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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
33 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
As bombs and missiles fall in Iran, Isfahan's architectural treasures face an uncertain fate
While military strategists scramble to learn the damage done by U.S. bombs and missiles in Iran, many scholars and Iranian Americans are wondering what this means for the people and architectural treasures of Isfahan. The Isfahan area, which includes one of the three Iranian nuclear sites that the U.S. targeted Saturday, is also home to one of the country's most historic cities, full of landmarks from Persia's years as a regional power in the 17th century. 'The Shah Mosque of Isfahan is one of the everlasting masterpieces of architecture In Iran,' wrote archidesiign on Instagram. The city's architecture includes intricately tiled mosques, several stately bridges and a sprawling square that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. American and Israeli military leaders focus on the nuclear complex 14 miles east of Isfahan and the 2.2 million people in the city, but the list of cultural assets there is also long. A UNESCO report recently noted that the region's 17th-century leaders 'established colourful tiling as the most salient characteristic of Iranian architecture, and this decorative style reached its zenith in Isfahan.' Among the landmarks: Naqsh-e Jahan Square, also known as Shah Square and Imam Square, was laid out between 1598 and 1629, its broad central area surrounded by mosques, palaces and the Isfahan Bazaar. The open space is about 1,800 feet long and about 520 feet wide, which appears to make it the second-largest public square in the world, surpassed only by Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The Masjed-e Jāmé, also known as the Jāmé Mosque or Great Mosque of Isfahan, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012. It goes back to the year 841, its grounds showing how Islamic architecture has evolved over 12 centuries. It is the oldest Friday (congregational) mosque in Iran. The Si-o-Se Pol Bridge, also known as the Bridge of 33 Arches, was begun in 1599 and completed in 1602. Illuminated by night, it harbors tea houses on its lower deck and has served as a gathering spot for generations. At 977 feet long, it is the largest of 11 historic bridges spanning the Zayandeh River. Khaju Bridge is younger and shorter than the Si-o-Se Pol Bridge but is often billed as the most beautiful bridge in Isfahan. It was built around 1650 and made of stone and bricks with tile work above its arches. It is about 449 feet long. As the U.S. stepped into the war between Israel and Iran, U.S. military authorities told the New York Times they targeted Iranian sites in Fordo and Natanz with 'bunker-buster' bombs and Isfahan with missiles from a submarine. As of noon Sunday, CNN reported 18 destroyed or damaged structures at the Isfahan nuclear complex outside the city, which was built in 1984 and is thought to employ 3,000 scientists, making it Iran's largest nuclear research complex. There were no reports of damage or casualties in central Isfahan. Much of the city goes back to the Safavid dynasty, which lasted unbroken from 1501 to 1722. During the dynasty's peak years, the Safavids held power over what is now Iran, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Armenia, along with parts of Georgia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Türkiye and other countries. The leader during many of those peak years was King Abbas I, also known as Abbas the Great, who assumed power at age 16, ruled from 1587 to 1629, chose Isfahan as his empire's capital and effectively rerouted the Silk Road to include the city. While Shakespeare was writing plays in England and Caravaggio was painting in Italy, Isfahan's landmarks were taking shape and, thanks to the Silk Road trade, Persian rugs began showing up in the homes of wealthy Europeans. Toward the end of his tenure, nervous about succession, Abbas I had one of his sons killed and two blinded. Still, the family dynasty continued for another century. Once the dynasty fell, Isfahan lost its status as Persia's capital but retained its reputation for beauty.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump blasts Thomas Massie on Truth Social, threatens to primary NKY congressman
Donald Trump and Republican Thomas Massie are continuing to butt heads as the president berated the Northern Kentucky congressman in a recent Truth Social post. Much like he did in May, Trump once again called Massie a "grandstander' in the June 22 post after the representative of Kentucky's 4th Congressional District has repeatedly opposed the administration's policies. "Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is. Actually, MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes 'NO,' no matter how good something may be." Trump wrote in the Truth Social post. "MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague!" The two share a complicated history, with Massie upsetting Trump the first time in 2024 after Massie initially endorsed candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during his 2024 presidential bid, though he did endorse Trump just days before the election. Massie also publicly opposed Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," on Instagram in May, stating that it will add $20 trillion of federal debt over 10 years. Trump's most recent social media reaction followed Massie's fiery response on X to his administration's announcement of the bombings in Iran, calling the act "unconstitutional". Massie went on to say: "When two countries are bombing each other daily in a hot war, and a third country joins the bombing, that's an act of war. I'm amazed at the mental gymnastics being undertaken by neocons in DC (and their social media bots) to say we aren't at war… so they can make war." Massie recently joined Ro Khanna, D-Calif., in introducing a resolution that would block U.S. involvement in the conflict between Iran and Israel without congressional approval. Massie's stance drew a rebuke from Trump himself, who wrote in the June 22 post that Massie is "weak, ineffective" and "disrespectful to our military." Trump again promised to back a Republican primary challenge to Massie. Previously, Massie told The Enquirer, "I think every time that I've made my case to the people, even if it's been contrary to what the president wanted at the time, it's eventually worked out for me. And so I'm going to stick with doing what I think is right and making my case to the people." Massie represents almost two dozen counties in and around Northern Kentucky. All of those counties voted for Trump in the past three presidential elections. But while other GOP politicians have lost reelection after losing Trump's support, Massie has dominated every election cycle since he took office in 2012. He was primaried by two candidates in 2024 and beat them with about 76% of the vote. Enquirer reporter Jolene Almendarez contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trump fires back at Rep. Thomas Massie in newest Truth Social post
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stablecoin Disruption: Time to Sell Your Visa Stock?
Large retailers are trying to build stablecoins to circumvent Visa. The company has plenty of firepower to defend its position in the payments ecosystem. Investors should not panic and sell their Visa stock today. 10 stocks we like better than Visa › This week, stablecoin legislation was approved by the United States Senate. The bill -- called the GENIUS Act -- still needs to go through the other side of Congress and on to the President's desk, but it is one step closer to bringing stablecoins into the financial system. By regulating the new currencies pegged to the U.S. dollar, issuers of the coin will now need to keep ample reserves to pay back customers and also go through regular audits. Investors are betting that legislation will spur customer adoption, which is a threat to Visa (NYSE: V). If stablecoins are adopted wholesale by consumers, it could mean less payment volume through Visa's network. Less volume means less profit. Does that mean it is time to sell your Visa stock? Not really. Here's why stablecoins are not a large threat to Visa's business model today. This legislation is inspiring companies to investigate making their own stablecoins. According to reports, both Walmart and Amazon -- the two largest retailers in the United States -- are exploring making stablecoins for shoppers. Retailers are incentivized to do this because of the high fees paid to the credit card networks every year, which range from 2% to 3% of every transaction. Visa only collects 0.1% or a little more of every dollar spent, while most goes to the banking partners that issue credit cards and give consumers cash-back rewards. By adopting stablecoins, merchants see an avenue to avoiding the credit card fees that are a huge expense on their operations. Wal-Mart and Amazon alone could save billions of dollars a year that are now going to the financial system. It only needs to see mass adoption of stablecoins for this to happen. Easier said than done, but there are a lot of profits on the line for trying. Defeating Visa and credit card fees is not going to be easy. If it were, the companies would simply stop accepting Visa altogether. But they cannot, because of Visa's immense scale in merchant acceptance and consumer usage that is difficult to replicate. Visa has operations in 200 countries and territories, accepted by 150 million merchants and growing. It also has 4.8 billion total debit and credit cards in circulation. Over $15 trillion in total payments volume is processed by Visa every year. For stablecoins to succeed, they will need to replicate not one but both sides of this network. Shoppers will not use stablecoins for everyday use unless they are accepted everywhere. Merchants will not care about accepting stablecoins if nobody uses them. Call me skeptical that they will reach Visa's scale anytime soon. This is a classic example of a network effect competitive advantage, which reinforces Visa's growing dominance in the industry. Plus, we shouldn't forget about the thing consumers love about credit cards: cash back and reward points. Credit cards are able to offer so many perks to customers because of the 2% to 3% fees charged to merchants. Without them, it is a much worse customer value proposition, another hurdle for stablecoin adoption. No, you should not sell your Visa stock just because iy is dipping on stablecoin news. It is clear that this company has a strong competitive advantage and massive scale that stablecoin issuers are nowhere close to matching. The legislation has not even been approved yet, so there is no reason to panic. That does not mean the stock is necessarily a buy at these prices. Its earnings per share (EPS) grew 10% year over year last quarter, which is right around Visa's long-term growth. As such a large business already, it is not going to produce hypergrowth in the form of earnings, but steady durable growth over time. Today, the stock trades at a premium price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 34 even after this stock dip, making the stock expensive. Don't rush out and sell your Visa stock. But don't think the stock is a home run buy just because it slipped 10%, either. Before you buy stock in Visa, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Visa wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $664,089!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $881,731!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Brett Schafer has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Visa, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Stablecoin Disruption: Time to Sell Your Visa Stock? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
