And The Winner Of Our Contest Is…

Aime Stewart, of Maryland, the owner and operator of Cutie Pies, is our Grand Prize Winner! Cutie Pies is an individual single-serving pie business. Her Cutie Pies are 4 inches in diameter, and she bakes them in standard aluminum pot-pie containers. The idea is to give folks who love pie (c’mon, who doesn’t?) an option without needing an entire pie. Our judges thought that Aime’s idea was innovative, creative, and well presented. Aime has the beginnings of a successful business: she has a great idea, a plan to make it happen, a team to help her out, milestones for progress, and motivation. We think that the prizes and advice that she walks away with will help her reach her goal of getting Cutie Pies into retail outlets, including grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Our first runner-up is Emilie Shoop, of Illinois. Emilie just launched Shoop Fitness online at www.shoopfitness.com. Emilie’s concept is a fitness website focusing on the needs of pregnant women and new moms. As the mother of three small children, I can certainly relate to Emilie’s demographic! Our judges felt that Emilie had an interesting concept and a potentially big audience. We thought extra press and marketing advice would add value to Emilie’s already great idea.

Our second runner-up is Aaron Emerson, of California. Aaron offers an online marketing service geared towards small businesses hoping to make a big impact. Our judges felt that Aaron had the potential, through his experience and enthusiasm, to make an impression in a crowded market.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

And again, we offer a huge THANK YOU to our sponsors! Please let them know we appreciate them!

• 1 & 1 Internet, Inc.
• Entrepreneur Magazine
• Freshbooks, Inc.

The entire b5 media Business Channel community:

• Behind the Buzz
• Brandcurve
• Buzz Networker
• Common Sense PR
• Contract Worker
• Copy Blogger
• Digital Money World
• Franchise Pick
• Home Biz Notes
• Interview Chatter
• Just Make Money Online
• Leadership Turn
• Life Dev
• Linked Intelligence
• Pimp Your Work
• Property Crossroads
• Second Life Pros
• Slacker Manager
• Small Business Boomers
• Start Up Spark
• Successful Blog
• Taxgirl
• The Golden Pencil
• Work Boxers
• Yielding Wealth

And thanks to Don at Archetype Digital Solutions for designing our promotional badge!

Thanks, too, to the following professionals who have offered advice to our winners:

• Tax tips from Kelly Phillips Erb of taxgirl.com
• Consulting and marketing advice from Jim Norton of smallbusinessboomers.com
• Marketing direction from Rico Masterson of contract-worker.com
• Personal finance and blogging information from Miranda Marquit of yieldingwealth.com
• Using a range of social media tools in marketing and connecting with a community from Rachel Clarke of behindthebuzz.com
• Hiring practices and creating core competencies for positions from Darlene McDaniel of interviewchatter.com
• Identifying business purpose and strategy for a blog from Des Walsh of deswalsh.com
• Coaching from Miki Saxon, courtesy of rampupsolutions.com
• LinkedIn makeover from Scott Allen of LinkedIntelligence.com
• Marketing and brand identity critique from Sean Kelly of franchisepick.com
• Copywriting tips from Brian Clark of copyblogger.com
• Home business advice from Mary Emma Allen of homebiznotes.com
• Copy editing, writing, or website usability advice from Eric Eggertson of CommonsensePR.com
• Customer service and community relations advice from Douglas Hanna of ServiceUntitled.com
• Tech marketing advice from Sunir Shah of Freshbooks, Inc.

We look forward to offering updates on our winners, so check back! Thanks to all who participated, and keep an eye out for other exciting contests from our talented folks at the Business Channel.