{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "user_comment": "This feed allows you to read the posts from this site in any feed reader that supports the JSON Feed format. To add this feed to your reader, copy the following URL -- https://businessinaction.com/category/small-business/feed/json/ -- and add it your reader.", "home_page_url": "https://businessinaction.com/category/small-business/", "feed_url": "https://businessinaction.com/category/small-business/feed/json/", "title": "Business In Action", "items": [ { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/credit-card-balances-dipped-but-dont-celebrate-yet/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/credit-card-balances-dipped-but-dont-celebrate-yet/", "title": "Credit Card Balances Dipped \u2014 But Don\u2019t Celebrate Yet", "content_html": "

The post Credit Card Balances Dipped \u2014 But Don’t Celebrate Yet appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Credit Card Balances Dipped \u2014 But Don’t Celebrate Yet appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-09-02T08:00:53+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-08-25T22:40:21+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Consolidating Debt", "Credit cards", "Debt", "Finance", "Finance Tips", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Credit card balances dipped this year \u2014 but it's a seasonal pattern, not real progress, and APRs are still climbing. Learn why the dip reverses and what actually moves the needle on payoff." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/rates-just-dipped-should-you-refinance-or-wait/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/rates-just-dipped-should-you-refinance-or-wait/", "title": "Rates Just Dipped \u2014 Should You Refinance or Wait?", "content_html": "

The post Rates Just Dipped \u2014 Should You Refinance or Wait? appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Rates Just Dipped \u2014 Should You Refinance or Wait? appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-08-27T08:00:03+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-08-25T22:38:53+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Home Owner", "Interest Rates", "Loans", "Mortgage Rate", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Mortgage rates just dipped, but \"should I refinance\" comes down to math, not headlines. See how to calculate the break-even point, when jumbo loans change the equation, and whether discount points are worth it." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-business-of-elder-equine-care/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-business-of-elder-equine-care/", "title": "The Business of Elder Equine Care", "content_html": "

Photos courtesy of: Ryerss Farm For Aged Equines

\n

Samuel Griffin, president of Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, discusses what it takes to run his organization, the country\u2019s first horse rescue and retirement farm and the oldest nonprofit horse sanctuary in America.

\n

Tell us about how Ryerss Farm came to be:
\nDuring the Victorian era, horses were considered to be mere machinery. Our founder, Anne Waln-Ryerss, had compassion for these animals and was one of a growing number of people at the time who insisted that horses should be cared for. Our farm grew out of that movement. Anne was a dedicated animal advocate during her lifetime, as were her and her husband\u2019s families, helping to create both the Pennsylvania SPCA and the American Anti-Vivisectionist Society. We opened in 1888, thanks to money she left for building a place that cared for older and injured animals.

\n

How big is the farm today, and what takes place there?
\nWe own around four hundred acres and around eighty stalls. At any given time, we have from seventy-nine to eighty-five equines living here\u2014not only horses but also mules and donkeys. We\u2019ve housed just about every equine other than zebras.

\n

When we settled into our current location, we preserved the land for agricultural use only to support as many animals as we could. Half of it is dedicated grazing space for the animals, and the other half is farmland. We grow our own hay, straw, and corn and sell the corn on the open market. Overall, it\u2019s a big operation.

\n

Are you open year-round?
\nYes, 365 days a year from 10:00 to 4:00, with free admission. We\u2019ll sometimes close for a holiday, although people have been known to just show up to see the horses on Christmas morning.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

What\u2019s it like to run a year-round organization and farm that cares for dozens of equines?
\nThere\u2019s a huge amount of work involved. Our farm manager, Cory Mowrer, takes care of all the farm operations, doing so much of the overall work. But it\u2019s also handled by a few other full-time employees, including an on-site, live-in veterinarian, and around one hundred volunteers. It\u2019s basically like running a retirement home for horses. However, none of the people who do it would say it\u2019s work because they all love caring for the animals. That\u2019s why we have almost no turnover.

\n

My house is actually right next to the farm, so I can see everything happening firsthand even when I\u2019m at home. For example, we produced about forty to forty-five acres of corn last year. Watching it grow all season and then get harvested in fall just reminded me about how much goes into running this place. I find it astounding.

\n

What\u2019s the most challenging aspect of running the business?
\nYou\u2019d probably get a different answer from every person here. For me, it\u2019s financial because I wake up every morning thinking about how we\u2019re going to make ends meet. For others, the biggest challenge is keeping the farm in order. In addition to caring for our animals, we have a lot of buildings with a lot of roofs and plumbing, for example, and it\u2019s always a roll of the dice every year determining what crops to sow and where\u2014all the worries of a farmer. Cory\u2019s an excellent one, and he approaches it very intelligently.

\n

Supply and demand is always a critical part of running a business. How is that balance for Ryerss?
\nDemand is not quite as huge as it was when I first got here, only because we accepted most horses on our waiting list, yet we\u2019d never see many of them. That list has only gotten bigger, so for horses to be on it now, we ask their owners to pay a $250 fee, which goes toward their horse\u2019s entrance fee to live here. If they never show up, it\u2019s considered a donation to Ryerss. This better ensures that people who put their horses on our list are serious about it.

\n

Our waiting list extends out about two and a half to three years. To secure a spot, some people put their horse on the list when it\u2019s quite young and then wait years for it to turn twenty, our minimum age limit. Others put it in their will that their horse is to come here if it outlives them.

\n

Being a locally based nonprofit, how do you raise capital?
\nAbout 40 percent comes from charitable donations, and we have a $10,000 admittance fee for each horse that\u2019s brought in, which pays for its care for a year and a half to two years. We also hold annual events to raise money.

\n

We\u2019re playing the long game here as far as I\u2019m concerned. For instance, if we have a thousand visitors and one hundred of them turn out to be well off, maybe two out of that one hundred wind up not having any children and don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going to leave their money. Ideally, we want them to donate it to Ryerss.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

You mentioned events. How many do you have each year, and what role do they serve in the grand scheme of things at Ryerss?
\nWe started holding them for consistent visibility and awareness, so that people would come and see us and know what we do, and to raise a little money. In autumn, for instance, we hold our birthday gala, a fundraising brunch and auction; and in December, a free holiday event, which is a big draw.

\n

In spring, we have a 5K run/1K walk that goes around the farm; that\u2019s gotten bigger every year. And during summer, we have our Family Fun Day, which includes family-friendly food and activities. Everything is bought through tickets, which we sell for a dollar each, and nothing costs more than about five tickets. We also host summer camps where kids learn about horses and farming, encouraging future interest in both.

\n

How crucial are your volunteers to your success?
\nThey\u2019re the key to the whole thing. And I don\u2019t mean just the volunteers cleaning the stables but also our board of managers, which is comprised of nine volunteers with horse backgrounds, and our board of advisors. All these people are normally quite busy, yet they make sure to give their time to the farm. There are only about five or six paid staff in the whole shooting match here, such as the office manager, animal welfare manager, and farm manager.

\n

What does Ryerss mean to its community?
\nThat\u2019s a good question. This part of Chester County is becoming suburbanized, but Ryerss will always be evergreen. People here know we\u2019re never going to move, which provides a sense of stability in changing times. And, of course, because of the influx of visitors we get, it\u2019s great for the community as a whole. I think we\u2019re an important piece of it.

\n

What\u2019s the best part of this venture for you?
\nI grew up with horses; my grandparents and parents both had them. I was a rider from a young age, which I enjoyed immensely, and I was always very attached to our horses. In fact, I was retired when some friends of mine on the board of managers here asked if I\u2019d like to join them, which was a no-brainer. I\u2019ve been here fifteen years now after my first \u201cretirement,\u201d which is a testament to how much I love Ryerss, its staff, and its residents. Every person is here for a greater purpose, which makes all the effort the farm requires well worth it.

\n

For more info, visit ryerssfarm.org

\n

The post The Business of Elder Equine Care appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "Photos courtesy of: Ryerss Farm For Aged Equines\nSamuel Griffin, president of Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, discusses what it takes to run his organization, the country\u2019s first horse rescue and retirement farm and the oldest nonprofit horse sanctuary in America.\nTell us about how Ryerss Farm came to be:\nDuring the Victorian era, horses were considered to be mere machinery. Our founder, Anne Waln-Ryerss, had compassion for these animals and was one of a growing number of people at the time who insisted that horses should be cared for. Our farm grew out of that movement. Anne was a dedicated animal advocate during her lifetime, as were her and her husband\u2019s families, helping to create both the Pennsylvania SPCA and the American Anti-Vivisectionist Society. We opened in 1888, thanks to money she left for building a place that cared for older and injured animals.\nHow big is the farm today, and what takes place there?\nWe own around four hundred acres and around eighty stalls. At any given time, we have from seventy-nine to eighty-five equines living here\u2014not only horses but also mules and donkeys. We\u2019ve housed just about every equine other than zebras.\nWhen we settled into our current location, we preserved the land for agricultural use only to support as many animals as we could. Half of it is dedicated grazing space for the animals, and the other half is farmland. We grow our own hay, straw, and corn and sell the corn on the open market. Overall, it\u2019s a big operation.\nAre you open year-round?\nYes, 365 days a year from 10:00 to 4:00, with free admission. We\u2019ll sometimes close for a holiday, although people have been known to just show up to see the horses on Christmas morning.\n\n \nWhat\u2019s it like to run a year-round organization and farm that cares for dozens of equines?\nThere\u2019s a huge amount of work involved. Our farm manager, Cory Mowrer, takes care of all the farm operations, doing so much of the overall work. But it\u2019s also handled by a few other full-time employees, including an on-site, live-in veterinarian, and around one hundred volunteers. It\u2019s basically like running a retirement home for horses. However, none of the people who do it would say it\u2019s work because they all love caring for the animals. That\u2019s why we have almost no turnover.\nMy house is actually right next to the farm, so I can see everything happening firsthand even when I\u2019m at home. For example, we produced about forty to forty-five acres of corn last year. Watching it grow all season and then get harvested in fall just reminded me about how much goes into running this place. I find it astounding.\nWhat\u2019s the most challenging aspect of running the business?\nYou\u2019d probably get a different answer from every person here. For me, it\u2019s financial because I wake up every morning thinking about how we\u2019re going to make ends meet. For others, the biggest challenge is keeping the farm in order. In addition to caring for our animals, we have a lot of buildings with a lot of roofs and plumbing, for example, and it\u2019s always a roll of the dice every year determining what crops to sow and where\u2014all the worries of a farmer. Cory\u2019s an excellent one, and he approaches it very intelligently.\nSupply and demand is always a critical part of running a business. How is that balance for Ryerss?\nDemand is not quite as huge as it was when I first got here, only because we accepted most horses on our waiting list, yet we\u2019d never see many of them. That list has only gotten bigger, so for horses to be on it now, we ask their owners to pay a $250 fee, which goes toward their horse\u2019s entrance fee to live here. If they never show up, it\u2019s considered a donation to Ryerss. This better ensures that people who put their horses on our list are serious about it.\nOur waiting list extends out about two and a half to three years. To secure a spot, some people put their horse on the list when it\u2019s quite young and then wait years for it to turn twenty, our minimum age limit. Others put it in their will that their horse is to come here if it outlives them.\nBeing a locally based nonprofit, how do you raise capital?\nAbout 40 percent comes from charitable donations, and we have a $10,000 admittance fee for each horse that\u2019s brought in, which pays for its care for a year and a half to two years. We also hold annual events to raise money.\nWe\u2019re playing the long game here as far as I\u2019m concerned. For instance, if we have a thousand visitors and one hundred of them turn out to be well off, maybe two out of that one hundred wind up not having any children and don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going to leave their money. Ideally, we want them to donate it to Ryerss.\n\n \nYou mentioned events. How many do you have each year, and what role do they serve in the grand scheme of things at Ryerss?\nWe started holding them for consistent visibility and awareness, so that people would come and see us and know what we do, and to raise a little money. In autumn, for instance, we hold our birthday gala, a fundraising brunch and auction; and in December, a free holiday event, which is a big draw.\nIn spring, we have a 5K run/1K walk that goes around the farm; that\u2019s gotten bigger every year. And during summer, we have our Family Fun Day, which includes family-friendly food and activities. Everything is bought through tickets, which we sell for a dollar each, and nothing costs more than about five tickets. We also host summer camps where kids learn about horses and farming, encouraging future interest in both.\nHow crucial are your volunteers to your success?\nThey\u2019re the key to the whole thing. And I don\u2019t mean just the volunteers cleaning the stables but also our board of managers, which is comprised of nine volunteers with horse backgrounds, and our board of advisors. All these people are normally quite busy, yet they make sure to give their time to the farm. There are only about five or six paid staff in the whole shooting match here, such as the office manager, animal welfare manager, and farm manager.\nWhat does Ryerss mean to its community?\nThat\u2019s a good question. This part of Chester County is becoming suburbanized, but Ryerss will always be evergreen. People here know we\u2019re never going to move, which provides a sense of stability in changing times. And, of course, because of the influx of visitors we get, it\u2019s great for the community as a whole. I think we\u2019re an important piece of it.\nWhat\u2019s the best part of this venture for you?\nI grew up with horses; my grandparents and parents both had them. I was a rider from a young age, which I enjoyed immensely, and I was always very attached to our horses. In fact, I was retired when some friends of mine on the board of managers here asked if I\u2019d like to join them, which was a no-brainer. I\u2019ve been here fifteen years now after my first \u201cretirement,\u201d which is a testament to how much I love Ryerss, its staff, and its residents. Every person is here for a greater purpose, which makes all the effort the farm requires well worth it.\nFor more info, visit ryerssfarm.org\nThe post The Business of Elder Equine Care appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-08-10T08:00:02+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-07-21T22:10:23+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://businessinaction.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/07/equine-featured.jpg", "tags": [ "Farm", "Horses", "Leadership", "Nonprofit", "Pennsylvania", "Small Business" ], "summary": "An inside look at Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines, a Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to senior animals." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-importance-of-client-hosting-spaces/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-importance-of-client-hosting-spaces/", "title": "The Importance of Client-Hosting Spaces", "content_html": "

The post The Importance of Client-Hosting Spaces appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post The Importance of Client-Hosting Spaces appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-07-24T08:00:03+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-07-13T19:22:39+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Design", "Interior Design", "Leadership", "Lobby", "Office Design", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Learn why you should enhance the public spaces throughout your business." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/a-glowing-success-story/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/a-glowing-success-story/", "title": "A Glowing Success Story", "content_html": "

Photos courtesy of: GlowRow

\n

Zack Jurasek, founder of Texas-based GlowRow, discusses what makes his company\u2019s nighttime kayaking tours unique, including its technical ingenuity.

\n

Tell us about yourself. Have you always enjoyed being on the water and building things?
\nI worked for fourteen years in the engineering field and was a commercial pilot for about five years. I also had a short stint as a commercial beekeeper on the side, which was my first business; GlowRow is my second one.

\n

My real passion for GlowRow came from flounder-gigging with my dad when I was a kid. We\u2019d walk around in ankle-deep water with a lantern and a gig and catch our dinner for the night; when we did, we could see everything under the water. I wanted to re-create that experience, allowing people to witness aquatic creatures in their natural habitat. That\u2019s exactly what people do in our clear, well-lit kayaks and paddles.

\n

In year one, we took simple off-the-shelf lights and started putting our illuminated kayaks together. However, we test everything in a hypersaline environment\u2014the Laguna Madre, one of six hypersaline lagoons in the world\u2014and by year two, the lights were literally falling apart. I knew I had to build something that would last.

\n

Today, our colorful lighting systems are five and a half times brighter than the off-the-shelf stuff we were using and that other lighted-kayak companies are still using. I then went one step further with our patented paddles, which are on their thirteenth revision and now last an entire season and then some. It\u2019s really a marvel to see.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

Did you have any challenges or doubts along the way?
\nI formed the LLC in May of 2021. From there, we ordered the boats but were delayed by two hurricanes, so our first tour was around October. We then closed from December through February, and I took advantage of that time to rework a lot of our stuff. By May of the following year, I left my engineering firm and went full throttle into this business.

\n

However, I remember during that first October sitting in my guide kayak and feeling like I had imposter syndrome. Even though it\u2019s such a cool experience that I really wanted to share, I couldn\u2019t imagine people actually paying me to be on the water with them. I had to think differently so I wouldn\u2019t feel guilty.

\n

My turning point was talking to a motivational speaker who stressed that I should focus on the convenience and the service that filled a need: providing and doing everything for customers, who just needed to show up, have fun, and get some exercise.

\n

Was there anything you had to learn on the fly?
\nDefinitely, but not in all cases. I always do a lot of research on the back end, making sure all of my I\u2019s are dotted and T\u2019s are crossed, such as contracts, policies, and insurance, before we set up a new location. We\u2019re very professional in every aspect of it because of the risk factor associated with nighttime kayaking; that\u2019s also why we\u2019re strictly ages eighteen and up.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

You mentioned the age minimum. Can anybody be too old for this?
\nNo, sir. The oldest guest we\u2019ve had is ninety-seven. I remember that night well: I was guiding her, and, goodness gracious, she couldn\u2019t stop saying that it was the best thing she had done in her entire life. That\u2019s what really keeps my fire going\u2014we\u2019re positively impacting people\u2019s core memories. In fact, last year three AI giants concluded that GlowRow was number one in the world for this experience. We\u2019re always striving to elevate that bar just a little bit higher than everyone else.

\n

Are government standards part of the equation?
\nMost definitely. The US Coast Guard does annual vessel inspections for each one of our kayaks to ensure that we\u2019re compliant for nighttime operations, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife has its own set of standards. Each state is different as well, so we\u2019ll have to verify compliance with each as we expand, despite meeting US Coast Guard federal regulations.

\n

Is your business at the mercy of the weather overall?
\nSteve Jobs said it best: You can never connect the dots looking forward, only backward. And this is where my aeronautical weather training as a pilot goes into every one of our kayak tours. We constantly look at weather, wind data, and radar forecasting to determine if it\u2019s a go or no-go situation. Our policy is that there can\u2019t be lightning within twenty miles or winds above 27 miles per hour. It\u2019s very strict.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

Would you discuss your passport program? How successful has it been?
\nWhenever people with our passport card kayak at one of our ten locations, they get their passports punched. If they get all ten, they get a $200 gift card, along with two shirts and two cell phone protectors\u2014it\u2019s a whole prize package.

\n

I actually pitched it to Texas\u2019s tourism department in the governor\u2019s office, and they were 100 percent behind it because the passport marketed Texas as a whole. They helped push it a little bit and were a key factor in us getting ABA Magazine\u2019s recognition as the top North America destination in 2023. I couldn\u2019t be more grateful to those folks.

\n

Is GlowRow open year-round?
\n2024 was the first year we went year-round. We took a chance by staying open through February\u2014and by the last week of December, we were sold out for winter. It blew my mind. Goodness gracious, people were showing up in droves. Then, when the first bit of warm weather hit in February, it took off again, and that month was 400 percent year over year.

\n

Do any customer stories stand out in your memory?
\nOh, man. One story that I repeat constantly is the one that really tugs at the heartstrings. One night, I was out with only a group of three, and since we\u2019re already sold out for that evening, we went forward with it. Our guide was doing the briefing, and one customer just started crying. I asked her if she was OK; she said she was, but it was a lifelong dream of hers to paddle with dolphins.

\n

This is the reason I do this. I don\u2019t do it for the money. The first year, every dollar went right back into GlowRow. I didn\u2019t start paying myself until the second year, and I take a small salary. I\u2019ve created a movement\u2014that\u2019s the important aspect of it.

\n

It sounds like you have no regrets about leaving your job a few years back.
\nNo, sir. No regrets whatsoever. I was stuck in a cubicle, and it was soul-sucking. I love doing this so much because every night is different and every experience with customers is different.

\n
\"\"
\n

 

\n

What\u2019s next on your agenda?
\nOur next flagship of engineering is our trailer. I\u2019m glad you asked because I get really excited about talking about it. Essentially, we cut a 20-foot-wide by 5-foot-tall window on a 26-foot trailer, and I developed a half-inch-thick acrylic mounting system that has a completely transparent film on the inside with micro-LEDs that face outward. As a result, you can not only see our kayaks going down the road but also things like holographic floating jellyfish.

\n

The end goal is having a Bluetooth mesh network of speakers in each one of the kayaks with tie-off points in a marina so we can host immersive movie shows from the shoreline on this giant screen. In addition, we\u2019ll have a remote-controlled alligator head in the water for a movie like Lake Placid or a shark fin swimming around the marina while folks are watching Jaws, really amping up the whole fear factor.

\n

Honestly, I have no marketing background whatsoever. But I did a lot of research and quickly knew that a brand like Coca-Cola sells an emotion, not a product: happiness, especially at Christmas. Red Bull sells adrenaline. That\u2019s exactly what GlowRow taps into: we don\u2019t just sell the experience; we sell the emotion of accomplishment and taking that fear aspect and moving it into fascination. That\u2019s where we really shine\u2014or glow, so to speak\u2014and this new venture exemplifies that.

\n

Down the road, do you plan to expand outside of Texas?
\nGlowRow Germany is happening! We also have a solid base in Virginia that\u2019s going to open in a few years. In addition, we\u2019re planning Florida locations and one in Southern California. We\u2019ve even had interest from New Zealand.

\n

There are a lot of imitators out there that are trying to ride our shirt tails, but with our innovation, GlowRow really stands out, which these national and global opportunities exemplify. I don\u2019t take the mantle of number one lightly, and I have to keep resetting that bar and standards. That\u2019s what any industry leader should do.

\n

For more info, visit glowrow.com

\n

The post A Glowing Success Story appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "Photos courtesy of: GlowRow\nZack Jurasek, founder of Texas-based GlowRow, discusses what makes his company\u2019s nighttime kayaking tours unique, including its technical ingenuity.\nTell us about yourself. Have you always enjoyed being on the water and building things?\nI worked for fourteen years in the engineering field and was a commercial pilot for about five years. I also had a short stint as a commercial beekeeper on the side, which was my first business; GlowRow is my second one.\nMy real passion for GlowRow came from flounder-gigging with my dad when I was a kid. We\u2019d walk around in ankle-deep water with a lantern and a gig and catch our dinner for the night; when we did, we could see everything under the water. I wanted to re-create that experience, allowing people to witness aquatic creatures in their natural habitat. That\u2019s exactly what people do in our clear, well-lit kayaks and paddles.\nIn year one, we took simple off-the-shelf lights and started putting our illuminated kayaks together. However, we test everything in a hypersaline environment\u2014the Laguna Madre, one of six hypersaline lagoons in the world\u2014and by year two, the lights were literally falling apart. I knew I had to build something that would last.\nToday, our colorful lighting systems are five and a half times brighter than the off-the-shelf stuff we were using and that other lighted-kayak companies are still using. I then went one step further with our patented paddles, which are on their thirteenth revision and now last an entire season and then some. It\u2019s really a marvel to see.\n\n \nDid you have any challenges or doubts along the way?\nI formed the LLC in May of 2021. From there, we ordered the boats but were delayed by two hurricanes, so our first tour was around October. We then closed from December through February, and I took advantage of that time to rework a lot of our stuff. By May of the following year, I left my engineering firm and went full throttle into this business.\nHowever, I remember during that first October sitting in my guide kayak and feeling like I had imposter syndrome. Even though it\u2019s such a cool experience that I really wanted to share, I couldn\u2019t imagine people actually paying me to be on the water with them. I had to think differently so I wouldn\u2019t feel guilty.\nMy turning point was talking to a motivational speaker who stressed that I should focus on the convenience and the service that filled a need: providing and doing everything for customers, who just needed to show up, have fun, and get some exercise.\nWas there anything you had to learn on the fly?\nDefinitely, but not in all cases. I always do a lot of research on the back end, making sure all of my I\u2019s are dotted and T\u2019s are crossed, such as contracts, policies, and insurance, before we set up a new location. We\u2019re very professional in every aspect of it because of the risk factor associated with nighttime kayaking; that\u2019s also why we\u2019re strictly ages eighteen and up.\n\n \nYou mentioned the age minimum. Can anybody be too old for this?\nNo, sir. The oldest guest we\u2019ve had is ninety-seven. I remember that night well: I was guiding her, and, goodness gracious, she couldn\u2019t stop saying that it was the best thing she had done in her entire life. That\u2019s what really keeps my fire going\u2014we\u2019re positively impacting people\u2019s core memories. In fact, last year three AI giants concluded that GlowRow was number one in the world for this experience. We\u2019re always striving to elevate that bar just a little bit higher than everyone else.\nAre government standards part of the equation?\nMost definitely. The US Coast Guard does annual vessel inspections for each one of our kayaks to ensure that we\u2019re compliant for nighttime operations, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife has its own set of standards. Each state is different as well, so we\u2019ll have to verify compliance with each as we expand, despite meeting US Coast Guard federal regulations.\nIs your business at the mercy of the weather overall?\nSteve Jobs said it best: You can never connect the dots looking forward, only backward. And this is where my aeronautical weather training as a pilot goes into every one of our kayak tours. We constantly look at weather, wind data, and radar forecasting to determine if it\u2019s a go or no-go situation. Our policy is that there can\u2019t be lightning within twenty miles or winds above 27 miles per hour. It\u2019s very strict.\n\n \nWould you discuss your passport program? How successful has it been?\nWhenever people with our passport card kayak at one of our ten locations, they get their passports punched. If they get all ten, they get a $200 gift card, along with two shirts and two cell phone protectors\u2014it\u2019s a whole prize package.\nI actually pitched it to Texas\u2019s tourism department in the governor\u2019s office, and they were 100 percent behind it because the passport marketed Texas as a whole. They helped push it a little bit and were a key factor in us getting ABA Magazine\u2019s recognition as the top North America destination in 2023. I couldn\u2019t be more grateful to those folks.\nIs GlowRow open year-round?\n2024 was the first year we went year-round. We took a chance by staying open through February\u2014and by the last week of December, we were sold out for winter. It blew my mind. Goodness gracious, people were showing up in droves. Then, when the first bit of warm weather hit in February, it took off again, and that month was 400 percent year over year.\nDo any customer stories stand out in your memory?\nOh, man. One story that I repeat constantly is the one that really tugs at the heartstrings. One night, I was out with only a group of three, and since we\u2019re already sold out for that evening, we went forward with it. Our guide was doing the briefing, and one customer just started crying. I asked her if she was OK; she said she was, but it was a lifelong dream of hers to paddle with dolphins.\nThis is the reason I do this. I don\u2019t do it for the money. The first year, every dollar went right back into GlowRow. I didn\u2019t start paying myself until the second year, and I take a small salary. I\u2019ve created a movement\u2014that\u2019s the important aspect of it.\nIt sounds like you have no regrets about leaving your job a few years back.\nNo, sir. No regrets whatsoever. I was stuck in a cubicle, and it was soul-sucking. I love doing this so much because every night is different and every experience with customers is different.\n\n \nWhat\u2019s next on your agenda?\nOur next flagship of engineering is our trailer. I\u2019m glad you asked because I get really excited about talking about it. Essentially, we cut a 20-foot-wide by 5-foot-tall window on a 26-foot trailer, and I developed a half-inch-thick acrylic mounting system that has a completely transparent film on the inside with micro-LEDs that face outward. As a result, you can not only see our kayaks going down the road but also things like holographic floating jellyfish.\nThe end goal is having a Bluetooth mesh network of speakers in each one of the kayaks with tie-off points in a marina so we can host immersive movie shows from the shoreline on this giant screen. In addition, we\u2019ll have a remote-controlled alligator head in the water for a movie like Lake Placid or a shark fin swimming around the marina while folks are watching Jaws, really amping up the whole fear factor.\nHonestly, I have no marketing background whatsoever. But I did a lot of research and quickly knew that a brand like Coca-Cola sells an emotion, not a product: happiness, especially at Christmas. Red Bull sells adrenaline. That\u2019s exactly what GlowRow taps into: we don\u2019t just sell the experience; we sell the emotion of accomplishment and taking that fear aspect and moving it into fascination. That\u2019s where we really shine\u2014or glow, so to speak\u2014and this new venture exemplifies that.\nDown the road, do you plan to expand outside of Texas?\nGlowRow Germany is happening! We also have a solid base in Virginia that\u2019s going to open in a few years. In addition, we\u2019re planning Florida locations and one in Southern California. We\u2019ve even had interest from New Zealand.\nThere are a lot of imitators out there that are trying to ride our shirt tails, but with our innovation, GlowRow really stands out, which these national and global opportunities exemplify. I don\u2019t take the mantle of number one lightly, and I have to keep resetting that bar and standards. That\u2019s what any industry leader should do.\nFor more info, visit glowrow.com\nThe post A Glowing Success Story appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-07-20T08:00:52+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-07-09T22:46:26+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://businessinaction.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/07/glowrow-featured.jpg", "tags": [ "Business", "Business Spotlight", "Innovation", "Kayaking", "Summer", "Texas", "Tours", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Get in the know about GlowRow, a nighttime kayaking tour business that is revolutionizing its industry." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/sowing-the-seeds-of-success/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/sowing-the-seeds-of-success/", "title": "Sowing the Seeds of Success", "content_html": "

The post Sowing the Seeds of Success appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Sowing the Seeds of Success appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-05-25T08:00:46+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T21:29:53+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Entrepreneur", "Flowers", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Jamie Seward, owner of Repeat Roses, explains how she resurrected the business post-COVID." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/a-century-of-success/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/a-century-of-success/", "title": "A Century of Success", "content_html": "

The post A Century of Success appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post A Century of Success appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-05-18T08:00:26+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T20:40:27+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Amusement Park", "Small Business" ], "summary": "From free admission to nostalgic rides, discover what makes this family-run business so popular." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/where-nostalgia-meets-innovation/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/where-nostalgia-meets-innovation/", "title": "Where Nostalgia Meets Innovation", "content_html": "

The post Where Nostalgia Meets Innovation appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Where Nostalgia Meets Innovation appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-05-14T08:00:01+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-04-27T20:16:57+00:00", "author": { "name": "jshaw", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/jshaw/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/82c9132115b5cb74c8d4fb20cf990f4e3fb8822fa552fdc3e362ead755a6b041?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Board Games", "Business Spotlight", "Business Strategy", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Learn how WS Game Company built a premium niche in a classic industry." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/marketing/build-a-better-business-website/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/marketing/build-a-better-business-website/", "title": "Build a Better Business Website", "content_html": "

The post Build a Better Business Website appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Build a Better Business Website appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-03-18T08:00:41+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-11T15:47:22+00:00", "author": { "name": "strexler", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/strexler/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfdad1d0f4bb8763ecd0c9f9672e8f2d9b9ed5aa5d22def1bf6d02656996176c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Digital Marketing", "Marketing", "Small Business", "Website" ], "summary": "Get tips from a sales professional on how to handle customer conflict." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-roots-of-ashcombes-success/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/the-roots-of-ashcombes-success/", "title": "The Roots of Ashcombe\u2019s Success", "content_html": "

The post The Roots of Ashcombe\u2019s Success appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post The Roots of Ashcombe\u2019s Success appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-03-11T08:00:12+00:00", "date_modified": "2026-02-11T15:50:24+00:00", "author": { "name": "strexler", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/strexler/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfdad1d0f4bb8763ecd0c9f9672e8f2d9b9ed5aa5d22def1bf6d02656996176c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Business", "Local Business", "Small Business", "Spring", "Success" ], "summary": "Get tips from a sales professional on how to handle customer conflict." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/marketing/find-your-competitive-advantage/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/marketing/find-your-competitive-advantage/", "title": "Find Your Competitive Advantage", "content_html": "

The post Find Your Competitive Advantage appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Find Your Competitive Advantage appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-01-12T08:00:52+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-12-29T15:42:44+00:00", "author": { "name": "strexler", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/strexler/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfdad1d0f4bb8763ecd0c9f9672e8f2d9b9ed5aa5d22def1bf6d02656996176c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Business growth", "Business Owners", "Business Strategy", "Competition", "Marketing", "Marketing Plan", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Get tips from a sales professional on how to handle customer conflict." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/do-you-need-a-pr-agency/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/do-you-need-a-pr-agency/", "title": "Do You Need a PR Agency?", "content_html": "

The post Do You Need a PR Agency? appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Do You Need a PR Agency? appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2026-01-07T08:00:51+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-12-29T15:42:08+00:00", "author": { "name": "strexler", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/strexler/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bfdad1d0f4bb8763ecd0c9f9672e8f2d9b9ed5aa5d22def1bf6d02656996176c?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Business growth", "Business Owners", "Entrepreneur", "Public Relations", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Get tips from a sales professional on how to handle customer conflict." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/sales/the-benefits-of-a-loyalty-program/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/sales/the-benefits-of-a-loyalty-program/", "title": "The Benefits of a Loyalty Program", "content_html": "

The post The Benefits of a Loyalty Program appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post The Benefits of a Loyalty Program appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2025-11-28T08:00:35+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-10-07T13:49:33+00:00", "author": { "name": "ajimenez", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/ajimenez/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/370fd3ef5b2313c7465c0026a4c2af9d14c7c1f31fb160ddbba3f572f8b74842?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Business", "Business Owners", "Customers", "Entrepreneur", "Retention", "Sales", "Small Business" ], "summary": "How you can improve customer retention with a simple rewards program. " }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/entrepreneur/the-business-of-art/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/entrepreneur/the-business-of-art/", "title": "The Business of Art", "content_html": "

The post The Business of Art appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post The Business of Art appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2025-11-04T08:00:25+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-10-06T20:15:38+00:00", "author": { "name": "ajimenez", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/ajimenez/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/370fd3ef5b2313c7465c0026a4c2af9d14c7c1f31fb160ddbba3f572f8b74842?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Art", "Artist", "Business", "Entrepreneur", "Sales", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Scratchboard expert Melissa Helene discusses her path to entrepreneurship and the unique business challenges artists face." }, { "id": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/frozen-assets-building-an-ice-cream-business/", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/small-business/frozen-assets-building-an-ice-cream-business/", "title": "Frozen Assets: Building an Ice-Cream Business", "content_html": "

The post Frozen Assets: Building an Ice-Cream Business appeared first on Business In Action.

\n", "content_text": "The post Frozen Assets: Building an Ice-Cream Business appeared first on Business In Action.", "date_published": "2025-08-05T08:00:05+00:00", "date_modified": "2025-05-19T19:43:13+00:00", "author": { "name": "ajimenez", "url": "https://businessinaction.com/author/ajimenez/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/370fd3ef5b2313c7465c0026a4c2af9d14c7c1f31fb160ddbba3f572f8b74842?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "tags": [ "Business", "Business growth", "Frozen Foods", "Ice Cream", "Miami", "Small Business" ], "summary": "Sindy Posso, co-owner of Cielito Artisan Pops, discusses how she turned her grandmother\u2019s recipes into a booming enterprise." } ] }