In telling entrepreneurial stories, it's easy to get caught up in the romantic narrative of the "million dollar" idea. Meet three small business owners who experienced ups and downs throughout the early chapters of their success stories.

• COOPER & ELLA-  Cooper & Ella, an apparel company that is carving out a niche in women's clothing: affordable, classic-style blouses that transition from the workday to nightlife was created by Kara Mendelsohn soon after she realized that she needed to reinvent her career path if she were to continue working in fashion. UPS helped cooper & ella offer customers multiple ways to have items delivered on time.
• YOGIBO LLC- When Eyal Levy's wife, Noa, was pregnant, they searched for a supportive product that would allow her to comfortably sleep on her belly. At first, they demonstrated the product at outdoor fairs and craft shows. "Once people sit on it, they understand the level of comfort and that it's not just another beanbag," Eyal Levy says. The company uses UPS to import fabric and accessories from international vendors.
•  CABINETPARTS.COM-Patton Abbe launched CabinetParts.com in 1997 to fill a need for do-it-yourselfers and small contractors. Abbe says. "UPS helped us set this up so that each affiliate has its own account number under our name, and we get the tracking information we need."