Cobb Reporter

The Cobb Chamber recently honored its Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, Businesses to Watch, the Small Business Hall of Fame, Next Level of Excellence, Community Service Excellence, and Special Award Categories winners. In a significant announcement, Yalo, a full-service creative agency, was named the 2024 Small Business of the Year at the Chamber's annual awards luncheon. The event was presented by LOUD Security Systems, Inc. and S.A. White Oil Company.

Yalo has been a 100 percent minority-owned creative agency for the past 11 years. It delivers branding, digital ecosystems, and omni-channel advertising for its roster of clients. Last year, Yalo was included in the prestigious Inc. 5000 list due to its impressive 151 percent revenue growth over a three-year period. The company also saw a substantial increase in personnel by 179 percent during this time frame.

By the end of 2023, Yalo continued on its path of record growth by adding 12 new clients – marking its largest increase in net new clients ever. The company's revenues reached over $10.64 million, which represents a year-over-year increase of 46 percent.

Drawing inspiration from film, arts, music, and sports, Yalo creates dynamic brands for its clients while delivering unmatched results. Their unique approach to each client’s brand essence and strategy sets them apart within their industry.

As the Chamber’s 2024 Small Business of the Year winner, Yalo will now compete in the state’s small business of the year competition.

To be considered for the Top 25 Small Businesses of Year award, each candidate must submit an application to the Cobb Chamber demonstrating an increase in sales or unit volume as well as examples of innovation. Applicants must also discuss adversity and challenges they've faced and detail their community involvement.

After all applications are judged and rated by independent community business leaders and affiliates of the U.S. Small Business Administration, five finalists are selected based on their numerical score. These finalists then undergo a site visit by an independent panel of judges.

The Cobb Chamber also honored the following Top 25 Small Businesses at the 2024 Small Business of the Year Awards: 1885 Grill, Modo Modo Agency, 41 South Creative, Operative IQ, About You Family Medicine, Peachtree Hearing, DeNyse Companies, Perfect Image, DynamiX, PlayEclipse Networks, Proda Technology, Essayon Progress Management, Riverside EpiCenter, Great South Metals, SpeedPro Marietta, GreenMellen Media, The Butcher on Whitlock, Honeysuckle Biscuits & Bakery, The Music Studio, Instant Imprints, The Veterinary Clinic, Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team and Yalo.

The Cobb Chamber also announced two special award categories: Minority-Owned Business of the Year and Woman-Owned Business of the Year. The 2024 Minority-Owned Business of the Year was awarded to Perfect Image and the Woman-Owned Business of the Year award went to FruiTea Bubbles Café.

The Community Service Excellence Award was presented to two deserving companies: 1885 Grill and The Alley Stage. In addition to these awards presentations, Wasserman Talent Solutions was named as the 2024 Business to Watch. Finally, AquaGuard received the Next Level of Excellence Award for exceeding SBA size standards and continuing to excel as an industry leader.