The World Health Organization estimated 7 million premature worldwide deaths were caused by urban air pollution and use of indoor solid fuels. “We can’t live more than three minutes without air,” said O2TODAY founder and CEO, Bruce Lorange. “Air is the thing we are always dependent upon that we think least about. Breathing literally fuels our lives.” … [Read more...]
Ogden Man Creates Original Bicycles from Cast-Off Parts
If you’ve noticed some strange bicycles around Ogden lately, you probably have Mark Johnson to thank. Johnson, a jiu-jitsu instructor who taught English at Ogden High for 21 years, has been building custom bicycles out of old parts and other salvage for his new company, UpCycle: Bikes and Boards. “My buddy was making bikes out of old bikes so I bought a couple from him. I’ve … [Read more...]
Project Embrace: Utah Startup is Changing Lives by Changing Perceptions
Project Embrace founder, Mohan Sudabattula, talks about how his connection to Utah evolved into a company that donates medical waste to balance global medical inequality. Mohan is a student of Biology, Philosophy and Health Policy from India, but his relationship to Utah innovation goes back years. “I grew up dancing at University of Utah campus events,” he said. Carving a Nic … [Read more...]
SPICE Kitchen Incubator Start-Up Adds Spice to SLC Cuisine
Spice Kitchen Incubator is allowing new immigrants from countries such as Bhutan to start businesses on a shoestring, making the American Dream come true for refugees Kamal and Geeta Niroula, owners of the Bhutan House Restaurant. Five years ago, the S.P.I.C.E. Kitchen Incubator (Supporting the Pursuit of Innovative Culinary Entrepreneurs), came out of a demand … [Read more...]
Speakeasy Embraces Utah’s Quirky Liquor Laws
Arriving at Prohibition, Salt Lake’s 1920’s-themed restaurant and cocktail bar, it was clear I was in for more than beer and big screens. Elegantly attired, Dr. Drink (aka Victoria) welcomed me to “Mary’s Antiques and Oddities” before proprietor Nick Porter escorted me past the secret door. “Prohibition makes the perfect business model for Utah, with its quirky laws and preem … [Read more...]
Wooden Bow Ties from W.K. Wilson
“A bow tie guy is not like every guy. He is not afraid of being noticed.” -Shawn Wilson A buzzing hum comes from the corner of a well-used workshop. My eyes track over to the sound and I see a small bright light reflected off the surface of golden wood. The light is gently jutting about, leaving behind a toasted line on the wood’s surface. My brain starts to connect the dots. I … [Read more...]
Starting a Small Business? Where Do You Go For Help?
Vest Pocket is a collaborative association of Utah’s locally-owned small businesses, born out of necessity in 1997. The issue that sparked the first movement, were local parking ordinances that were put into place making parking very difficult for certain small business owners and their customers. Together, those businesses banded together and fought to make changes that would a … [Read more...]
Halting an Avalanche of Declining Ad Revenue for Entertainment Video
The cord cutters are out in force, and cable TV giants such as Comcast, Time Warner, CNN, and ESPN are reeling to form a defense. According to TechCrunch, 56.6 million US consumers are going without pay-TV this year; and that’s up 32.2 percent over last year. But how do cord cutters watch live TV without cable? Lack of Autonomy Challenge Matt Wunderli is unable to watch t … [Read more...]
In a Changing Climate Night Flight Comics Re-Invents as a Mail Order Business
Retail is not for the faint of heart. As the owners of Night Flight Comics, Alan Carroll and Mimi Cruz were retailers for 30 years. They recently decided to shut down their brick and mortar space. And though they are not closing due to lack of profit, as their lease came up for renewal, Alan had to ask, “Do we go for 40? Do we die doing this? What comes next?” The store fir … [Read more...]
Joe Maughan Continues a Tradition of Hands-On Jewelry Making at 9th & 9th Jewelers
For Joe Maughan, aka “Joe the Jeweler,” making custom jewelry is in his blood. Joe’s parents first opened the store, previously called The Vug, as a rock shop in 1989. “Rock’s turn into gems and gems turn into jewelry; and here we are 30 years later. There just are not many hands-on jewelers anymore. Nor am I a suit and tie jeweler—I’m a flip-flop jeweler. I do business right … [Read more...]