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.
Why It Matters
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.
What To Know
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.
What People Are Saying
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."
What Happens Next
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.
