We’re highlighting small businesses from around the country as nominated by you, our readers. If your favorite small business is using Twitter to communicate with customers, let us know about it @fbsmallbiz with the hashtag #mysbc, and it may be featured as an upcoming Small Business of the Day.

Small Business of the Day: Four Black Paws

Who: Sarah Struett, 24, @4blkpaws

What: Handmade accessories for dogs

When: December 2010

How: Struett's idea came to her for two separate reasons. First, being a first-grade teacher in an area that was laying off employees, she wanted some security and a back up plan. Second, her dog , Leila, a five-year-old black lab, was constantly being mistaken for a male dog.

"I could never find anything cute for her in stores," Struett said. "People always thought she was a boy. And, anything cute wasn't affordable."

Struett began going to the fabric store and making accessories for her pup, and Four Black Paws was born. Today she continues to work as a teacher in the same school while running her business on the side.

Where: St. Joseph, Mich.

Biggest lesson learned from a customer: "I worked in customer service before I got my teaching job," Struett said. "I learned service is key, so I try to go above and beyond. I hand wrap all of my orders with tissue paper and include a handwritten note. Big corporations aren't getting that across to customers, but small businesses can give a personal touch."

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