Latest news with #SewingDownSouth
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Why Craig Conover Is Meeting With Members of Congress
Southern Charm's Craig Conover visited the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to speak with members of Congress about his business, Sewing Down South, and experience as a small business owner. Newsweek reached out to Conover via email for comment. Small businesses are a huge part of the American economy, and fostering growth in the small business arena has been a staple of both Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns. As Republicans work to pass a budget bill that includes tax cuts to help small businesses, the House Committee on Small Business hosted a showcase of small businesses to highlight the importance of their companies. The showcase enabled policymakers to hear directly from business owners on issues like tax policy, regulation, and investment incentives. According to Conover, sewing Down South is an eight-figure business, and he employed about 30 people with health insurance as of April. During Tuesday's showcase, Conover joined over 25 business owners from across the United States to highlight his company's economic contributions to members of Congress. In an Instagram video shared before the event, Conover said he was "a little nervous" but it was "pretty awesome" that he was presenting Sewing Down South to members of Congress. Conover noted that he had to wear a tie because he had a presentation and noted that while he doesn't wear them that often, he always used to. He said there was "something about dressing up before work or a game." The Southern Charm star posted on Instagram that the last time he was at the U.S. Capitol was in the 5th grade for a field trip. Committee Chairman Roger Williams opened the showcase by thanking entrepreneurs for their work and highlighted federal initiatives to create a healthy business climate, including reductions in taxes and regulations and 100 percent expensing for businesses. Williams was joined by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and other committee members who praised small businesses' role in strengthening local economies. Sewing Down South, founded by Conover in 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina, has grown from a hobby-driven startup in his dining room to a major home goods enterprise serving customers nationwide. By 2025, Conover reported that the company had reached an eight-figure valuation and expanded into national retailers such as Kroger and HomeGoods. The company employs approximately 30 people and offers products ranging from decorative pillows to kitchenware. Conover does not solely own the business and has two partners, Jerry Casselano and Amanda Latifi, each of whom holds an ownership stake. Conover also has a stake in the Spritz Society sparkling cocktail brand, which also participated in the Capitol event. Conover's partnership with Spritz Society sparked tension with Summer House starKyle Cooke since Cooke owns Loverboy, a competitor brand. Fans watched the fallout of the partnership play out this season on Summer House. Cooke told Newsweek recently that alcohol is a "zero-sum game," so if one brand is being promoted, another brand isn't, which is part of why Conover's taking on this partnership was a problem. "If your friend comes out with a podcast. And you have a podcast, are you mad at your friend? No, you just cross-promote, you hop on each other's podcasts, you create this rising tide," Cooke said. "There's not a lot of industries that are so dog-eat-dog but beverage is one of them." Conover told Page Six in May that he tried Spritz Society at a Taylor Swift concert and enjoyed it, so when the opportunity presented itself to invest, it was "such an easy sell." He said investing in Loverboy "wasn't an option." After Tuesday's event, Conover called it "pretty awesome" to have two companies in the Capitol presenting and said he hopes he gets the chance to come back. "That was awesome," he added. House Committee on Small Business chair Roger Williams, in a statement: "The House Committee on Small Business is proud to be a voice for Main Street America in Washington. Today, small business owners from across the country had the chance to showcase the results of their hard work and dedication to Members of Congress." Craig Conover on Instagram after the event: "Incredible feeling walking into the Capitol and seeing one of your other businesses presenting." Small business leaders who participated in the showcase will continue to advocate for supportive policies and seek new opportunities for collaboration with Congress. Sewing Down South plans to pursue further partnerships and expansion, as indicated by its ongoing collaborations and national distribution. Related Articles Paige DeSorbo Says She Got 'Good Reminder' About Marriage Over the Weekend'Southern Charm' Star Craig Conover Dodges Questions About Ex Paige DeSorbo Cheating RumorsPaige DeSorbo Seemingly Spotted With New Guy After Craig Conover Split'Southern Charm' Stars Craig and Austen Call Out Fake Cast-'Don't Hide' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Why Craig Conover Is Meeting With Members of Congress
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Southern Charm's Craig Conover visited the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday to speak with members of Congress about his business, Sewing Down South, and experience as a small business owner. Newsweek reached out to Conover via email for comment. Why It Matters Small businesses are a huge part of the American economy, and fostering growth in the small business arena has been a staple of both Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns. As Republicans work to pass a budget bill that includes tax cuts to help small businesses, the House Committee on Small Business hosted a showcase of small businesses to highlight the importance of their companies. The showcase enabled policymakers to hear directly from business owners on issues like tax policy, regulation, and investment incentives. According to Conover, sewing Down South is an eight-figure business, and he employed about 30 people with health insurance as of April. What To Know During Tuesday's showcase, Conover joined over 25 business owners from across the United States to highlight his company's economic contributions to members of Congress. In an Instagram video shared before the event, Conover said he was "a little nervous" but it was "pretty awesome" that he was presenting Sewing Down South to members of Congress. Conover noted that he had to wear a tie because he had a presentation and noted that while he doesn't wear them that often, he always used to. He said there was "something about dressing up before work or a game." "Southern Charm" star Craig Conover speaks at an event in London on October 26, 2024. "Southern Charm" star Craig Conover speaks at an event in London on October 26, Hayu The Southern Charm star posted on Instagram that the last time he was at the U.S. Capitol was in the 5th grade for a field trip. Committee Chairman Roger Williams opened the showcase by thanking entrepreneurs for their work and highlighted federal initiatives to create a healthy business climate, including reductions in taxes and regulations and 100 percent expensing for businesses. Williams was joined by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and other committee members who praised small businesses' role in strengthening local economies. Sewing Down South, founded by Conover in 2018 in Charleston, South Carolina, has grown from a hobby-driven startup in his dining room to a major home goods enterprise serving customers nationwide. By 2025, Conover reported that the company had reached an eight-figure valuation and expanded into national retailers such as Kroger and HomeGoods. The company employs approximately 30 people and offers products ranging from decorative pillows to kitchenware. Conover does not solely own the business and has two partners, Jerry Casselano and Amanda Latifi, each of whom holds an ownership stake. Conover also has a stake in the Spritz Society sparkling cocktail brand, which also participated in the Capitol event. Conover's partnership with Spritz Society sparked tension with Summer House starKyle Cooke since Cooke owns Loverboy, a competitor brand. Fans watched the fallout of the partnership play out this season on Summer House. Cooke told Newsweek recently that alcohol is a "zero-sum game," so if one brand is being promoted, another brand isn't, which is part of why Conover's taking on this partnership was a problem. "If your friend comes out with a podcast. And you have a podcast, are you mad at your friend? No, you just cross-promote, you hop on each other's podcasts, you create this rising tide," Cooke said. "There's not a lot of industries that are so dog-eat-dog but beverage is one of them." Conover told Page Six in May that he tried Spritz Society at a Taylor Swift concert and enjoyed it, so when the opportunity presented itself to invest, it was "such an easy sell." He said investing in Loverboy "wasn't an option." After Tuesday's event, Conover called it "pretty awesome" to have two companies in the Capitol presenting and said he hopes he gets the chance to come back. "That was awesome," he added. What People Are Saying House Committee on Small Business chair Roger Williams, in a statement: "The House Committee on Small Business is proud to be a voice for Main Street America in Washington. Today, small business owners from across the country had the chance to showcase the results of their hard work and dedication to Members of Congress." Craig Conover on Instagram after the event: "Incredible feeling walking into the Capitol and seeing one of your other businesses presenting." What Happens Next Small business leaders who participated in the showcase will continue to advocate for supportive policies and seek new opportunities for collaboration with Congress. Sewing Down South plans to pursue further partnerships and expansion, as indicated by its ongoing collaborations and national distribution.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bravo's 'Southern Charm' Cast Reveals Which Co-Stars They'd Date in Real Life
Iced tea might be a Southern staple, but the cast of Bravo's Southern Charm is serving theirs piping hot. The season 10 cast sat down with InStyle to answer fans' burning questions and, in the process, revealed secrets, shared which of their cast mates they'd dated, and opened up about past relationships. During InStyle's Fan Mail series, Leva Bonaparte, Austen Kroll, Madison LeCroy, Taylor Ann Green, Shep Rose, Venita Aspen, and Craig Conover responded to social media prompts, including one that read, "If you had to date another cast member who would it be 'not including someone you've already dated/are dating?" 'I would date Whitney [Sudler-Smith]," Kroll joked. "Whitney and I would travel around, and Whitney could sleep around on me if he wanted to.' Green chose Bonaparte because "she's safe." 'She's very motherly, she'll take care of you," she explained. "She'll feed you. She'll coddle you and read you stories at night.' As for Bonaparte? 'I guess maybe if I wasn't married, since love is love these days, maybe I'd go after Naomi. Maybe I'd swim in a new pond. She's hot!" The cast's resident style guru, Aspen, named Shep as the one she would date before hilariously changing her mind to Conover because her "mom would accept Craig" more. She also revealed that she doesn't work with a stylist, so she curates all of her scene-stealing looks. "I try really hard not to buy things brand new too often. I'm like, 'Okay, how can I just rework something versus buying something new?'" Elsewhere in the video—which was filmed before Conover's highly publicized split from ex-girlfriend and Summer House star Paige DeSorbo—the Sewing Down South founder revealed that the couple was "just trying to figure stuff out" at the time. "Sometimes on TV you lose all of the connective tissue, and it's been three years of work and understanding each other," Conover said of his then-girlfriend. "We're very different people, but we're very supportive. And, she's brought out a version of myself that I've always dreamed of being, so it's been great.' Conover read another prompt calling him the "hottest man on Bravo" before saying he didn't want that title and credited DeSorbo for being his biggest competition in the hotness department. "That's all new to me. I guess just take the compliment, Craig! Say 'thank you,'" he teased. "I'm going to get brownie points and say Paige is my biggest competition for attractive person." "That puts the target on your back," he added. "You do that, and then everyone's like, 'You're not even that good looking,' and you're like,e 'I didn't say I was!'' For more juicy quotes and behind-the-scenes drama, watch all of Southern Charm's InStyle Fan Mail video, here. Read the original article on InStyle
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Paige DeSorbo Felt Bad for Craig Conover Before Their Breakup
Originally appeared on E! Online 's star continues to rise. Months before her breakup with , the Summer House star got candid about how her growing fame and increasingly busy work life sometimes got in the way of her relationship and quality time with her boyfriend of three years. "Mark the day because I'm gonna say it: I feel a little bad for Craig because I am a completely different person than the girl he started dating three years ago," the Giggly Squad podcast cohost admitted during a confessional on the Bravo series' Feb. 19 episode. "I'm busier, I'm not around as much, I change my mind on a lot of things like marriage and moving and a baby." But that didn't mean Paige felt bad for having a booming career. "I'm not going to apologize that my life got busier," the 32-year-old continued, "or I think differently on certain topics. But also, I am trying to recognize that I changed a lot." Paige's admission followed a phone call with Craig during which the then-couple couldn't align their busy schedules to see each other, as she was booked solid in NYC while the Southern Charm star was swamped in Charleston. And it's no secret that Craig grappled with accepting that his girlfriend of three years was super independent before she called thing off in November. As the Sewing Down South founder lamented during Southern Charm's most recent Feb. 13 episode, "If the person likes you, they'll make time for you. It's an insecurity that I have dealt with because Paige is so busy and her career is one of her biggest priorities. I had to learn how to exist in that world." Plus, her indecisiveness about their future and settling down was another factor that ultimately led to their split. More from E! Online OnlyFans Model Lily Phillips Announces Pregnancy After Having Sex With 100 Men in a Day Midair Aircraft Collison at Arizona Airport Leaves at Least 2 People Dead Brian Laundrie's Family Attorney Slams Gabby Petito Netflix Documentary Paige's admission followed a phone call with Craig during which the then-couple couldn't align their busy schedules to see each other, as she was booked solid in NYC while the Southern Charm star was swamped in Charleston. And it's no secret that Craig grappled with accepting that his girlfriend of three years was super independent before she called thing off in November. As the Sewing Down South founder lamented during Southern Charm's most recent Feb. 13 episode, "If the person likes you, they'll make time for you. It's an insecurity that I have dealt with because Paige is so busy and her career is one of her biggest priorities. I had to learn how to exist in that world." Plus, her indecisiveness about their future and settling down was another factor that ultimately led to their split. "I think everyone knows that, if it was up to me, we would just get engaged," the 35-year-old shared during the Bravo series' Jan. 23 episode. "But she changes her mind a lot about stuff." "One day she'll text me and say, 'Let's build a f--king farm house in the middle of nowhere,' or, 'I'm moving to Charleston,'" he continued. "And then she'll have a good day in New York and be like, 'I love it up here.'" In the end, Craig felt Paige's behavior was "confusing" before they eventually parted ways. See Craig and Paige's relationship drama continue to play out when Summer House airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and Southern Charm airs Thursdays at 8 p.m., both on Bravo. In the meantime, keep reading for a closer look at their romance PairPutting Breakup Rumors to RestDunzoCraig Conover Addresses the Split(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family) Check out Peacock to binge your favorite NBCU TV shows and movies, live sports and more!
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover's Massive Fight Pre-Breakup
Originally appeared on E! Online was not giggling about all the pressure that was put on her relationship with Craig Conover prior to their breakup. In fact, the Summer House star voices her annoyance with Craig and his friends asking about their plans to have kids in E! News' exclusive sneak peek at Southern Charm's Feb. 6 episode. "Sometimes I get frustrated and I'm even saying it towards you," the Giggly Squad podcast cohost tells her now ex-boyfriend of three years in the preview months before their split this past November. "But Austen [Kroll]'s asking you like, 'Oh, are you not having kids?'" And while Craig agrees by replying, "Yeah, that bothered me," Paige further explains her anger over questions about her family plans. "F--k yeah it's my decision, because I'm the one that has to hold it in my f--king body," the 32-year-old fires back. "If you said to me right now, 'We need to have a baby or I'm leaving,' you'd have to leave. Sorry I'm getting heated, but like..." Craig's response? "Not at me though," he tries to reason in an attempt to calm her down. "Remember, I'm not the outside noise." But despite Paige's baby ultimatum, ??? the Sewing Down South founder apologizes, "I know and I'm sorry." But when Paige insists, "Then say you're on the same page with me," Craig explains why the idea of finally settling down and starting a family makes him so happy. "There's nothing that I would change in our relationship right now," the 35-year-old confesses to her. "But, look, there has been times, yeah, that I didn't know where your head was at because you change your mind. Like, when you say 'our kids' or that I would be a great husband, I obviously smile inside because I'm like, 'Oh, she likes me.' More from E! Online Grammys 2025: Jada Pinkett Smith Reacts to Son Jaden Smith's Polarizing House Hat Allison Holker Alleges Stephen 'tWitch' Boss 'Spent Recklessly on Drugs,' Left $1 Million Tax Bill Why Allison Holker Says Stephen "tWitch" Boss "Wasn't the Same" Mentally After Ayahuasca Trip Craig's response? "Not at me though," he tries to reason in an attempt to calm her down. "Remember, I'm not the outside noise." However, Paige also takes issue with Craig even broaching the topic of getting pregnant, to which the Sewing Down South founder apologizes, "I know and I'm sorry." But when Paige insists, "Then say you're on the same page with me," Craig explains why the idea of finally settling down and starting a family makes him so happy. "There's nothing that I would change in our relationship right now," the 35-year-old confesses to her. "But, look, there has been times, yeah, that I didn't know where your head was at because you change your mind. Like, when you say 'our kids' or that I would be a great husband, I obviously smile inside because I'm like, 'Oh, she likes me.'" Unfortunately, that isn't exactly what Paige wants to hear. "Is who I am not enough?" the influencer questions. "Do I not show enough love? If you can't handle the amount of love that I give, than that's a personal problem. And then that gets put on me and it's like I'm a bad girlfriend." Craig then storms off saying, "This is a stupid f--king conversation," to which Paige retorts, "Well, don't have a temper tantrum every time there's a situation that you don't like." However, Craig continues to insist, "I don't put any pressure on you. I just wanna be lovey dovey and talk about our family." See the breakup play out when Southern Charm airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Bravo. Keep reading for a closer look at Paige and Craig's romance PairPutting Breakup Rumors to RestDunzoCraig Conover Addresses the Split(E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family) Check out Peacock to binge your favorite NBCU TV shows and movies, live sports and more!
