Monroe Made: Angie Chapman Kyle
Angie Chapman Kyle, Class of 1994 Tellico Plains High School
Angie Chapman Kyle is a proud member of the Tellico Plains High School Class of 1994 and is a shining example of what it means to be Monroe Made. As the owner of A Lot Less Factory Outlets, Angie’s story is one of faith, grit, community, and an unshakable belief that dreams, when paired with hard work, can become reality.
For Angie, a Monroe County education laid the foundation for everything that followed.
“I’m so thankful that I had teachers who poured into and reminded us daily to never stop dreaming,” she shared. “That also made me believe in myself and that the sky was the limit.”
Some of Angie’s earliest memories speak to the compassion and dedication of Monroe County educators. On her very first day of kindergarten, while her mother was in the hospital giving birth to her sister, a teacher’s aide named Miss Diane stepped in to help her through the day. “I was so thankful for her and decided that I’d go back the next day,” Angie recalled.
She credits many educators, Mrs. McDaniel, Mrs. Crowe, and Mr. McCulloch, for preparing her for success. In high school, a part-time job at a gas station owned by Mary Jane Saunders helped Angie see firsthand what a strong work ethic and entrepreneurship looked like. “I knew from an early age that I wanted my own store, but when I went to work for her, I realized that dream could come true,” Angie said. Another pivotal influence was Mr. Peels; his economics class introduced her to the lifecycle of manufacturing products. Years later, that lesson would come full circle when Angie found herself owning a salvage business.
Angie’s journey did not include college, but it did include courage. At 21, she and her husband and business partner, Tim, opened her first store, The Dollar Mart, with a small loan. When that model didn’t work, Angie pivoted, restructuring the business, buying pallets, and working multiple jobs to keep it going.
Her perseverance led to growth. She rebranded as A Lot Less, built her first warehouse and store in Ten Mile by age 26, expanded to Madisonville, and in 2024 opened a new Ten Mile location. marking her highest sales year to date.
Today, A Lot Less serves thousands of customers weekly and reaches nearly 8,000 buyers through Facebook Live sales. Angie also helped revive the I-75 Raceway in 2014 and later transformed the former Western Auto Building in downtown Sweetwater into three successful businesses. Beyond business, Angie gives back by playing piano for Celebrate Recovery, reflecting her deep commitment to community and service.
Her message to the next generation is simple and powerful: “Young people, don’t ever stop dreaming and hustling! Go for it, and Go Bears!” Angie Chapman Kyle’s story is a powerful reminder that when dreams are nurtured by community, hard work, and heart, success is truly Monroe Made.
