Thirty-six small business owners in San Francisco are vying for the Most Innovative Entrepreneur of the Year award, which will be presented by Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. during the San Francisco Small Business Commission's (SBC) first Shop Outside the Box celebration. The business owners were selected based on their innovative business idea, dedicated entrepreneurial spirit and their commitment to make and sell their products in San Francisco .

The Shop Outside the Box campaign was designed to promote homegrown entrepreneurs whose products make our City one of the most interesting places to live, work and visit, said Julie Brandt, Director of the San Francisco Small Business Commission.  This campaign is the first celebration in San Francisco of locally owned small businesses and their Made in the Bay' products.  We invite the public to come and meet the creative minds behind some of their most treasured purchases, said Brandt.

The selected business owners represent every City district and will display their unique products during the Shop Outside the Box celebration from 12-noon to 7 p.m. at Union Square on Friday, December 12. Small businesses in San Francisco account for the majority of all private sector businesses and generate over 50 percent of the City's employment opportunities.

The Shop Outside the Box campaign is a tribute to the more than 100,000 hard working small business owners who are, collectively, the backbone of San Francisco 's local economy and help to drive our economic growth and development, said Brandt.   The Small Business Commission designed this campaign to remind residents to honor and support the important contributions of the small business owner.

The following small businesses have been selected to participate in this year's celebration.   The businesses are listed in alphabetical order: