I absolutely loved having Carrie Ermence on this episode of Heart of the Hustle! Carrie is the powerhouse behind Lone Star Roots—a boutique Texas lifestyle brand that blends heart, humor, and hometown pride in every product.
Carrie and I started our businesses around the same time, and I’ve admired her from day one. In this episode, we talked about how she went from teaching first grade to building an award-winning retail brand, all while staying deeply involved in her community. Her story is full of heart—and hilarious merch.
We also filmed this one in-studio, and Carrie brought some of her best-selling products (yes, I’m still laughing about the “Sorry About My Husband” hat). If you’ve ever thought about turning your passion into a product—or you want to see what authentic community-driven entrepreneurship looks like—this one’s a must-watch.
💡 In this episode, we dive into:
-How Lone Star Roots started with a heart-shaped Texas logo and a love of storytelling
-What it takes to build a merch brand that resonates with both native and new Texans
-Why community involvement (Frisco Chamber, Refresh NTX, and beyond) is essential for real business growth
-How Carrie won Entrepreneur of the Year—and nearly missed the gala!
-The power of turning personal loss into purpose, and entrepreneurship into impact
🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube or on your favorite podcasting platform.
-----------------------------------------------------------
📍 Featuring her shop, her top-selling merch, and even a few business bloopers (hello, emergency hair appointment before a gala award night), this episode is a must-watch for any entrepreneur balancing humor, hustle, and heart.
🔗 Shop Lone Star Roots: https://lonestarroots.com
📸 Follow Carrie: @lonestarroots
🎧 Listen to More Episodes: Search “Heart of the Hustle” on your favorite podcast platform or watch full episodes on YouTube!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Timestamps:
00:00 Building Community Through Business
01:08 Introduction to Today's Heart of the Hustle
02:06 The Origin Story of Lone Star Roots
02:44 From Teaching to Entrepreneurship
03:04 Creating a Relatable Brand
07:45 Expanding Through Mercantile Spaces
09:49 Humor and Texas Pride in Merchandise
13:03 Popular Products and Market Presence
15:12 Fun and Versatile T-Shirts for All Seasons
16:13 Community Involvement and Business Growth
20:04 Awards and Recognitions
23:40 Supporting Local Nonprofits
25:24 Leadership Programs and Future Plans
29:01 Family Business and Future Endeavors
30:49 Where to Find Lone Star Roots Products
#TexasPride #HeartOfTheHustle #LoneStarRoots #CarrieErmence #TexasEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #CommunityDriven #SupportLocalTX #MerchWithMeaning #FriscoBusiness #HeartCenteredLeadership
🎯 Want to Walk Away With a Month of Content in Just One Hour?
✨ Be a guest at the Heart of the Hustle Studio and leave with more than a great interview. You’ll get:
-Short-form reels and audiograms
-Done-for-you captions and pull quotes
-A full SEO blog post
-Strategy-backed content that builds authority and connection
📩 Apply now at https://www.sherrysutton.com/heartofthehustlevodcastapplication and let us turn your story into your most powerful marketing asset.

#HeartOfTheHustle #WomenInLeadership #SherrySutton #LeadershipWithHeart #DoneForYouContent #MarketingStudio #ContentThatConnects