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Tecovas showroom on East Cesar Chavez (Credit: Tecovas)
Most startup companies are obsessed with scaling, and design their business model around how to grow big and be as profitable as possible. Austin-based cowboy boot company, Tecovas, has no intention of stagnating. But instead of complying with industry norms, founder Paul Hedrick is pouring his energy into customer-centric values and high quality products. [Read more…]
Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey opens up one of her hives (Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger)
What do a former nurse, federal government employee, paralegal, teacher and banker have in common? They’re all Austin women entrepreneurs who traded their careers to open small businesses in our city. And they all share a passion for the local community and a commitment to sustainability.
Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit is rivaled by few other cities, and it seems more and more people are abandoning traditional careers in favor of forging their own way through less conventional means. Meet five Austin women who have turned what began as hobbies into budding local businesses, and who are thinking globally while acting at the grassroots level. [Read more…]
Boggy Creek Farm inside Austin city limits
Food and community are huge parts of what makes Austin the great city it is. New restaurants pop up every other day, but the unsung heroes–our urban farms–need some love too!
From a nonprofit farm that helps youth to a well-known veteran nestled in the heart of East Austin, there are several places in Austin where you can fill your basket with locally-grown produce. [Read more…]
Becky Simpson in her studio (Credit: Constance Higley)
“When something inspires you to create, you have to run with it,” says Becky Simpson. It’s a motto she lives by, that led her to where she is today.
Simpson began working as an illustrator after an idea for a flow chart popped into her mind while she was sitting at Caffe Medici. At the time, she was working as a graphic designer in Austin. Though we often ignore our ideas, promising ourselves we’ll “get back to it later,” Simpson ran with hers. She allowed herself to focus and develop the concept until it was complete.
Today, the flow chart she created—“Should I Wash My Hair Today?”—is one of her signature pieces. [Read more…]
Wheatsville Co-op opened in 1976 and moved to its current location on Guadalupe Street in 1981
(Credit: Wheatsville)
Wheatsville Co-op has been serving the Austin community for 40 years and there’s a lot we can learn from their way of doing business. With a purpose statement that doesn’t once mention food, but instead reads, “to create a self-reliant, self-empowering community of people that will grow and promote a transformation of society toward cooperation, justice, and non-exploitation,” you can tell this isn’t your typical grocery store. [Read more…]
Credit: Eye Gave
Here at the Austinot, we love Austin-based companies that integrate the entrepreneurial spirit with a heart for social good. So when I first found out about Eye Gave, a local eyewear startup trying to eliminate trachoma by 2020, I wanted to learn more.
Eye Gave has partnered with a nonprofit called Sightsavers to make a difference. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, Eye Gave funds a sight-saving operation for one person with trachoma, or enough medicine to prevent up to 22 people from getting the disease.
Trachoma is the most common infectious cause of blindness in the world. It starts off as a bacterial infection that can be easily treated, but over time it can cause blindness if left alone. These statistics are staggering:
Because the team at Eye Gave is composed of product developers, rather than eye doctors, it was important to them to partner with a respected organization. “Sightsavers will be doing the important work they specialize in,” lead designed Andrew Sanderson shared in a press release, “performing eye operations, dispensing medication and training locals to examine, treat and support people suffering from trachoma, while we concentrate on building a brand known for its loyalty to charities that do great things.”
Through Oct. 15, 2016, Eye Gave is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund their efforts. From each pledge, $12 will go towards a sight-saving eye operation, antibiotics to treat and stop the spread of trachoma, or training for eye health workers.
You almost want to buy a pair of these sunglasses just to support the cause. But it just so happens that these high-end sunglasses are polarized, well-built and stylish! Definitely the best of both worlds.
To learn more and get involved, watch the video below and go to Kickstarter to participate in the fundraising campaign.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What is your favorite social good company in Austin?
Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Eye Gave sunglasses for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.
You can sample more than 30 flavors of gourmet popcorn at Cornucopia’s two locations in Austin
Voted “Best Sampling Room” in Austin in 2015 by the Austin Chronicle, Cornucopia is a place where you can enjoy yourself while discovering sweet and savory treats to pass onto others. As the name suggests, this local business creates a wide range of popcorn flavors, with a special emphasis on seasonal varieties.
Owner and “Poperator” Nadia Elhaj founded Cornucopia in 2008, envisioning popcorn as “a canvas for flavor and fun.” She has always loved the idea of taking something that’s been around for generations, popcorn, and giving it a fresh twist. [Read more…]
Outdoor patio stage at Spider House (Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger)
An incredible live music lineup, comedy, an array of food trucks and drinks flowing as steadily as the water streaming down the giant, inflatable water slide. These are only a few of the activities that promise to make Spider House Cafe and Ballroom‘s 20th Anniversary Party an event to remember!
Starting at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, you can head over to 2908 Fruth St. and partake in the debaucherously good time that has been this iconic Austin spot’s modus operandi since 1996. The price of admission: FREE. [Read more…]
Guest article by Amanda Tatom
One of the things I’ve come to enjoy most about Austin is the appreciation of good health. This is one fit city! I’m reminded of this daily as I connect with health-conscious guests through my job at Studio 512. And while I’m not running marathons or perfecting the Firefly pose, I’ve definitely been inspired to take notice of my own health.
From the inside out, we have so many ways to do a body good. I’ve learned that fitness isn’t just about going full throttle during a workout or depriving oneself of deliciousness. Being truly fit is taking care of the whole package. In my journey to wellness, I’ve found these places around Austin that are a great fit. [Read more…]
Take an Austin food tour on electric bike with Rocket Electrics