Small Business Success Stories
72% of our 2024 winners experienced growth during the Evolve Small program. See how they, and other winners, used Lenovo technology to take their small business to the next level.
Small Business, Big Wins
2024 grant winners, Royal Cheesecake and Varieties and NutmegSpiced, are transforming their businesses. From digital storefronts to automated services, Lenovo technology is fuelling their growth and taking them to the next level.
Royal Cheesecake
In 2024, Royal Cheesecake and Varieties won the Lenovo Evolve Small grant. Like every small business, they have unique challenges. That’s why the grant came with a custom technology upgrade: to give them the right tech at the right time. We’re thrilled to announce that this Lenovo technology solution has been instrumental in taking Ken and Tamara's baking business to the next level, boosting efficiency and driving results.
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Lenovo InTouch430
The Lenovo InTouch430—with a massive 43-inch display—was a total game-changer. The Royal Cheesecake and Varieties team can control the screen in real time so customers can see important menu info while they’re queuing: specials, finished items, discounts, and more. This innovative bit of tech has cut down on customers umm-ing and ahh-ing. As a result, the team can serve more people at every shift, meaning more sales at the end of the day, all thanks to Lenovo technology.
Lenovo M10 Plus Tablets
Lenovo M10 Plus Tablets have been fully customized for Royal Cheesecake and Varieties. Ken and Tamara paired them with Square readers to make paying as easy as pie. The Tablet’s ultra-long battery keeps them going from breakfast till dinner. Improved efficiency means more turnover. And this additional dough has enabled them to buy a second food truck.
Lenovo ThinkPad T14 paired with ThinkVision M14t Touch portable monitor
Now, you'll see them rolling up to corporate events and spreading the cheesecake love across North Carolina. Which is why Ken loves to pair his Lenovo ThinkPad with a ThinkVision M14t Touch portable monitor. It’s slim and lightweight, with a full-HD display, providing him with an extra touch screen when he needs it. Perfect for business on-the-go.
Microsoft Copilot
Being true entrepreneurs, they're not done yet. Ken and Tamara are planning to upgrade to Microsoft 365, unlocking the full Windows 11 suite of tools and Microsoft Copilot, introducing AI features to save them even more time. Our AI resources and webinars should come in handy…
In the business of Helping People
But it's not all about the business wins. Ken and Tamara have hearts of gold too. They've teamed up with Riley's Army Triangle, an amazing local North Carolina organization started by two parents who lost their daughter to cancer. Royal Cheesecake and Varieties is doing what they do best by donating birthday cakes to kids in the hospital.
This mix of community and passion is exactly what Lenovo Evolve Small is all about. We can't wait to see what Ken and Tamara do next…with the latest tech at their fingertips, and their incredible drive, Royal Cheesecake and Varieties can have their cake and eat it too.
To connect with other small businesses, access resources, and share insights, head to the Lenovo Pro Community page. It’s our hub for all things small business.
NutmegSpiced
Sonisha was on the verge of closing her Grenadian-inspired baking business. But in late 2023 she got the call: NutmegSpiced had been selected as a Lenovo Platinum Evolve Small Winner. Now her bakery is booming. Here’s how her custom Lenovo tech package is supporting her every step of the way.
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Lenovo ThinkVision T32 Monitor
Sonisha has always been confident in her baking, but she was searching for a way to scale her business efficiency. Lenovo addressed this with two very different products. First up, the Lenovo ThinkVision T32 monitor. Sonisha makes custom presentations so passersby can see what NutmegSpiced has to offer, as well as special deals and business hours. This addressed a major issue as she’d often see customers drive by when the store was shut.
Lenovo Tab P12 Tablet
When hungry customers get to the store, they don’t have to wait long for their goodies. The Lenovo Tab P12 Tablet means the front-of-house staff can work seamlessly with the back. The server and kitchen can communicate with ease using these dynamic tablets. No yelling from the window to the oven. No mix-ups. No pie on faces. Customers often ask how things run so smoothly…Sonisha lets them know it’s all from Lenovo.
Lenovo ThinkPad T16
As a small business owner, Sonisha is the CEO, head chef, and accountant all in one. Which is where the Lenovo ThinkPad T16 comes in. This powerful laptop helps her keep up with the daily demands of running a business. Along with giving her mobile access to email, finances, and her website, AI can pull up reports from Shopify, so she knows exactly how much her baking is making. Any time, any place.
The Proof is in the Pudding
Sonisha’s tech upgrade has made an invaluable difference to her business: she’s added more treats to the menu and expanded her hours to include another day; Christmas orders were 4x higher than the previous year; during Black History Month she received a record order for a whopping 3500 treats.
With the boost in budget, there are plans to open a second store and stay open later too…she’s noticed people coming by at midnight on the hunt for sweet treats. Midnight munchies will soon be catered for.
Lenovo’s various technologies adapted to what Sonisha needed, when she needed it. And these solutions will continue to provide the tools for her to grow for years to come.
We hope our 2025 winners can follow in Sonisha’s footsteps.
