By Alix Roberts

REXBURG, Idaho — This month, we invited three local businesses to answer questions in order for you to get to know not only them as a company better, but also the creators behind the name!

We are happy to highlight Poppy Teeth Whitening, Golden Feather Photography and Lived In Apparel Thrift Shop!

POPPY TEETH WHITENING

A bit about the owner….

I am Chloe Royce, the owner of Poppy Teeth Whitening. My husband Chance and I are seniors at BYU-Idaho and are grateful to be in Rexburg! We have fallen in love with the community here. We are entrepreneurs at heart and make quite the dynamic duo! I am a communications major and my husband is studying business management, so we have loved working together to grow this business! My love is in marketing, and I enjoy working with clients to provide more confidence with a bright, beautiful smile. Chance’s organizational and logistical strengths are perfect for handling our back office!

What inspired the name behind the company?

Poppy Teeth Whitening was inspired by my sweet grandfather Mark Whitemyer, who I lovingly referred to as “Poppy.” Despite the incredible challenges he had to face battling Parkinson’s Disease for almost 14 years, he was a joy to all those around him. I have admired his gift of optimism and ability to see the good in every person and every circumstance since I was a tiny girl. I have never known someone so full of love.

As I planned and prepared to start my business, I really wrestled with choosing a name. I wanted to find something that would be meaningful and unique. As I thought more and more, my sweet grandpa came to mind. When I knew I would be working with smiles, it felt perfectly fitting to name my business after him. On days that were especially hard to smile, he found every reason to. He has taught me how powerful our smiles truly can be.

It is my hope that I can make people feel as happy and special as Poppy made me.

Where did you get the idea for your business?

For years as a young girl, I dreamt of becoming a dental hygienist. Then I experienced braces my senior year of high school and fell in love with the magic of beautifying smiles. I couldn’t believe how much my smile could change or how much more confident I would feel! As I grew older, I started to recognize my love for working and communicating with people.

As my (now) husband and I prepared to get married, we talked about our ideas, goals, and dreams for our future. I began to consider doing teeth whitening, the perfect match between my two loves: dental hygiene and working with people to beautify smiles.

Every step I took towards starting this business brought me peace and absolute excitement! It has been such a blessing for my little family.

What’s most crucial to you in a business?

The people you work with in a business are your biggest blessings and truest friends. They are your team. Your clients. Your students. I truly believe that if you want to go fast, you go alone. But if you want to go far, you go together. We have absolutely felt that in our entrepreneurial journey.

What is unique about your business?

We are the first professional teeth whitening business in Rexburg! We offer cosmetic teeth whitening services with beautiful results and little to no sensitivity. During your 90 minute appointment, we whiten three layers deep to lift a lifetime of stains and bring your smile to the whitest it can naturally go. You can expect to whiten 4-14 shades in just one visit! Your results are immediate and last for 6-12 months depending on your diet and lifestyle! We also have our product line of at-home teeth whitening products including high-quality At Home Whitening Kits, On the Go Whitening Pens, and Charcoal Toothpaste, to help keep your smile at its brightest all year round!

What’s your biggest achievement in the year 2022?

One thing we are incredibly proud of is our Poppy Teeth Whitening Training and Certification Program. It was designed to help others start their own teeth whitening businesses five steps ahead, complete with the knowledge, products, equipment, and experience necessary to have a successful teeth whitening business of their own. I have felt grateful to teach people locally and those in new areas. This year, we have grown to have service providers in over 20 states!

What do you hope to accomplish in the year 2023?

In 2023, we hope to continue training others to start their teeth whitening careers and reach new communities! We also look forward to adding more products to our at-home line! We have some exciting things in the works!

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about kindness and sincere connection. When we lost Poppy six months ago, I was inspired by his legacy of loving and serving those around him. It reminded me of the ways I hope to lead my life. My life motto is “spread love wherever you go, let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

What motivates your work?

My family is what drives my motivation. My husband is a true partner to me. We believe that family is what life is all about, and we hope to create a bright future for our future family! It has been the greatest joy to grow together.

Does your business give back to the community? If so, in what ways? If not, how can you?

We offer a special discount for the hardworking students and teachers in our community. We love getting to connect with so many who are leading our students in education and also devoting their time to their studies.

A message to our community:

We are located at 36 Carlson Avenue in Rexburg. We have a great presence on Instagram and Facebook, and more information and pictures of our work can be found there @poppyteethwhitening. You can also find us on Google to read reviews from our clients and customers!

We love the holiday season and are excited to offer some great deals to celebrate!

– All teachers and students receive $25 off their treatment!

– When you book with a friend, you both receive an additional 10% off your treatment!

You can also save big on products this happy season!

– Our At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits are $20 off when purchased with an in-person treatment!

Wanting to treat a loved one to a gift they won’t stop smiling about?

– Save $30 when you purchase 2 gift certificates, $90 when you buy 3, and up to $200+ when you purchase 4 or more!

LIVED IN APPAREL THRIFT SHOP

A bit about the owner….

We are Damon and Kennedy Rennaker! We will be married for 3 years in a couple of months. We have a toddler son and a daughter on the way. We love being outside, watching movies and cooking together. Damon is graduating this semester from BYU-Idaho and I (Kennedy) am a cosmetologist.

What inspired the name behind the company?

Originally I was thinking of names for my salon. Lived In Curls was my go-to salon name and it ended up working for the thrift shop too! It also turns out to be a very cheeky way off talking about giving used clothes another life, and another chance to be worn.

Where did you get the idea for your business?

It was originally a joke amongst the family, but when we actually had an opportunity to do it, we took it!

What’s most crucial to you in a business?

That we are bringing joy to those who enter our store.

What is unique about your business?

We are one of the few consignment shops that consign and sell clothing in Rexburg.

What’s your biggest achievement in the year 2022?

Being brave enough to start a business and have a second child.

What do you hope to accomplish in the year 2023?

We hope to gain more experience, get involved in community events, spread our name and build up our loyal customers.

What are you passionate about?

We grew up in Austin and Portland, so interesting and different styles have always been a part of us—especially thrifted clothing. We wanted to make an affordable clothing store where students and families could get nice, used clothing without breaking the bank.

What motivates your work?

In all honesty, being able to work with my husband. Knowing I don’t have to release him to another company everyday, all day, and I can see him whenever I want.

Does your business give back to the community? If so, in what ways? If not, how can you?

I feel like we do, we provide an opportunity for people to sell clothing without doing the work so they can have some extra cash. And I feel like we are creating affordable, nice clothing to the community.

We will probably do clothing drives in the future after the ball is rolling.

A message to our community:

Our goal is to provide a small piece of joy in the form of cheap, stylish clothing!

We are always having deals and special promotions.

Instagram-@livedinapparelthriftshop

Facebook-Lived In Apparel Thrift Shop

Or visit us during our hours at 23 S 1st E in Rexburg!

GOLDEN FEATHER PHOTOGRAPHY

A bit about the owner….

I’m Sydney McCleve! My family is from Gilbert, Arizona. That’s where I met and married my husband, Cameron, 10 years ago! I am a mom of four (five if you count Beesly the Bernese mountain dog) and thankfully, they have all inherited the same social and extroverted personalities of their parents. We all love friends and game nights and enjoy singing and dance parties whenever possible. Together we watch shows like “The Office” and “Parks and Rec.” I have listened to every true crime podcast under the sun and have managed single housing and married housing here in Rexburg and have made many friends that way!

What inspired the name behind the company?

I wanted my name to have a story behind it, even if it’s just my own meaning, so Golden Feather is representative of all the golden moments in life. The tickle fights and the fast growing giggles with your kids, the first time holding your baby after a 48-hour labor. And the feeling you had when your bride is walking towards you down the aisle. These, to me, are the golden moments in life you want to remember forever. Those are the memories I love delivering and helping you hold on to the moment you felt it!

Where did you get the idea for your business?

I started photography when I was in need of an outlet. I started as a teenager but it wasn’t until I had a family that I realized I was really good at it! Posing came easily for me. Creativity sparked once I got on a roll, and I love people! My mentor and friend taught me how to get started and believed that I could go far with the knowledge she gave. She inspired me to make it what it is today and to keep it going as far as I was able.

What’s most crucial to you in a business?

My business relies on word of mouth referrals and customer reviews. So, if I can give one person an amazing experience with me as their photographer, that’s what I thrive in. The relationship with my clients and their experience with me is most crucial.

What is unique about your business?

I take my job of delivering memories and giving an incredible experience very seriously. It’s an honor and a privilege that I don’t take lightly. I enjoy making my clients my friends and letting them know they can trust me with anything they need, even if it’s help with the reception setup or holding your dress while we pee in the woods—I’m your photographer, but I’m also your BFF.

What’s your biggest achievement in the year 2022?

I had the opportunity to quit my job and start working as a photographer full time. It was nerve wracking having four kids and a husband working part time while studying, but it’s been a dream of mine to dive in completely, and this year was my first time since establishing my LLC in 2019 that I didn’t have a full time job. I feel like I finally got to this point doing what I love, capturing photos and being a mom at the same time!

What do you hope to accomplish in the year 2023?

I am ready to be completely booked weekend-to-weekend with weddings. My goal is to have 20 weddings booked by March of next year. I have had the privilege of capturing many different types of sessions from birth, to family, and newborns. I’m excited to feel the love of couples as they bloom into a family and I think weddings are the ultimate “golden feathers” in life.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about people: their love, their stories, their behind-the-scenes versions of themselves. I enjoy learning names and making friends. I want every one of my clients to know they are seen, they are beautiful and they are loved.

What motivates your work?

At first it was just a side hustle to help provide for my family, but it very quickly became something I knew I was good at. It helped me become someone and something more than just a mom. It was a way for me to show my talents and make people happy at the same time. Being good and making people happy—how can it get any better than that?

Does your business give back to the community? If so, in what ways? If not, how can you?

This past summer was the first time I was able to participate In the Rexburg Farmers Market. I let that be an opportunity for people to get professional quality photos for an extremely low rate. I thought, “If people don’t love family photos, but they need good pictures, I’ll give it to them for 20 bucks”.

Maybe it’s not the right kind of service, but I know a lot of dads and husbands were grateful they didn’t have to pay $300+ to get all dressed up and deal with the challenge of children at a session – and instead just get the kids headshots at their local photo booth for the wall decor.

A message to our community:

I love Rexburg. We came as students seven years ago, leaving all family, siblings, and community behind, 14 hours south of here. And we fell in love. We fell in love with the social environment and the safety, the feeling of knowing our child can walk home from school and looking forward to the 4th of July parade or the the community get together at Porter park. After having all of our children grow up here in the town, we couldn’t find a reason to leave. So, last year we bought a house. We have found that all those years of missing our family and feeling left out that Rexburg was our family all along. Even with the friends that have come and gone with school and career paths, we find ourselves here still, braving through the wind chill and celebrating when the snow clears. We haven’t had a chance to say it in such a formal way so I’m thankful for Rexburg Commons for giving us the opportunity.

For more local news and information, go to RexurgCommons.com.