Archive for the ‘work at home moms’ Category
Thursday, November 18th, 2010
Today’s guest post is from Mom Entrepreneur Support Group member Marla Murasko. She is the President of ExecuEssential Administrative Services, Inc, a virtual assistant company, and President of SpecialMompreneurs a networking group for moms with special needs children. She is also a Direct Sales Consultant for Clever Container an organizational products company. Her passion is to provide tips and tricks to achieve a cleverly organized life. You can find her at www.MarlaMurasko.com.
The change of seasons is upon us. Fall came and went, and the cold winter months are beginning. Now comes the season of sweaters and coats. This is the perfect time to re-organize and de-clutter your closet.
Having a neat and organized closet not only looks nice, but also simplifies your life, making it easier to get dressed every morning.
The key to a cleverly organized closet is to “personalize it”. Create an ideal environment that you want to go to every morning. Here is a quote I heard the other day “it’s like creating a little store in your closet that you are excited about shopping in everyday.”
You can create different sections to your closet. Knowing exactly what is in each section makes it easier to find things. Having these sections will also make it easier to put things away, since each item will have a “home.”
Here are three easy steps to creating a great, organized closet:
- Grab and Go Section. This area is for those basic foundational clothes that you wear every day. For example: nice pair of jeans, nice t-shirts or even khaki pants. Things you know will mix and match together nicely.
- Originality Section. This is for items that are not so basic in nature, but add some flair to your ever day clothes such as prints, beading or lace. Ruffled blouses or fitted jackets would go in this section.
- Archive Area. Grab the clothes that you wear almost weekly and take them out of play for a little while. Store them in this area in a plastic garment bag. This will force you to take a look at some older clothes that you may have not utilized in a while. You have a choice; you can start to wear them again or it will force you to de-clutter your closet by getting rid of unused items. It will also give a new, fresh look to your wardrobe without having to spend the big bucks to do it. It’s called re-purposing 101.
Have fun!
Tags: Clever Container, getting organized, Marla Murasko
Tuesday, October 26th, 2010
This is a guest post by Maria Ross who runs Red Slice, a branding and marketing consultancy in Seattle. She is the author of Branding Basics for Small Business (2010, Norlights Press). Please help with her important survey. More info at end of post.
As a branding consultant, I work with clients on how to tell their brand story clearly and consistently to attract the right customers. When working with many small businesses and solopreneurs, this discussion often starts with their passion for why they started the business and what value they offer to customers. What do they want to “be known for?”
Brand is more than just a logo: it’s your core reputation. It’s the mindshare you occupy in someone’s brain. That “story” is then conveyed visually, verbally and experientially to the world. Brand is impacted by not just your colors and fonts but the words and labels you use in your marketing efforts.
While working with women business owners, I see varying viewpoints on “women labels.” The words “women entrepreneur”, “fempreneur” and “mompreneur” seem to be everywhere these days, which is great to see in terms of our changing business culture. Some women buyers feel an attraction to such brands. They feel it communicates a personal touch, a more flexible workplace and sometimes just “someone who understands me.” But I also talk to women that adamantly avoid or are offended by these labels. They feel they create unnecessary distinctions, that you never see “male entrepreneur” or “dadpreneur” anywhere, or that it implies such businesses are a hobby or a whim.
My professional opinion is that it all depends on what you authentically believe in and your target audience. If your ideal customer is someone who shows loyalty to such brands, then it helps to build these terms into your messaging. If not – or if you sell to more than just women or mothers – it might make more sense to focus your brand messages on something other than gender or parenthood. Bottom line: what I think about my brand story matters but what my customers need and want matters more – if I want to sell anything that is!
So, to help all of us women business owners out there make smarter brand and marketing decisions, I’m crafting a free report to show how we feel about these terms. I’d love to hear from you, no matter where you stand on the subject.
Please participate in this short anonymous survey by November 3rd. The more responses, the more useful the data for all of us!
Tags: Maria Ross, Red Slice, survey
Thursday, October 21st, 2010
Last week, we hosted an informative teleseminar about how to: Double Your Income and Help More People by Creating Multiple Streams of Revenue from Your Expertise! The session was offered by Barb Wade a mom entrepreneur and 6-figure business coach.
It was the most popular event we have ever hosted attracting more sign ups then any other teleseminar.
This event kicked off a 3-month Membership Drive to attract new mom entrepreneurs to our online Support Group.
The 60-minute teleseminar was recorded and made in to a podcast, which is now archived in our library.
I invite you to visit The Mom Entrepreneur Support Group, sign up for free membership and listen to this podcast.
In this podcast, Barb shares:
- The 4 reasons why an hours-for-dollars business will sabotage your success.
- The truth about what clients are really “buying” from you that supports multiple streams of income.
- How to strategically design and package your expertise into your very own “Profit Pyramid”. (You can also download a sample of the Profit Pyramid to complete for yourself as well as a completed sample.)
- How this model ensures that first-time clients become repeat purchasers of your services.
- The #1 mistake entrepreneurs make when transitioning into a multiple-streams-of-income business.
All you have to do is visit The Mom Entrepreneur Support Group, sign up for free membership and download the podcast.
Tags: goal planning, how to make 6 figures, Multiple Revenue Streams, residual income sources
Monday, June 14th, 2010
Yvonne’s Invitations & Favors is a Long Island home-based online wedding invitations and favors company, fulfilling orders nationwide.
Shirley Yvonne Vitelli, the company’s founder, operates a unique online business model, offering “red-carpet personalized service” that impresses even the most demanding brides. The company’s customized, friendly service takes the fear out of ordering invitations online. Yvonne helps clients every step of the way, with flexible phone appointments to answer questions and provide support. They provide free instant online proofs and can print and ship the same day on most orders.
Their best selling products are invitations, followed by favors and accessories. Their most popular themes include beach/destination, hearts, autumn/fall and fairy-tale weddings.
Shirley started the company as a hobby, and says it’s been tremendously fulfilling to nurture and expand her business. According to Shirley, self-fulfillment leads to happiness, and happiness is the key to healthy relationships and a happy home.
To maintain a healthy work-life balance, Shirley regularly schedules quality time with her two young
children. During family time, Shirley makes it “completely about them,” putting away her laptop and work projects. And when she works with clients, she focuses on them exclusively. A night owl, Shirley works mostly in the evening after her children are sleeping. That way, she can tap into her creativity, uninterrupted.
Shirley’s biggest challenge is being a “one-woman show.” She’s not only the head of the company, but also the accountant, publicist, sales rep, etc. Like many mom entrepreneurs, her resources are limited, and she has found huge value in networking. By securing key partnerships, especially with other vendors, she increases referrals, advice and bartering opportunities.
Shirley’s strong retail background includes Hallmark, Victoria’s Secret, Bloomingdale’s, Elizabeth Arden and Bed Bath and Beyond. She has “worn many hats” in the retail industry, including store manger, retail trainer, corporate buyer and recruiter.
Shirley credits her mom with being her biggest source of inspiration. A successful career woman herself, Shirley’s mom demonstrated how to juggle career and family and maintain a healthy work-life balance. While her family is supportive of her business endeavors, Shirley’s biggest supporter is her husband, who also happens to be a hands-on dad. She values the partnership they share and truly feels blessed to have a husband like hers.
Shirley’s advice to other mom entrepreneurs: when you start to feel guilty about not spending “enough” time with family or at work, remember that quality is more important than quantity. When you’re with your kids, focus exclusively on them and when you’re at work, concentrate on the task at hand.
For more information, visit www.invitationsbyyvonne.com.
Tags: brides, invitations, wedding favors, wedding invitations, weddings
Monday, February 1st, 2010
Whether you’re working in your business suit or birthday suit, working from home offers many challenges, benefits, and adventures.
Working Naked Day on February 1st is dedicated to helping the more than 37 million home office professionals who are working naked—working without the support of the corporate workplace—to improve the way they work from home.
Home office expert and author Lisa Kanarek offers five tips for making working from home a little easier:
Know the best place to do it. Before you decide where to set up your home office, evaluate every room and ask yourself: Will I actually work in this area? Can I keep distractions to a minimum? Is there enough lighting and are there enough outlets? Is there enough room for all of my equipment, files, and supplies?
Find the right position. There are five basic furniture arrangements for your home office: L-shape; U-shape; Parallel (desk with credenza behind you); corner (desk faces the wall); or reverse corner arrangement (desk faces into the room). The arrangement you choose depends primarily on the size of your office, the type of furniture you have, and how much work surface you’ll need.
Size doesn’t matter. You can work in a 15’ x 15’ home office or inside a small, walk-in closet. The size of your home office won’t affect how productive you are. What matters is how you use that space. Make use of your walls and add shelves above or near your desk. Use a 3-in-1 printer, copier and scanner to save space.
Decide if it’s better by yourself or with your spouse. Before you share a home office with your spouse, consider whether you have compatible working styles. A neat spouse can drive a pack-rat up the wall and out of the office. Spouses work better together if each person has his own desk and “space” that’s off limits to the other spouse.
Don’t wait until you’re in the mood. Set a specific time to work in your home office each day. The time will change daily, but if you don’t target a certain start time, it may be late afternoon before you get to work.
With these five simple tips, your home office will be a place where you enjoy working, even if your commute is only seconds each day. For more home office tips, visit Kanarek’s site at www.workingnaked.net.
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
This blog post marks our 2nd annual Top Picks list. If you missed 2008′s list, check it out here…>
Every year, we receive dozens of products to review. We do not review them all due to lack of time, but all products we receive are eligible for The Mom Entrepreneur’s annual favorites list. The only criteria is that the products fit some need for a woman who is either a mom and/or an entrepreneur.
The Mom Entrepreneur’s 10 Top Picks Count Down for 2009:
10. Scentsy* – I received a beautiful Scentsy Warmer as a gift from a member of The Mom Entrepreneur Online Support Group. It is a ceramic holder with a light inside that melts a fragrance bar, which sits inside a warming dish. Mine was from their autumn line and the dish was shaped like a leaf. It is very decorative and the scents I received, Cinnamon Vanilla, Poinsettia Pine and Pumpkin Spice, all smell wonderful. I prefer this over a candle since it is safer, and when the fragrance bar is used up, you do not have to throw a glass jar away.
9. Coco-Zen – As a mom entrepreneur, I rely on chocolate to get me through the day. It is a much better day when the chocolate is really good. That is why I choose Coco-Zen. All of their treats are made from organic and Fair Trade Certified™ chocolate. My favorite is the Chocolate Chai Spice followed by the Dark Chocolate.
8. My Storytime Friends*- Last Christmas, I received a stuffed bear packaged in a colorful box, which included a 32-page hardcover storybook, and a unique code for lifetime membership and online access to free stories, downloads, activities and more for children ages 3-8. The company has combined the things children love – books, animals and fun – and packaged them in such a way that encourages children to explore, learn and interact. All of the books include key messages of empowerment over adversity, attaining dreams, and aspiring for the future. Messages that children of all ages should hear over and over again. These stories come to life with cheerful characters, rich illustrations, and realistic dialogue that families can enjoy together. A book and a bear might seem like a common gift to give, but what really excited me about this product was the lifetime membership to mystorytimefriends.com. That is why I choose them for this list.
7. Lilypad LunchMates* – I am always looking for new ways to be more environmentally
sensitive. My goal is to teach my kids these valuable lessons so that they will carry them into adulthood. That is why I love Lilypad LunchMates – they made switching from paper to cloth napkins easy. Lilypad LunchMates is a set of 5 reusable cloth napkins that come in fun colors and patterns. The company uses repurposed fabric to keep it from going in the landfill. That means they are not purchasing “styles” to sell, rather they are using the fabric that they liberated from the cutting facility as well as their excess fabric that would typically just get tossed. Their napkins are 100% cotton and handmade in the USA. They are also durable and hold up to multiple washings.
6. Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up
(affiliate link)* – This bestselling guide takes you across town and around the globe to 500 of the most exciting places on earth. It comes complete with hotel information, age recommendations, websites and more. It is comprehensive and easy to use. You can search by country, state, or alphabetically. This book makes it easy to plan family vacations and to be assured the destination is one that all will enjoy.
5. Mosquito 86* – Every summer I worry about the many pests that invade our yard and home. Wasps build nests under the eaves of our house, swinging chair and in the ground. Ants of all sizes invite their relatives to move into our house for the season, and mosquitoes are highly abundant no matter how many bats we try to attract to our bat boxes. This past summer, we had days upon days of endless rain. Soggy weather is an open invitation for ants to move in to a home, and puddles are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. I was invited to test the Mosquito 86TM Pest Eradication System, a professional-grade mosquito elimination system that is EPA approved and safe around humans and pets. The system worked extremely well for us and that is why they our on our Top Picks list.
4. Dinner Games – Last Christmas, I purchased the Gather ‘Round Dinner Game and Classic Style from Families with Purpose. Their dinner games are quick, simple, and fun. To play, families just sit down to dinner, pick a card, and read it aloud. My boys, ages 5 and 9 get so excited to play these games, and look forward to family dinners. More importantly, they are more apt to finish their food because we have found a way to make it fun!
3. HP Color LaserJet CM2320nf MFP* – You can click the link I embedded to learn all about this printer and get a full list of specs. What really matters though is that this printer is the first and last printer you will ever need. It was the easiest printer my husband has ever had to set up (his words). The printer, which includes copying, faxing and scanning capabilities as well, is very intuitive. It asks you questions during the setup process of its different functions that makes it easy to understand and use. This is perfect for us work-at-home moms who may have limited space and need to have a reliable printer that can perform many functions.
2. GoPicnic* – This product is a mom’s dream. GoPicnic creates the highest quality, best tasting ready-to-eat meals that are exceptionally convenient and require no refrigeration or special preparation – you can truly enjoy them anytime, anywhere! A GoPicnic meal is ready to eat right from the box, just grab a drink 
and enjoy one of their delicious, nutritious meals. They come in many varieties, including full meals, kids meals, and quick snackboxes. This was perfect for baseball games, soccer games, trips to the beach or park, etc. when you may be in a hurry, have not gone grocery shopping in awhile, or need something that will last if you are sitting out in the sun all day. Not only did my kids love the taste and selection, but so did my husband and I. They also offer gluten-free, kosher, halal and many other health conscious choices.
1. Citizen’s Bank – Last year, I was faced with the challenge of having to switch banks. I was very disappointed with the customer service I was receiving from my current bank at the time. I asked friends and vendors for recommendations, and the popular choice was Citizen’s Bank. Among the many perks I received was a free personal checking account for setting up a business checking account (which was also free), $.10 back for each online transaction I conduct (Green$ense program), a credit card that pays me back every time I purchase gas, and much more. I was also very pleased with their customer service, and their genuine willingness to help me get my business setup with their bank. That is why Citizen’s Bank IS my #1 Top Pick for 2009!
What was your Top Pick for 2009?
*(The products listed above marked with an * were sent to me at no charge. That being said, I am under no obligation to write a good review or to write any review about these products, and what I’m writing here are my own opinions based on my personal use of the products.)
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
Wow 2009…what a great year! I had a lot to say this year and many of you had a lot to say back. I thought it would be fun to count down the Top 11 Blog Post of 2009 based on comments and feedback from readers.
I also learned a lot about what you like and what you want to hear more about in 2010.
And here they are…
My favorite posts are #5, #3 and #2. Which one is your favorite?
Thanks so much to everyone for reading The Mom Entrepreneur Blog and for sharing your thoughts, ideas and emotions. You have been so supportive and I appreciate it very much!
I have lots more to tell you in 2010 so stay tuned!
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