Onley Make Believe Decorative Pillows nominated for Most Innovative Entrepreneur

San Francisco Small Business Commission Announces Nominees for the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year award Award to be announced at SBCs first Shop Outside the Box campaign to support small business

San Francisco, CA -- Thirty-six small business owners in San Francisco are vying for the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year award, which will be presented by Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. during the San Francisco Small Business Commissions (SBC) first Shop Outside the Box celebration. The business owners were selected based on their innovative business idea, dedicated entrepreneurial spirit and their commitment to make and sell their products in San Francisco.

The Shop Outside the Box campaign was designed to promote homegrown entrepreneurs whose products make our City one of the most interesting places to live, work and visit," said Julie Brandt, Director of the San Francisco Small Business Commission. This campaign is the first celebration in San Francisco of locally owned small businesses and their 'Made in the Bay products. We invite the public to come and meet the creative minds behind some of their most treasured purchases," said Brandt.

The selected business owners represent every City district and will display their unique products during the Shop Outside the Box celebration from 12-noon to 7 p.m. at Union Square on Friday, December 12. Small businesses in San Francisco account for the majority of all private sector businesses and generate over 50 percent of the Citys employment opportunities.

The Shop Outside the Box campaign is a tribute to the more than 100,000 hard working small business owners who are, collectively, the backbone of San Franciscos local economy and help to drive our economic growth and development," said Brandt. The Small Business Commission designed this campaign to remind residents to honor and support the important contributions of the small business owner."

The following small businesses have been selected to participate in this years celebration. The businesses are listed in alphabetical order.

1.April in Paris Beatrice Amblard
Handmade leather accessories
2.Baby Blossoms Stacie Jacobs      
Organic baby skin care
3.Baby Wit     Andrea Frost
T-shirts for infants & toddlers
4.Booty Boutique Kyra Brown   
Handmade belt buckles
5.Bossalini Clothing,    Gene Steptoe   
Urban wear
6.Broughton Woodwork    Ros Broughton   
Furniture maker
7.Casalina Specialty Glass Carolyn Wang   
Homemade glassware
8.Classic Hardware Karyn Cantor   
Jewelry design
9.Colleen Quen Couture    Collen Quen   
Evening wear
10. Conceptual Metal Works Dan Greenberg & Karen McKinley
Custom metal design
11. Delirious Shoes Amy Boe   
Handmade shoes
12. Glaser Designs Myron & Kari Glaser
Travel & leather goods
13. Hutter Images Keith Hutter    
Photography
14. Jeremiahs Pick Coffee Co.    Jules Kragen
Gourmet coffee roaster/wholesaler
15. Kevin Waller Kevin Waller   
Ceramics/pottery
16. Lady Bug Lady Bug,    Lisa Sherratt & Sheila Musgrave   
Hand painted silk items
17. Lili Knits Creation Rita Doyle   
Custom-made clothing
18. Litl LazardsBobbi Williams   
Handmade infant & childrensware
19. Lynn Sondag   Lynn Sondag      
Paintings & watercolors
20. Martha Egan Martha Egan      
Clothing designer
21. Meteor Lights Robert Fine   
Lamp and shade design & fabrication
22. Mimi Ze Frog, Carla Lavaste      
European style baby bedding & more
23. Miss Fitt & Co. Wendy Allen      
Clothing & accessories
24. Nisa San Francisco, Inc.    Ivy Chan
Urban streetware
25. Onley Make Believe    Gerard Onley   
Custom handcrafted pillows
26. Perlman Guitars Alan Perlman   
Handmade guitars & restoration
27. Rebecca Overman Rebecca Overman   
Silver & enamel jewelry
28. Sol Drums & Percussion Akbar MoghaddamCustom drum & percussion
29. Studio Dino Tasha Welch   
Contemporary furniture
30. Suzanne George Shoes Suzanne GeorgeHandcrafted footwear
31. SwirlSpace    Gustavo Alcantar
Hemp clothing
32. TableAsia    Vince Meyer
Custom furniture maker
33. Tinhorn Press/Gallery
Terry Chastain      Fine printing gallery
34. Used Rubber USA Mandana MacPherson
Accessories from recycled rubber
35. WaterField Designs    Gary Waterfield   Laptop cases from bulletproof nylon
36. WoodShanti    Shawn Berry   
Eco-friendly furniture

More information about the Shop Outside the Box: Buy from San Francisco Small Businesses can be found at http://www.sfbayshop.com and on the SBC web site at http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/sbc_index.asp.