It takes a lot more than an idea to build a business, but there can’t be a business without the idea. So we asked folks who’ve built wonderful businesses to tell us about how they came up with the idea in the first place.

Josh Blanaru

Pick a phrase + get it on a shirt! GUNS R BLAZIN launched in 2021 with a clear intention to inspire others while looking good in the process. The idea of putting a custom phrase on a t-shirt once ruled the 80’s shopping mall scene, and GRB upgrades this vibe by pairing an extra sexy t-shirt template with a phrase of your choice from volumes of album art menus. Read More>>

Will Kestel

Sometimes I went on YouTube, and I’d see a detailing video with some crazy title like “Restoring this dirty barn find truck that sat for 30 years!” And I would click it. As I watched the satisfying pressure washing, extracting, vacuuming montages, I enjoyed it, and clicked another video, and then another. I realized then, that I have a thing for detailing. Read More>>

Magda Dia

My daughter, a 16 year old artist, was discouraged with art teachers giving too many directions – the idea arose for an art studio focused on letting everyone work with their own artistic processes in a supportive and loving enviornment jumped out at me – the idea of letting everyone just be creative started Jump into Art Studios 15 years ago. Read More>>

Daniel Shimek

During the pandemic, while I was stuck indoors, I had this vision of taking the art forms I’ve been doing for decades – music, lyric freestyling and improv comedy – and combining them into a musical comedy act, like Bo Burnham, but improvised. After honing the act at home, I was able to try it on stage thanks to venues and producers in the DFW scene that believed in me. Read More>>