Born In The Garage - Out to Lunch - It's Baton Rouge

It s a well known cliche that some of the most successful
entrepreneurs started out in their parents garage. Actually there
s more than a kernel of truth to the stereotype. Lots of small
businesses start from home, including plenty here in Baton Rouge.
Two local businesswomen are navigating the process. They are Joan
Chastain and Shannon Countrymen, long time friends and moms, who
decided in 2014, when the last of their litters had left home, to
take what they d done every day for years make dinner for their
families and turn it into a business Ingle Eats. The partners
started small, cooking meals a couple of times a week for friends
and neighbors in their Ingleside neighborhood. Ingle Eats has
since grown into a sizeable operation with a number of moving
parts and a pathway to getting even bigger. Melinda Gonzalez and
her sister, Sarah Cullins, have also launched a small business
from home. Like Joan and Shannon they re doing something they
enjoy and already knew how to do well. And they actually do work
out of their parent s garage It s there they create custom cards
and invitations for weddings, showers and other special events
through their company Fiore Creative. The sisters do it the old
fashioned way, using an antique letter press printer from the
1920s that they found and had refurbished. If you ve ever had a
dream of going into business for yourself, the "just do it" tales
of Joan and Melinda might just be the final push you need. photos
at Mansurs on the Boulevard by Ken Stewart.


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