Stories & Insights from Lowcountry Business Owners

In this special edition of Listen LowCo, guest host and artist Leli Holmes sits down with fellow creative entrepreneur Lissy Rawl, founder of Little Fish Boateak and co-founder of Clover and Palm, for an honest conversation about creativity, entrepreneurship, burnout, and building a successful handmade brand in the Lowcountry. Lissy shares the inspiring story behind launching Little Fish Boateak from her garage over a decade ago while raising young children — teaching herself jewelry making through YouTube tutorials, experimenting with fabrics and textures, and slowly growing the business through pop-ups, trunk shows, and word of mouth. The conversation explores: Starting a creative business from scratch Turning handmade jewelry into a recognizable brand Growing a business while raising a family The realities of burnout as an entrepreneur Learning business, branding, and marketing on the fly Creativity, design, and finding your artistic voice Building authentic Lowcountry-inspired products AI and the future of creative design The launch of Clover and Palm Why community and supporting other women entrepreneurs matters Lissy also opens up about the challenges of scaling a handcrafted business, finding quality manufacturers, navigating creative burnout, and learning how to rebuild a healthier balance between work, creativity, and family life. For artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and anyone building something creative, this episode offers a deeply relatable look behind the scenes of what it actually takes to turn passion into a sustainable business. 🎙️ Listen LowCo highlights entrepreneurs, artists, and business owners throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry — sharing real stories, lessons learned, and the journey behind building meaningful brands and businesses.

In this episode of Listen LowCo, Matt and Patrick sit down with Ian Duncan, founder of The Grind Roasters, to talk about entrepreneurship, community, coffee culture, and the rapid growth happening across Bluffton and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Ian shares his journey from growing up in Kansas and working in landscaping to discovering specialty coffee, launching a roasting company, and eventually building one of Bluffton’s most recognizable local coffee brands. The conversation explores what it really takes to grow a small business in a fast-changing market — from hiring challenges and rising rents to networking, marketing, and scaling multiple locations. They discuss: Starting a coffee business from scratch Growing The Grind from wholesale roasting to two storefronts The evolution of Bluffton since 2008 Coffee shop culture and community spaces Marketing strategies for local businesses The challenges of hiring and retaining employees Rising commercial rent and development in the Lowcountry Why networking groups like BNI and Rotary matter Entrepreneurship, systems, and scaling operations The future growth of Bluffton and surrounding areas Ian also talks about The Grind’s wholesale coffee operation, local partnerships, upcoming menu additions, event catering, and how creating an inviting community-focused environment became a key part of the brand’s success. 🎙️ Listen LowCo highlights entrepreneurs, creatives, and business owners throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry, sharing real stories and practical lessons about building businesses and community.