SBDC Client Stories

People are at the heart of what we do. Our goal is to make sure that your business is successful — because your success is our success.

Become a Client

HOHM Pantry Owner Cara Edwards

Marin SBDC

HOHM Pantry

HOHM Pantry is Marin County’s first food refillery, offering bulk staple foods, herbs, oils, vinegars, teas and eco-friendly household and personal care products in downtown Novato. The business serves as a community hub where residents can purchase high-quality bulk goods while refilling their own containers, reducing packaging waste and lowering costs. HOHM Pantry owner Cara Edwards aims to make sustainable living more affordable and approachable for everyone at all income levels in the community.
Client kneeling next to his toddler surrounded by displays and hanging t-shirts made by the business.

Marin SBDC

Yarrow Goods

Yarrow Goods is a boutique ecommerce business selling handmade screen-printed t-shirts made in the USA with an emphasis on ethical manufacturing and sustainability principles. Owners, husband and wife, Oliver and Grace Estrada, were successful with two brick and mortar retail stores selling high-end goods when the Pandemic abruptly forced them to close their doors. While weighing their options for what to do next, they found inspiration from Grace’s deep entrepreneurial roots and Oliver’s screen-printing skills to build a high-quality apparel business. In 2020, at the height of the Pandemic, they followed their instinct to do what they love, establishing Yarrow Goods from their spare bedroom.

Marin SBDC

Lawson’s Landing

Lawson’s Landing is a fishing and boating resort and campground situated at the mouth of Tomales Bay, California. It is one of the few coastal access points where overnight stays are affordable and open for anyone to enjoy beach walks, clamming, boating, camping, fishing, hiking and much more. In 2015, they came to the Marin SBDC for guidance on funding options as well as assistance with developing business plans for future expansions, which would need to get approved by the California Coastal Commission.
open door at mas masa

Marin SBDC

Más Masa

“From the first meeting, SBDC Advisor Richard Strezo gave us positive encouragement and worked with us to create a business plan that could get funded! He helped us analyze different spaces to determine if the rent and buildout would work for our projections. Once we chose the space, we had a lot of trouble getting our loan approved by the bank. Richard helped negotiate on our behalf and kept encouraging us to stay positive and trust it would be possible for us to open our dream restaurant. It worked! We opened Más Masa in 2022 and have been growing ever since!”