How 6 founders discovered gaps in the market, and built businesses to fill them Holly Stanley for Shopify Dec 10, 2025 Dec 10, 2025 Updated Dec 10, 2025 0 Actors Alexander Ludwig (R) and his wife Lauren Dear arrive for the premiere of "Heels" in Los Angeles on August 10, 2021. CHRIS DELMAS // AFP via Getty Images Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Holly Stanley for Shopify k9bmkDEC@?8mw@H e 7@F?56CD 5:D4@G6C65 82AD :? E96 >2C<6E[ 2?5 3F:=E 3FD:?6DD6D E@ 7:== E96>k^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAm|2?J 6?EC6AC6?6FCD’ =:89E3F=3 >@>6?ED 4@>6 7C@> 2 AC@3=6> E96J’G6 6IA6C:6?465 E96>D6=G6D] xE’D E96 7:CDE D:8? E92E E96C6’D 2 82A :? E96 >2C<6E]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2 a_ad k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9@A:7J]4@>^3=@8^Qm$9@A:7Jk^2m DFCG6J[ bgT @7 3FD:?6DD @H?6CD C6=:65 @? 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Gold Festival, coin show this weekend in McDowell County Hickory NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett dies at home in Newton on Thursday Trails, Trains and Travelin’ McCourys: Festival is multifaceted celebration of outdoors, music Meet the McDowell County Soil and Water District contest winners 28th annual Operation Backpack set to begin for McDowell’s students 1,000 jobs coming to North Carolina in new Corning, Amazon data center deal kAm%96D6 7@FC 3C2?5D 7@F?5 E96:C DH66E DA@E 3J D@=G:?8 C62= AC@3=6>D E96:C 7@F?56CD 6IA6C:6?465 7:CDE92?5] t249 5:D4@G6C65 DEC@?8 56>2?5 3J =:DE6?:?8 E@ 4FDE@>6CD 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9@A:7J]4@>^3=@8^E6DE\3FD:?6DD\:562QmE6DE:?8 E96:C :562Dk^2m 367@C6 8@:?8 2== :?—96C6’D 9@H]k^Amk9bm{:89E:?8 E96 H2J 7@C ?6H >@>Dk^9bmkAm(96? yF=:6 r2CEJ 3642>6 2 ?6H >@>[ D96 9:E 2 H2== H:E9 ?:89EE:>6 7665:?8D] w6C E@A\C2E65 365D:56 =2>AD H6C6 6:E96C E@@ 92CD9—H2<:?8 FA E96 H9@=6 72>:=J—@C E@@ 5:> E@ D66 4=62C=J] “x 92E65 >J =:89E:?8 D6EFA 2E 9@>6[ 2?5 x 925 E96 ‘36DE’ 365D:56 E23=6 =:89ED[” r2CEJ D2JD @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9@A:7J]4@>^3=@8^=2E49=:89E\AC@5F4E\56D:8?Qmk6>m$9@A:7J |2DE6CDk^6>mk^2m]k^Am kAm#64@8?:K:?8 E96 82A[ r2CEJ 564:565 E@ 7:== :E] $96 4C62E65 {2E49{:89E[ 2 H62C23=6[ 92?5D\7C66[ D@7E\8=@H =:89E >256 7@C ?:89EE:>6 323J 7665:?8D]k^AmkAmr2CEJ DA6?E EH@ 2?5 2 92=7 J62CD 56G6=@A:?8 2?5 EH62<:?8 {2E49{:89E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]D9@A:7J]4@>^3=@8^9@H\7@F?56CD\FD6\4FDE@>6C\7665324<Qm86EE:?8 7665324<k^2m 7C@> @E96C ?6H A2C6?ED[ 5@F=2D[ 2?5 =24E2E:@? 4@?DF=E2?ED E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96 AC@5F4E >6E C62= ?665D] (96? 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Maybe we don't all need $1 million to retire, after all Common wisdom in retirement planning dictates that you should aim to save 10 times your annual salary, or reach a “magic number” well past $1 …
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