Hope Suhr, owner of Hope’s Chest Company, a bra boutique located at 31630 Railroad Canyon Road #15, Canyon Lake, California, has been selected to receive the Small Business Administration’s 2013 Region IX Women in Business Champion of the Year Award. Suhr was nominated for the Award by Nicole Kinney, Director of the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center in recognition of her efforts to improve opportunities for women in business. According to District Director Adalberto Quijada, “Hope has built a profitable business based on something she’s passionate about and finds opportunities to give back to the community, particularly women’s groups.”
The idea for the business came from her own brassier fitting experience which changed her look, comfort, and life. Following that experience Hope studied the culture of the brassier and its proper fit and function in everyday life. She started the business as a home-based business selling bras in the evening at private parties while employed as a lead sales agent for a manufacturing consulting firm.
Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week, which recognizes the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business and they create two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. As part of National Small Business Week, SBA takes the opportunity to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others. Every day they’re working to grow small business, create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America’s global competitiveness. For more information, please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw