The first ever Small & Special conference happened on June 30, 2009. The afternoon was spent listening to a series of talks from the passionate founders of successful small businesses. Over 200 attendees came to learn something, meet people who share their dreams, and to be inspired. Now you can be inspired by watching the entire event on the videos below. You can stay connected with attendees, fans, and the organizers by following @smallandspecial and becoming a fan of Small & Special on Facebook.
Small & Special Talks
Eric LeVine
Eric LeVine’s CellarTracker has an army of wine tasters uploading more than a thousand tasting notes a day into what’s now the largest wine inventory database on the web. Eric is still the only employee.
Nisha Kelen
Nisha started her floral design business out of a one car garage and her passion continues to thrive after 12 years. It mostly took her mom's sincere push with 4 words... "just go for it" and so she did! Fleurish was the outcome of believing in her creativity and a dedicated work ethic.
Joe Mansfield
Joe Mansfield and his custom engraving company, Engrave Your Tech, harness laser power to help artists and designers create artwork with a high tech twist.
Rachel Venning
After noticing how unfriendly sex shops were to women, Rachel Venning and her partner founded Babeland. Now they have 4 locations.
Oliver Chin
Oliver Chin became a dad and realized the world needed new books for 21st century children and their parents. In 2005, he founded Immedium to create wonderfully illustrated tales that appeal worldwide to kids of all ages.
Jon Rimmerman
Jon Rimmerman started Garagiste with $500, a passion for wine, and a knack for weaving a great story. Today Garagiste garners national recognition for selling more (and more diverse) wines, than any other independent retailer in the Northwest.
Andrew Bennett
Andrew started Deneki Outdoors to combine his love of the outdoors with a great opportunity to build a business. Deneki Outdoors operates fly fishing lodges in Alaska, BC, the Bahamas and Chile.
Steven Bristol
Steven’s Less Accounting service is challenging mainstay QuickBooks with an online accounting package that has, well, less. New customers are signing up in droves.