South Carolina

In 2000, speech pathologist Debbie Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP, found herself in need of the right tools for her clients but could never find them. It was a problem shared with colleagues as well. She then collaborated with her engineer husband John to design safer alternatives, launching ARK Products. Today, the family business employs 20 people in their Columbia, South Carolina facility, manufacturing 175 sensory products sold in 67 countries. Using Amazon tools like A+ Content and Brand Registry, ARK has grown Amazon sales to 26 percent of revenue. The company also gives back through their Chew It Forward program, donating hundreds of thousands of products to those in need.

The savory recipes passed down through generations of Tracey Richardson’s family have since become staples of Lillie’s of Charleston, a Black- and woman-owned business that makes and sells specialty barbecue sauces, hot sauces, spice mixes and, most recently, seasoned popcorn.

After more than a decade of enjoying popularity in regional restaurants and specialty food shops in the Southeast, Lillie’s of Charleston turned to Amazon to handle their growing fulfillment needs. Sales tripled in that first year, with orders from as far away as Alaska.

“Amazon is basically our focus group, marketing tool and our way of being able to introduce a product to the whole country,” Richardson said.