Melton
Mark Melton has grown his cleaning business into a tidy little tri-county empire over the past decade, sweeping in $19.8 million in revenue last year. Carpinteria-based Melton Franchise Systems, a master franchisor for Coverall Health Based Cleaning Systems and owner of the Molly Maid business in the region, made the No. 19 spot on the Read More →
A fuzzy investment: Santa Ynez Valley duo deals in llamas and alpacas
At Alpacas at West Ranch, hundreds of long-necked, fuzzy creatures frolic about and doze under shady trees on a sweltering summer day in the Santa Ynez Valley. Alpacas are often described as just another agribusiness bubble, like emus, llamas, Shetland ponies and tulips before them. But at this Los Olivos ranch, the charm and the Read More →
Parking battle heats up at Ventura Harbor
At Andria’s Seafood Restaurant and Market in the Ventura Harbor, there’s been an odd quirk in the business this summer: Sales are down by about 10 percent, but not all the time. Manager Frederico Castro said it’s only happening on weekends, and only during the daytime — in other words, only during hours that customers Read More →
Message on a bottle: New Paso Robles firm takes the paper out of wine labels
A Paso Robles start-up is breaking into the region’s wine industry by creating custom wine bottle labels printed directly on glass. Peltier Glassworks was founded recently by Adam and Marisa Peltier, a husband-and-wife team who both graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It’s the only glass silk screening company on the Central Coast, Adam Read More →
Kids' clothes, grown-up businesses
Any parent can tell you that children can be an endless source of joy, tears, laughter and stress. For two Santa Barbara County moms, they’re also a source of business inspiration. In Solvang, children’s clothing company Lollybean has seen steady growth since owner Amy McConnell started the business in 2007. With the clothes she designs Read More →
San Luis Obispo entrepreneur returns to his roots
Buying his old company back last year was a business decision, but James Whitaker admits pride had something to do with it. Quickcondoms.com — as the name suggests, the company sells condoms online — was struggling. Whitaker started the business as a 19-year-old Cal Poly San Luis Obispo student and sold his half to his Read More →
