Tales of Indiana Entrepeneurs

Read The Indianapolis Star's From grass roots to grocery shelf with its collection of Indiana small business entrepreneurs:

On Feb. 16, Henderson's line of products -- Doc Henderson's Seafood & Fish Breading and Doc Henderson's Blackened Seasoning -- will begin a six-month trial at Marsh Supermarkets' store at 56th Street and Georgetown Road."

***

It happened to Rico Elmore, owner of Indianapolis-based Fatheadz Sunglasses, which sells shades for big heads that just won't fit into the average pair of glasses.

Elmore was working at a car dealership during the day and doing his sunglass business at night. Most of his sales were word-of-mouth. One day, after a Wal-Mart executive read an Indianapolis Star story in USA Today about Elmore's venture, he got a call.

***

Chad Walters is in the process. The Noblesville company Freedom Innovations has patented a product that is now in production. Called Hidden TP, it's a way to keep pets and small children from making messes and ingesting toilet paper. The product mounts on the wall and has a door hiding the toilet paper roll from view.

"We are hoping to get the product in Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, Target and PetSmart," he said. "That's what is so great about an invention that has so many demographics." And that's his pitch.

Now what more could be done to encourage more of these kind of businesspeople? Why is it not being done?