issues before they even arise. Read more>>

Eva DeCozio Bush

and we moved to Williamson County, where my plan was to become an independent mobile veterinarian, offering holistic and integrative therapies. This was not an easy feat, as there were still Covid restrictions and nobody knew about me here. I initially worked as a relief vet, then joined a practice in Franklin a few days a week, where I am allowed to offer some of my holistic/alternative therapies. The mobile business grew over the first few years, but I realized that I could not offer everything I’d like to as a mobile vet; my husband converted an area in our horse barn into a clinic space for me, and now I can practice from my barn clinic. My practice is growing, mostly through word of mouth. Read more>>

Nick Jackson

The one piece of work that feels like my greatest accomplishment so far is a proof of concept short film I directed back in April. It’s called ‘Hostage of the Glacier’, and follows my great grandfather through a few of his endeavors during WWII. We shot in a real c47 ( a WWII transport plane), had real period uniforms, a crew comprised of some of my best friends and fellow freelancers. It sounded impossible, but it was everything I could ever wish for. Read more>>

Abigail Puckett

As each season passed, we grew into a family-oriented environment where our local community could come and make memories during our peak seasons and events. We host seasonal craft shows annually where small businesses can have a space to engage with the local community and be supported. We are located at 1351 Hunters Point Pike Lebanon, TN 37087, just a few short miles from the historic Lebanon Square. Our vision is to grow our seasonal experiences by adding more family-fun activities for all ages and expanding our locally-made goods store. Read more>>

Kim Perrett

I spent years assisting established stylists, learning the craft from the ground up, until I was ready to step out on my own. In the beginning, the jobs were small—often with no budget, pulling looks from a client’s own wardrobe—but I took everything that came my way. Over time, some of those early artists began to rise, opening doors to red carpets, editorial photo shoots, and televised performances. Read more>>

Garrett Hendricks

But I still miss and have a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest. I return a few months in the spring to teach environmental science to young people and also play live shows across the West. Getting to share my passion for music as well as the incredible wonders of the natural world is what feels most rewarding to me and I hope I get to do it for years to come, Read more>>

Morgan Lee Powers

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I found that it is very, very rarely easy for anyone. If it was easy, everyone would do it. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of confidence, and a lot of perseverance. A good piece of advice that I got from a Songwriting mentor of mine when I first got to town was “eat rejection for breakfast.” he was so right. That was (and sometimes still is) at the top of the menu. But if you want something bad enough, you’ll stick it out even when it’s hard. Read more>>

Kiara Davis

After college, Kiara began working for the State of Tennessee, serving children in the foster care system. While pursuing a Master’s degree in 2018, she discovered her true passion—cooking. This realization led her to start a cooking business in 2019, where she began selling meals and building a loyal customer base. Read more>>

Misti Appleby

We worked hard to restart our lives. Eventually, we moved into a camper and began to rebuild. Little by little, we upgraded into homes that better fit our needs. Our next chapter was unexpected but beautiful — we started working with intellectually disabled adults, helping them live independently. What we didn’t know was that this job came with housing. We still didn’t own a car, so we walked to the office until we were given use of the company van. We stayed in that work for eight years and truly loved it. Read more>>

Maga Cárdenas

Journalism was my first profession, and even before graduating I knew I did not want to be the bearer of bad news about what was happening in Venezuela—my home country—or in the rest of the world. Many years earlier, when it was time to choose my undergraduate studies, my heart was torn between health sciences and communications or social relations. It wasn’t until recently that I understood something important: we always find our way back to the deepest desires of our heart, often by paths that are not immediately clear. Read more>>

Tracey Ecklund

No. L.A. is expensive, and the job market is super competitive. I worked various retail jobs, struggling to make ends meet. I lived in some sketchy places in rough neighborhoods. I tried the roommate thing a few times. I went back home for awhile to save money and came back. Ultimately, I decided to relocate. When I first moved to Nashville I found the city more affordable and less competitive. However, it’s started to become the next L.A. lately. So many people moving here for the music industry. I’m struggling with a way to make money with the magazine, so I have to work a full time job in order to keep it running. Read more>>

Sophia Laurenzi

I traveled all over the state to interview family members, law enforcement, teachers, social workers, friends–anyone I could find to share information about my clients’ lives. Information that might show they had not received a fair, thorough trial, or deserved a sentence less than death. I spent hours on the road, often trying the same witnesses dozens of time. But when I did get into hours-long conversations with folks, I loved my job more than anything. It felt meaningful and essential to witness these stories, and bring them back to my attorneys with the hope of crafting a compelling appeal. Read more>>

Kate Harrold

After college, I discovered how challenging it can be to make a living without stifling some of the creativity that is so important as an artist. I worked for a printing company, I assisted and edited for more established photographers, I did product photography and photoshop editing for large retailers, and I shot a few weddings. Read more>>

Ciara Clark

I’ve always had a love for photography since I was little. I would always have a disposable camera or a Nikon Coolpix with me at all times. After a while I lost touch with photography and got a degree in graphic design. It wasn’t until after college I rediscovered my love for photography. I started with taking photos of food from my dining room table to then taking over the role as photographer at Funky Good Times. From that point forward I’ve photographed several events around Nashville. Read more>>

Cora Hageman

One of the biggest challenges so far is lack of foot traffic. We’re on West Spring Street, which hasn’t received the sidewalk updates to allow for safe pedestrian travel to our neighboring high volume downtown strip on Broad St. Starting this week the city has finally begun the much needed construction to improve this, and that’s been tough for visibility. We expect to take a harsh dip in sales this month due to the construction, but we hope that when it is all done our street will have safe and accessible sidewalks! I’ve also had to balance the financial side, making sustainable products affordable enough for our community, while still keeping the doors open. And like most new business owners, I’ve worn every hat: marketing, events, inventory, and even mopping the floors at the end of the night. Read more>>

Caleb Coots

Music has always been a part of my life. It has always been a part of my family. My grandfather is the great Eddie Pennington, and he has shown me everything I know. I started playing the drums and fiddle around the age of 5 taking lessons from my grandfather. As a family we would play many different shows. It wasn’t until I was about 10 when he started showing me how to play the guitar. I was taught what people call the Travis style picking. I have been playing guitar ever since then. I am now currently learning my way and working my way through the Nashville scene. Meeting new people and making great friends who can help me along the way. Read more>>

Caleb Roth

As I spent more time in the fence and outdoor wood industries, I saw a clear gap in the market for professional wood care solutions—things just weren’t being done at the level I believed was possible. That’s what led me to start Stain & Seal Experts, which began as a service brand and quickly grew into something bigger. Out of necessity, I developed my own proprietary ultra-low VOC stain, initially just to serve our own clients better. It worked so well that it eventually became EXPERT Professional Wood Care, and today we’ve sold over 150,000 gallons worldwide. Read more>>

Joshua Montgomery

I’m a mortgage broker with New Paradigm Lending, and for us, it’s people over paperwork always. As a brokerage, we have access to a wide range of loan options (Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, and more), but what truly sets us apart is how we use that flexibility to tailor the best fit for each client. Read more>>

James Prince

One of the advantages of being raised in a low-income household is the opportunities afforded you in the hopes that you can afford the advantages of your higher socioeconomic counterparts. In that regard, as a low-income student I was provided the opportunity to be a participant in Upward Bound and Student Support Services, two federally funded projects that are being threatened under our current administration. Read more>>

Dr. Toya White

In the midst of chasing my dream, my health took an unexpected turn: I began having unexplained seizures. Like most, I turned to traditional medicine for help—but nothing worked. After months of frustration and no clear answers, a friend suggested I try chiropractic care and I did. That decision changed everything. Ultimately, it was Gonstead chiropractic care that gave my relief. My seizures completely stopped. Read more>>

Amber Brown

There were definitely moments of concern when dealing with some small minded individuals but I showed up and showed out with my art and my heart. I had to prove that it doesn’t matter who I am or who I love, that I can still create and tattoo, as well as, become a safe space for others in my very small hometown community. Read more>>

Carolanne Fox

Not at all! Navigating opening a small business post covid was incredibly difficult, especially for someone with minimal guidance. I battled a lot of self comparison, people pleasing, guilt, and anxiety. I also opened this business while still working full time, which made me realize the importance of scheduling, work/ life balance, and time management. Thankfully, my grandpa, who also built a business from the ground up, made sure that I never felt alone or helpless during this process. I genuinely owe it all to him and my mom for standing with me on all fronts, and being the guidance I felt like I couldn’t find. Read more>>

Abby Cox

I spent the next decade working in venues, honing my skills and learning how to run events from start to finish. Eventually, I stepped into the business side when I joined the City of Brentwood to oversee two city-owned wedding venues. That role turned into something much bigger — I was responsible for everything from business development to marketing to budgeting and team-building. I spent five years there growing two thriving businesses, and while I loved it, I hit a point where I wanted a new challenge and a new chapter. Read more>>

Amanda Bell

After graduation, I moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and started working as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym. But I knew my heart was in yoga. I signed up for a quick weekend certification to get my foot in the door and started teaching what I call “gym yoga.” About a year in, the gym owners approached me with an idea: they wanted to open a hot yoga studio and asked if I’d be interested in running it. I said yes on the spot. Read more>>

Christieanna Martin

I would say overall it’s been a very consistent road – which I’m incredibly grateful for. Photography has always brought joy into my life and if I stray from that then I know I’ve booked too much. I work hard to have sessions that align with the feeling of telling someones story well, which always has a very vulnerable and raw feeling to it. There is of course always the struggle of wanting “one more booking” and maxing out your calendar, but to be honest, I’ve enjoyed having open weekends a lot more this year. It’s allowed me to truly focus on each shoot individually and create the best work and memories for them that I can. Read more>>

Lori Hanks

Our customers cover all ages and many different economic levels and come from all over the country. We love it when we have customers tell us they make it a point to shop here every time they visit Nashville. From country music royalty to your next door neighbor, you never know who you’ll be rubbing elbows with while shopping. Read more>>

Michellle McBride

A few years ago, I was working in a stable government job — great pay, great coworkers, the kind of job people settle into. But when my daughter Kaylee passed away unexpectedly, my world was shattered. I tried to return to work, surrounding myself with photos of her, hoping it would bring comfort. Instead, it made it impossible to be there. I couldn’t sit in that space and pretend life was the same Read more>>

Amber Marie

Amber Marie is a country music artist and content creator from the small town of Blairsville, Pennsylvania, now based in Nashville. Influenced by the honest storytelling of early 2000’s country, her music blends heartfelt lyrics with soulful melodies that connect deeply with listeners. She graduated from Belmont University with a degree in songwriting and was a finalist in both the Christian and R&B showcases during her time there. Her breakout single, Deserve A Song, has surpassed 1 million streams, and she continues to grow a loyal fanbase by sharing her journey through music, behind-the-scenes content, and everyday moments. She is releasing her debut EP in November! Read more>>

Katherine Quatro

Not at all—it’s definitely been a wild ride! The rebranding happened really quickly last year, and to be honest, I was building the plane as I flew it. Shifting from a clothing boutique to a holistic fragrance brand was a big leap, and there were a lot of growing pains—from figuring out new products and packaging to learning how to tell our story in a whole new way. Read more>>

Tricia Bush

I grew up barefoot and outdoors in rural Pennsylvania surrounded by hills, farmland, and all my extended family. My grandparents would take us on walks and call the trees and flowers by name. I moved to the big city in middle school and forgot a lot of that, but didn’t lose my love for the outdoors.. When I began to have children, I wanted them to have similar experiences, so we began learning the names of the birds, trees and plants growing in our backyard. Eating from the land and home remedies kind of grew from there, paired with my older daughter’s sensitive skin and the need for simpler products.. Read more>>

Caroline Dilbeck

That’s when I started to really unpack the mental load and why traditional advice just wasn’t cutting it. I didn’t want to build something that added more to already overwhelmed parents. I wanted to build something different, something that would actually lighten the load. To think it all started from my own breaking point, feels full circle and like such a gift. Now, I get to help other parents climb out of burnout, rebuild capacity and show up as the parents, partners, coworkers and humans they were always meant to be. Read more>>

Morgan Sharpe

Hey there! My name is Morgan Sharpe, the face behind Sharpe Edge. I am a “retired” Master Level Medical Social Worker, who specialized in hospice. As much as I loved my career, I craved more time with our children. I transitioned to stay at home mom with our girls, Remi and Reese (and now our newest addition Rory). I’ve worked since the age of 15 and being home full time was an unknown territory for me. Read more>>