For 30 years, Business North Carolina has selected Small Business of the Year winners, and for good reason. We’re a state of small businesses in both the number of businesses and the percentage of workers employed by small businesses.
Those numbers are reflected in the state’s growth. From 1998 to 2022, small business employment in North Carolina grew by 19.1%, compared with a national growth rate of 13.1%. From March 2023 to March 2024, North Carolina added a net 58,732 jobs, with small businesses contributing 90% (52,820 jobs) of that total, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA defines those with fewer than 500 employees as small businesses.
Business North Carolina received dozens of nominations for this award. Selecting a few winners from such a list is always a challenge. Thousands of small business owners and employees diligently work to serve their customers and support their communities.
Three businesses topped the judges’ list.
Apple Annie’s Bake Shop has been a local favorite in Wilmington for 40 years. The 36 employees bake breads and desserts for area restaurants like Taste of Italy and Gnome Nom Nom Deli, while also having a retail store and e-commerce segment. Cakes are king at the bakery, where a decorator has 1 million followers across social media. It’s veteran-owned, like 7.3% of the state’s small businesses.
A-B Emblem is a third-generation business located on a small hill off U.S. Business 19 in Weaverville in Buncombe County. The company has about 90 employees. Last year, A-B Emblem made about 2 million patches there for the U.S. military. Another high-profile customer is NASA.
Ohsnap is a Wake County business of 20 employees that designs and sells premium phone accessories. It believes edgy marketing helps it stick out in a crowded field. The company represents Dale Backus’ second eight-figure North Carolina success story before turning 40, his current age. He bypassed college and is part of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. He wants to move on by age 45. He is the first BNC small business honoree to have earned $600,000 making a zany commercial promoting Doritos.
This year’s contest had three judges. Bruce Tyler is a founder of Weldon Mills, which produced its first bourbon in 2020 and was a Small Business of the Year winner in 2024. Byron Hicks has been state director of the Small Business and Technology Development Center since 2021. The SBTDC is administered by NC State University in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. David Woronoff is president of Old North State Magazines, which owns Business North Carolina magazine.
The judges considered creativity, community impact, persistence and other factors in making the selection. The business had to be in operation for at least five years and have fewer than 100 employees.
The goal of this feature is to honor smaller businesses that form the backbone of the state’s economy. Duke Energy is this year’s sponsor.
“It is always an honor to read stories about our great small businesses in North Carolina,” says Hicks. “There are stories about resilience, overcoming economic and disaster challenges, growth and success.”
Click on the images below to read about this year’s Small Businesses of the Year.
