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Everywhere | September 16, 2011

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Eyes on the Prize
DailyCandy's Start Small, Go Big Winners


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Simon Cowell can create all the reality shows he likes. We know who can pick the real talent: you.

Thanks to your thousands of votes, this year’s four Start Small, Go Big winners are gearing up for their chance at stardom. Not only will each startup get its own DailyCandy story, next month they’ll all fly to the Big Apple for one-on-one advice and guidance from an impressive roster of DailyCandy Academy mentors (Andy Cohen, Marcus Samuelsson, Gail Simmons, and Fresh founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, to name a few).

And here they are.

Cold Spring Apothecary
We’re suckers for natural beauty and, apparently, so are you. Owner Stacey Wesselman formulates all-natural skin, hair, and body treatments with high-grade essential oils and herbal extracts (no synthetic chemicals or parabens). Up next? Figuring out how natural preservatives can keep her products gorgeous even longer.

Quinn Popcorn
Husband-and-wife team Kristy and Coulter Lewis are busting open the microwave snack category with their organic kernels. Quinn’s 100 percent compostable paper bags contain only pure ingredients and expeller-pressed oils — and flavors like Vermont Maple and Sea Salt make them irresistible. We can’t wait ’til they can get it into your hands.

Amelia Presents
She’s had a brick-and-mortar store stocking such treats as artwork, journals, and local baked goods for two years. But Erin Abbott’s idea to start a furniture line was born when someone told her she needed a porch swing outside. She’s got the vision — and now just needs the guidance of such mentors as Jonathan Adler to make it happen.

Iva Jean
Combining form and function isn’t easy. Nor is biking in Seattle’s unpredictable weather. Designer Ann DeOtte tackles both with her ingenious Rain Cape, made from durable, water-resistant fabric with piping for extra visibility, a pull-cord system for adjustments, and a high collar for wind protection. And it’s so stylish maybe a bicycle isn’t necessary after all.

What can we say? These four newcomers definitely have the X factor.

Photos: Courtesy of Cold Spring Apothecary; Courtesy of Quinn Popcorn; Courtesy of Amelia Presents; Courtesy of Iva Jean



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Take a Peek at the Next Big Small Businesses
The votes are in and the winners of the second annual Start Small, Go Big contest from DailyCandy and Ink^SM from Chase are Cold Spring Apothecary, Iva Jean, Amelia, and Quinn Popcorn. Stay tuned as they make a national name for their companies-on-the-rise through access to DailyCandy’s trove of emerging-biz expertise and unparalleled financial guidance from Ink from Chase (check out Jot^SM, its new real-time expense-tracking app). Learn how the winners rock ’n’ roll online at dailycandy.com/startsmallgobig.