Entrepreneurship
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After Slow Start, QVC Appearance Turned George Foreman Grill into Household Name
The George Foreman Grill initially struggled to gain traction, but a QVC appearance turned it into a cultural phenomenon and a kitchen appliance heavyweight, writes Michael Palan for The Takeout. During his long and successful boxing career, Foreman lent his winning smile to pitch many products, such as Meineke and Doritos. After retiring from boxing…
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Meet John Battagliese: A New Face at West Chester’s QVC, Bridging Tradition and Digital Savvy
John Battagliese, Chester County native and former Broadway performer, has joined QVC as one of its youngest hosts, debuting in October, writes Tim Chan for Rolling Stone. His warm and relatable style has quickly made him a fan favorite. It helps that he blends his theatrical background with social media-savvy communication to connect with viewers.…
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North Philly Entrepreneur Launches New Fashion School in Kensington With This Clear-Cut Focus
Ebony Pratt, a fashion entrepreneur from North Philadelphia, is the creator behind the Fashion Retail & Style Institute in Kensington, writes Michaela Althouse for PhillyVoice. Pratt defined her personal style at the age of 15, when she cut off her long hair, bleached the remains, and dyed it a multitude of bright colors. That helped…
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Once a Homemade Treat, West Chester-based Blake’s Mother’s Cookies Offers Themed Shortbread for All
Local business owner Loraine Houston offers a variety of shortbread cookies through her shop in West Chester, writes Tamala Edwards for 6abc. Houston, a trained chef, started baking shortbread in 2016 as a stay-at-home mother. She later packed the cookies for her youngest son Blake for his summer job in the Hamptons, where the family…
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Qurate to Rebrand as It Shifts Focus on Social Media, Livestreaming
Qurate Retail Group, the parent company of West Chester-based QVC, will rebrand as QVC Group as it shifts focus to social media and livestreaming, writes Jeff Blumenthal for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The company plans on changing its name in the first quarter of 2025 to strengthen the equity of its flagship brand. The move…
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Penn Alums, ChompShop Founders, Present New Product on ‘Shark Tank’ After Last-Minute Name Change
University of Pennsylvania alums and ChompShop founders Kausi Raman and Max Liechty presented their new product to Shark Tank investors in the latest episode of the popular business reality show, after being forced to come up with a new name for their company at the last minute, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal.…
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Community Conversation Series Continues, Highlights Philly’s Small Businesses
A community conversation series hosted by WHYY and the Free Library of Philadelphia recently highlighted the impact of Philadelphia’s small businesses, write Sandra Jones and Liv Barry for WHYY. The November 7 Bridging Blocks event brought together small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. Fred Sutherland, former EVP and CFO of Aramark, expressed that the…
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After 34 Years at QVC, Former Host Takes On Scrub Daddy
Longtime QVC host Dan Hughes has stayed busy since his layoff from the West Chester-based television shopping network, writes Jeff Blumenthal for the Philadelphia Business Journal. Hughes was dismissed after 34 years with the home shopping channel. While the entire experience has been unexpected and unpleasant for him, Hughes was surprised by the reaction from…
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Washington Post: Kennett Square Leads Nation’s Mushroom Production Amid Industry Boom
Kennett Square, the unofficial Mushroom Capital of the World, continues to dominate mushroom production in the nation amid the industry’s boom, writes Laura Reiley for The Washington Post. Mushroom production in the Chester County borough began in 1885, when two Quaker farmers began cultivating fungi from spores they brought back from Europe. For the next…
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Unlocking Innovation: LionCage Pitch Competition Launches to Empower Philadelphia Entrepreneurs
Invent Penn State LaunchBoxesTM at Brandywine and Great Valley and the Ideas x Innovation Network (i2n), an initiative of the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), are partnering to deliver a new pitch competition to support entrepreneurs and innovators across all of southeastern Pennsylvania. The LionCage is a new event that features pitch presentations across four…
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For Owner of VaceTime Landscaping, Every Job is Fulfilling
In his youth, South Philadelphia native Jovace Nelson began maintaining the yard at his home as his contribution to the household chores. Years later, he is the owner of VaceTime, a full-service, custom solution landscape service provider, according to a staff report from The Philadelphia Tribune. The company now does projects for residential and commercial…
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University of Pennsylvania is One of the Top Schools in Producing Future Founders, Entrepreneurs
The University of Pennsylvania ranks among the top schools in the world for producing founders, writes Ryan Mulligan for PHL Inno. The ranking is from new data by Pitchbook, which ranks the top schools globally by the number of founders they have produced and how much funding they go on to raise. The list is…
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Philadelphia Entrepreneur is Brains Behind Apps That Link Big Delivery Services to Small Restaurants
Victor Tejada, a former Comcast designer and Dominican Republic native, now runs Delivery Guys Apps, which links small immigrant-owned restaurants with big delivery services, writes Joseph N. DiStefano for The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We are empowering culinary diversity and independent restaurants,” said Tejada. Tejada moved to Philadelphia in 2017 for a Comcast job, but left the…
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West Philly Pastry Chef Leaves Restaurant Business to Launch Solo Baked Goods Enterprise
Pastry chef Emily Wilson left the demanding restaurant business to go it alone, and she is now building a community in West Philadelphia in the process, write Emily Rizzo, Sabrina Iglesias, and Erin Reynolds for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Wilson prepares her delicious baked goods in a professional-quality kitchen in the basement of a Wayne church.…
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Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s Student Business Venture Wins Teamwork Award at Global Competition
Three Springside Chestnut Hill Academy seniors won the teamwork award at TYE Globals, a global entrepreneurship competition, with their RENTR business venture, according to a staff report from SCH.org. RENTR is a marketplace where the DIY community can browse rentable tools. The platform is starting with Chestnut Hill’s ZIP Code 19118 and will be adding…
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These Five Montco Gen Zers Among 13 Talented Overachievers Doing Big Things in Philly Suburbs
Five Montgomery County Gen Z’ers have found their place among the 13 talented overachievers doing big things around the Philadelphia suburbs, writes Gina Lizzo for Main Line Today. Ethan Mazer founded Empower Event Group when he was 15. Today, at 26, he is the head of a full-service entertainment company that organizes mitzvahs, Sweet 16…
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Jamison Mother-Daughter Duo Finds Sweet Success in Honey Business
A Bucks County mother-daughter team transformed their passion for beekeeping into a thriving business, according to The Reporter. Karen Zebrowski and Nikki Zebrowski-Beck founded Jamison-based Backyard Buzz while working as nurses at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia. Initially selling honey to coworkers and at local events, their part-time venture quickly grew in popularity. By 2021,…
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Founder of Live24HRS Shares Story of Starting His Business After Being Incarcerated to Inspire Others
Robbie Long, the founder of Live24HRS, which hosts popular event series in Philadelphia, recently shared the story of how he started his own business after being incarcerated in hopes of inspiring others, writes Nate File for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Long was 23 when he was locked up in Delaware prison in 2010 for violating his…
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