In 20 years, Lori Nair’s business, Tatermash Embroidery, has come a long way from a chance encounter with her daughter needing a special bag for her wheelchair. Nair started sewing the bags and eventually expanded to embroidery before opening a brick-and-mortar location near 31st and Harvard in Tulsa. Despite traveling for her business, she expresses her love for being in Tulsa and attributes the success of her shop to her dedicated team.
Tulsa is seeing an increase in female business ownership, with an equality score of 61/100. Nair emphasizes the importance of networking with other small businesses for success. However, the city has seen a significant decline in homelessness by disability status, with the score dropping from 35/100 in 2018 to 20/100 currently. Walt Lewis, who uses a wheelchair, shares his struggles faced by those in similar circumstances.
Mayor GT Bynum acknowledges these statistics as part of a larger story for the city of Tulsa. The community’s support for small businesses like Nair’s and the need for additional resources to address homelessness by disability status are key aspects of Tulsa’s ongoing growth and development.
