Axios Charlotte 2019 Small Businessperson of the Year

[Background: Each year, the Agenda celebrates small business leaders in our city. Over the past few months, we’ve been reviewing hundreds of small business nominations, researching candidates and internally debating on finalists as well as an ultimate award winner. Here’s the class of 2019.]

In 2015, D’Alessandro moved to Charlotte with the intention of building a real business. The big idea? Buying up small mom-and-pop retail brands, beefing up their eCommerce skills and making them bigger and more profitable.

That’s led to a series of acquisitions and extensions that now give the company a total of 10 brands under its umbrella — from sunscreen to doggie foot balm.

Today, Elements Brands employs 24 people and brings in just under $10 million in revenue, double what the company earned a year before.

“It’s bigger than me,” D’Alessandro said.

That success is why Axios Charlotte is honoring Bill D’Alessandro of Elements Brands as our second annual Small Businessperson of the Year.

Our finalists for the award are just as deserving. They run the gamut of Charlotte industries, from construction to beauty. They’re all making a name for themselves through smart positioning, top-notch service and hard work.

Click on each picture to read a profile of the business owner and their work. Take some time to get to know them and learn from them. We sure did.

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