SMALL BUSINESS

Small businesses have a chance to make some strong sales this coming holiday season, and surveys show consumers are ready to spend.

Belinda Grace Torres is in the business of blessing others. Taking senior citizens out to lunch, shopping, or just helping around the house is all in a day's work.

It’s a stretch to imagine that Darronnette Curtis, with her perfectly polished makeup, hair, and fashion, grew up a tomboy.

Tia Rodriguez is hoping to whet some appetites and grow her small business by cooking up plant-based soul food.

In a partnership with the City of San Antonio, the Maestro Entrepreneur Center is giving 10 select minority business owners training, guidance, support and access to grant money so they can grow.

A year after Amols' had to close its doors to customers at peak Fiesta season, the small business is seeing customers and hope return.

SAN ANTONIO – A lesson in corporate responsibility inspired a veteran-owned business to give back to nonprofits and charities in the San Antonio area. Good As New Exterior Cleaning is saying “thank you” to the community through power washing and scrubbing windows. Craig Lightcap is a veteran and the owner of the exterior cleaning company. “We’re going to be cleaning the Boys and Girls Club (of San Antonio West Side campus) out here,” Lightcap said. “In college, my business law professor who was a judge, one of the lessons that really stuck with me was on corporate responsibility,” Lightcap said.

UNIVERSAL CITY – A family in Universal City is carrying on the legacy of spiritual healing to honor their late daughter, Tabatha Dexter. “The store is in honor of our daughter Tabatha that passed away in August of 2019 of breast cancer,” Robert said. Tabatha, an Air Force veteran and Norse Shaman, battled with breast cancer twice. Her belief in the power of feathers and natural healing helped Tabatha in her battle with breast cancer. Red Feather Healing is located at 2041 Universal City Blvd, Universal City, and is open seven days a week.

If you’ve visited Market Square in the past few days, you probably noticed that the indoor Farmers Market Plaza is closed. We did reopen.”In less than a week, small business owners from the Farmers Market Plaza made the move down the Market Square corridor to settle into the Centro de Artes building at 101 S. Santa Rosa for the Pop-Up Mercado. They’ve been advertising and put up this Pop-Up Mercado for us. Pop-up Mercado now open at Market Square inside the Centro de Artes building at 101 S. Santa Rosa (Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.) The Pop-Up Mercado will be open four days a week beginning on Thursday.

SAN ANTONIO – Two small local restaurants are preparing for any further restrictions on their occupancy due to San Antonio’s persistent 15% COVID-19 hospitalization rate and rising case numbers. Greg Abbott’s executive order mandates occupancy levels must be lowered from 75% to 50% when there are seven consecutive days where the number of COVID‑19 hospitalized patients exceeded 15% of the total hospital capacity. It’s really more about staying alive,” said Pepe Tamez, owner of Pepe’s Tacos and Salsa on Jones Maltsberger Road. His restaurant and the neighboring one, Gogi’s Street Korean Fusion, have learned the value of having drive-thru convenience for their customers. Castillo said he’s hired more staff who are better trained to handle those orders since the food that’s prepared is fresh, not ready-to-go.

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio sweets shop that was succeeding despite the series of closures and reopenings at the beginning of the pandemic is now finding itself in danger of closing next year. KSAT spoke with Cereal Killer Sweets owner and chef Megan Morales in September when business from the summer was better. It was a time when many other establishments had already been hit hard by the early months of the pandemic. When schools started to shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, her business offered free lunches to students. Cereal Killer Sweets will be selling treats at The Good Kind’s Holiday Market from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 13.

SAN ANTONIO – A small local business is defending itself after it was cited by the City of San Antonio this weekend for violating COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. We follow the governor’s orders, the city orders and we work with the city,” Cullum said. The city of San Antonio states the license is supposed to be visible somewhere for people to see and that wasn’t the case. Whatever it is, we will comply.”The city of San Antonio did not provide any more specifics about the citation. My family has been in service for San Antonio for over eight years, and I am a servant to San Antonio.

KSAT12 checked with the San Antonio e-commerce software company Searchspring to breakdown the numbers and explain what it means for small businesses. According to Searchspring’s findings, consumers spent $1 million every minute on Black Friday and spent $1 billion on Cyber Monday. And then going into Saturday, you saw almost $5 billion spent on small businesses online alone. So you’re really seeing people in the community wanting to rally together, support their local businesses, even if that means doing so online,” Martin said. This pandemic has hurt a lot of local small businesses, so there are ways to use this information to your advantage.

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio businesses have had to make adjustments to keep their doors open amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the changes led to a new experience on Small Business Saturday. “Shop local today. Clutter said this year’s Small Business Saturday is unlike any he has seen before, but the shop has adjusted to the times. She calls Small Business Saturday the biggest day of the year.

A stretch of stores along the base of Munjoy Hill had open signs out and were ready for business as part of small business Saturday, November 28, 2015. This could be foreboding news for small business owners who are counting on holiday sales to recoup sagging revenues. While shoppers may be curbing spending in 2020, the CNBC/SurveyMonkey survey revealed that 30% of shoppers plan to patronize a small business on Small Business Saturday. Strategies in the Covid economyConsidering the many challenges small business owners face, experts give tips on how they can drive sales during this key shopping day. Gary Huether Jr., president and CEO, Arooga's Grille House & Sports Bar hopes Small Business Saturday sales will boost revenues.

San Antonio – A local CBD shop owner is asking the community for help with the return of his life savings after someone broke into his small business and stole around $20,000 worth of property. “We started breaking even, which was good,” said Eric Beals, the co-owner of the shop. It has affected everybody and to have this happen, it is just one more knife in the wound.”On Tuesday night, a man broke in through the locked backdoor of their business. Unfortunately, they believe the suspect is a transient homeless man, which I hope is not the case. RELATED: San Antonio police asking for public’s help in finding person wanted for aggravated robbery

FLORESVILLE, Texas – A Floresville man is taking a chance and starting a business during the COVID-19 pandemic in his hometown. This was a life dream of mine, and I’m going to do it. I’m going to make it work,” Guevara said. The Floresville EDC said it has already distributed more than $64,000 to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic using sales tax money. It has more than $100,000 for small businesses in Floresville.

Burgeon Plant Co. rooted out of a cargo truck when they first launched in the summer of this year. It just forces us to pause and slow down, to take care of something outside of ourselves.”The most popular purchase among plant lovers are called snake plants, a low-maintenance option. The most popular purchase among plant lovers are called snake plants, a low-maintenance option. Garza and Rivera said they’re thankful for the outpouring of support from San Antonio plant lovers and plan to soon expand their services. For more on Burgeon Plant Co., click here.

SAN ANTONIO – Many businesses have taken a big hit due to COVID-19 so, why not cheer up with a cold one? Local brewers are celebrating the start of the San Antonio Beer Run, which aims to increase sales and create community. The Craft Brewers Conference was estimated to bring in about 15,000 people to San Antonio in April of 2020. The beer run doesn’t actually involve any physical activity other than getting in your car and putting it in drive. SA Beer Run aims to help save local breweries from closing (Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

After he married, he landed in Chicago, where he worked for Polo Ralph Lauren and opened his own small business called Chicago Custom Tailor Shop. “Our experience has been that financial literacy is one of the most important key elements that a small business needs to start and grow their business,” Barrera said. “In the traditional way, in Latino families, they know their product. The financial literacy part has not been added to the equation.”Through its programs, Liftfund offers training that can later help a small business approach a traditional bank. Liftfund is also working with the city and county to help struggling small business owners secure grants or very low-interest loans.

Two college students have just about perfected the process and formed Ooyoo Pan, specializing in Korean-style macarons, which are double-stuffed and often colorfully designed. For owner and creator, Nari Hodges, the macaron-making process is challenging, but therapeutic as well. “I just love the whole process,” said Hodges. The variations include character macarons and the flavors are endless, including: chai, milk tea, Oreo, fruity pebbles and Nutella. Just a few of Ooyoo Pan's macaron flavors.

Local bar owners have mixed reactions to Gov. Abbott's new executive order amid Texas' COVID-19 case spikeIf you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241.

SAN ANTONIO – The doorbell jingle is a sweet sound for the owners of Guerrero’s Bakery. Pandemic takes economic bite out of Mexican pastry bakeryFor more than two months, stay-home orders kept customers away from their usual breakfast tacos and sweet bread. The shop had been so quiet the Guerreros wondered if their small business would even make it. “It’s important to help small business,” said Norma Castellanos, who arrived to buy a bag of goodies. The bakery saw an immediate boost in business, a testament to the power of community, social media and a fresh-baked empanada.

SAN ANTONIO Plexiglas kits will be distributed to small businesses within Bexar County to assist the businesses in reopening safely after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. County officials said the kits will be made available to businesses who have pre-registered before the event and will need the confirmation email. The kits will be distributed in the front parking lot of the Freeman Coliseum at 3201 E. Houston St. in San Antonio from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday, county officials said. Additional distribution sites will be made available to each precinct listed below from the county:Monday, June 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Precinct 4, Freeman Coliseum (front parking lot) at 3201 E. Houston St., San Antonio, Texas 78219Wednesday, June 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Precinct 2, Constables Office (in the front parking lot) at 7723 Guilbeau Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78250Thursday, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Precinct 3, Castle Hills City Hall at 209 Lemonwood Drive, Castle Hills, Texas 78213Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Precinct 1, Satellite Office (side parking lot) at 3505 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78221Small businesses in the unincorporated areas of the county and suburban cities can register for additional essential items on the countys Small Business and Entrepreneurship Departments webpage, county officials said.

SAN ANTONIO The Bexar County Commissioners Court approved another $1.5 million on Tuesday to be used for small business grants after previously approved $5.25 million loan and grant programs were tapped dry. The new round of grants will use money from the federal CARES Act to provide up to $10,000 grants to businesses with five or fewer employees. If we talk about up to $10,000 per small business, thats 150 small businesses that we can help right away, said Precinct 2 Commissioner Justin Rodriguez. While grant money would be distributed out to the community, the county would still have accountability over the loans. Barrera expects the new round of grants will not open up until June, saying the county will need to decide on the parameters for the grants.

FILE PHOTO: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin discusses details for economic relief during the daily coronavirus response briefing as Small Business (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza listens at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 2, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Sunday that senior Republicans and Democrats in Congress are close to reaching agreement on a new coronavirus response bill. I think were very close to a deal today and Im hopeful we can get that done, Mnuchin said in an interview with CNN.

On Thursday morning, the $349 billion emergency small business lending program officially tapped out. The Small Business Association officially ran out of money for the Paycheck Protection Program, according to a message for lenders posted on the administration’s website. That's how urgent it is for small business owners. ET, $338 billion in loans have been approved, per an official with the Small Business Administration. If you are reading the tea leaves: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's statement Wednesday didn't exactly reveal that Democrats are anywhere close to reaching a deal with Republicans on money for the Small Business Administration.

Greg Abbott announced a new initiative Monday, making $50 million in loans available to Texas small businesses to help stay afloat through the coronavirus crisis. Abbott was joined by Janie Barrera, President and CEO of LiftFund, and John Waldron, President and COO of Goldman Sachs, and a few small business owners to make the announcement. During the news conference, Abbott announced that Goldman Sachs, LiftFund and other community-developed financial institutions would be partnering to give $50 million in loans to small businesses affected by COVID-19. The loan is part of the Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses” program. The loan is made through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program.

SAN ANTONIO – Inside Lux Bakery on San Antonio’s South Side, it may sound like a factory, but it smells more like your abuela’s kitchen. For more than a half century, the small, family business has been baking up conchas, empanadas and sweet success. Chances are you may have enjoyed some of their pan de polvo, or Mexican wedding cookies, or their colorful conchas. As a commercial bakery, Lux sells to grocers, distributors and school districts. “Right here in North East ISD in San Antonio, we actually supply a lot of those conchas,” Zambrano said.

“All of our jewelry is made with natural stones and lava beads,” Saenz said. Her jewelry line is designed to put a drop or two of essential oil onto the lava beads, which serve as natural diffusers. It took changes in her diet and time, and essential oils proved therapeutic. That’s when Saenz started thinking about a way to always have her essential oils on her. “How can I turn being home and my mess into my message?”She decided to start making jewelry out of lava beads, natural stones and crystals.

It all comes at you so quickly: One minute, you’re making grocery lists and setting the menu for Thanksgiving, and then, in the blink of an eye, the holiday has arrived, only to be followed by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday -- and then your tree goes up and Christmas morning is here.

The widow of Justin Dignam, one of the 34 people who died in the fire, has filed a lawsuit against the boat's owners, making it the first claim from one of the 34 victims' families. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa, File)LOS ANGELES, CA – The widow of a passenger who died in a fiery dive boat disaster that killed 34 people in the waters off California sued the vessel's owners Monday. Christine Dignam, whose husband, Justin Dignam, died when the Conception caught fire Sept. 2 off the Santa Barbara coast, claimed that the boat was unsafe. The lawsuit against Santa Barbara-based Truth Aquatics Inc. is the first from a relative of the victims who died. Dignam's case is a counterclaim to a lawsuit filed pre-emptively by the boat owners to protect them from liability under a quirk of pre-Civil War maritime law.

NEW YORK, NY – The market for small businesses cooled further during the third quarter as fallout from trade wars made companies look less appealing to buyers. That's the finding of a quarterly report analyzing small business sales released by BizBuySell.com, an online marketplace for companies. BizBuySell.com counted 2,454 small businesses sold during July-September, down 8.6% from 2,685 sold in the same period last year. Some owners who were considering selling are now holding off because they're concerned they may not get a good sales price for their companies. Some small business owners are reluctant to put their companies on the market, while others are thinking more seriously than in the past about what they need to do to make their companies more likely to sell.

NEW YORK, NY – Many small companies tied to the housing market are seeing a slowdown in business, one that's forecast to continue well into 2020. Reports on home sales, the home remodeling market and sales of furniture and home furnishings show the spreading fallout from rising prices for houses and apartments. While sales are up nearly 4% from a year ago, an increase due to falling mortgage rates, would-be buyers are being turned away by housing prices that keep rising. But with sales fluctuating, there's less remodeling going on and so contractors, many of whom are small businesses, are getting less work. The Commerce Department figures don't break out sales at small or independent retailers versus large chain stores.

President Obama, along with daughters Sasha and Malia, visit local stores Upshur Street Books and Pleasant Pops in Washington, D.C. on a holiday shopping trip the Saturday after Thanksgiving