Mechelle Designs

The person in the Ms. Biz spotlight this week is Mechelle.  Please stop by and visit her at Mechelle Designs.

Q: Tell me a little about your business(es) - what you sell, service provided, etc.

Mechelle: I create original pieces of artwork in my online shop.  I am currently creating  a series of whimsical birds. Their cute, quirky, mischievous little birds.

Q: How did you decide on the business name?

Mechelle: I simply used my name in my website shop.  I included the word designs because I have prints, pillows, pendants, note cards and magnets.

Q: When and why did you start your business?

Mechelle: I have been an professional artist for a little over 20 years. I generally exhibited my work in outdoor art festivals, but since having three children I wanted to see if I could sell in an online shop.

Q: What was the hardest part for you?

Mechelle: Marketing my work myself.

Q: What motivates you to keep going?

Mechelle: I have had a passion for creating art since I was a child. I keep trying new avenues, or different techniques to make my work better and better.

Q: Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business?

Mechelle: Network with others starting their own business, pass out business cards where ever you go. Get your name or product out to the public.

Q: Anything else that you would like for us to know about you - “the woman behind the business” - hobbies, interests, etc

Mechelle: I enjoy traveling, going to museums and other quaint little shops with unique handmade goods.

Q: Would you like to offer a discount for the readers?

Mechelle: If you buy one print you get the second print half off.

Thank you, Mechelle, for being this week’s Ms. Biz!

Please stop by and check out Mechelle’s cute art at Mechelle Designs.

Everyday Occasions

I would like to introduce you to our next Ms. Biz!  Kimberly Vetrano is the owner of Everyday Occasions and several other sites.

Q: Tell me a little about your business (or businesses).  For example, what you sell, services offered, etc)

Kimberly: I am the owner of Everyday Occasions (http://www.Everyday-Occasions.com). I offer personalized gifts and favors for all occasions including personalized rotating message pens, personalized candy and non-candy wrappers, personalized drink favors (coffee, tea, cocoa, cappuccino and cocktails), personalized buttons, magnets and more!

I am also the owner of She Scribes (http://www.SheScribes.com) where I do product and site reviews as well as contests. I also own Kimberly Vetrano (http://www.KimberlyVetrano.com) and my digital scrapbook site City Scribe Scraps (http://www.CityScribeScraps.com) where I offer free digital scrapbook elements and kits.

Q:  What is your best selling product?

Kimberly:  My personalized rotating message pens are my number one best seller.

Q: How did you come up with the name?

Kimberly:  I wanted to come up with a name that would cover all the special occasions in people’s lives, from baby showers to weddings and from retirement parties to business promotions. The name Everyday Occasions pretty much sums that all up.

Q: When and why did you start the business?

Kimberly:  I started my business in May of 2003. My initial reason for starting my business was to raise a little extra pocket money to afford those “little luxuries” in life you can’t normally afford on one salary such as ordering pizza or taking the kids to the movies. I also wanted a creative outlet for when my children were in school. There is only so much cooking and cleaning you can do.

Q: What was the hardest part for you?

Kimberly:  Initially it was getting customers. These days the hardest part is keeping up with the SEO on my site and coming up with new and exciting products and ideas to keep my customers coming back for more.

Q: What motivates you to keep going?

Kimberly:  My family and the feeling of accomplishment and a “job well done” I get when I complete and order and when the customer takes the time to compliment me on my work. I also love being a part of people’s happy occasions, even in a small way. It thrills me when people send me pictures of the products I created for them at their event (like favors on the table at a wedding) or e-mail me their special stories about the favors I created. My customers make me a part of their special day and that really makes my heart smile.

Q:  Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business or ones who have just begun?

Kimberly:  Be true to yourself and follow your passion. Just because a business promises you the world doesn’t mean it can deliver. You need to find a home business you are passionate about, one that will make you get out of bed in the morning and have you smiling when you go to bed at night. It’s not always about the money. Some businesses lead you to believe you’ll get rich quick but the truth of the matter is NO ONE gets rich quickly. You need to put a lot of time, sweat and energy into making your business a success. Success takes time and it doesn’t happen over night. You truly have to love what you do. Don’t just take on a business because of the money you think you can make. Money does not mean success. Loving what you do AND making money. That is success!

Q: Tell me about you - hobbies, favorite things, etc.

Kimberly:  I am a freelance writer and photographer. I enjoy reading, traveling, learning and meeting new and interesting people.

Q:  Do you have a discount you would like to offer the readers?

Kimberly: Free shipping (except international and rush orders) on personalized rotating message pens.

Thank you, Kimberly, for taking the time to answer our questions!  Please stop by and visit Kimberly at Everyday Occasions, or one of her other sites, today.

The PolkaDot Frog Boutique

I would like to introduce you to the next Ms. Biz.  Tina is the founder of The PolkaDot Frog Boutique.

Q: Tell me a little about your business (or businesses).  For example, what you sell, services offered, etc)

Tina: My business is customizing unique gifts.  I make handmade children’s clothing, like A line dress, shirts and pants outfits, personalized appliquéd t-shirts. We have baby bibs, burp cloths, blankets, rattles, personalized sippy cups, sports cups, koozies, travel mugs, hand painted clipboards and chalkboards, little girls spa items,custom gift baskets for any occasion, altered books, home decor, hair bows and hair bow holders. We can custom make most of our items. We offer personalization on most of our items. It can be an embroidered name or monogram on an item or it can be a hand painted name or monogram as well. You can pick materials, ribbons, thread colors, fonts and designs. Everything to make it your own personal item. Different from all others.We offer a special hand written note to be sent to the person receiving a gift and the gifts are always gift wrapped - for no charge. I want to offer boutique style with out the high boutique prices so everyone can enjoy a special gift. We give every purchase that gift feel…even if it is for the person buying it. Everything is a gift.

Q:  What are your best selling products?

Tina: My best selling products are the personalized hand painted clipboards but a very close second are the new bow holders that I personalize with a letter on the ribbon.

Q: How did you come up with the name?

Tina: I wanted a frog logo because of the F.R.O.G. which in my life stands for Forever Rely On God. I tossed around names that would fit a frog logo, like - The Lily Pad and such but nothing jumped out at me. I am a sewer an I do embroidery so when I came across a frog design of a frog that had polka dots AND it was cute, I said that’s it. It has to be The PolkaDot Frog.

Q: When and why did you start the business?

Tina: I started it because I was tired of going into high end boutiques to buy the cutest clothes for my daughter and having to spend $80.00 on a dress that was very simple to make. I wanted to be able to let her go and play on the playground, make an art project or go for lunch and not worry about the “What if’s”. So I decided that I needed to start using the talent that God gave me instead of letting it go to waste.

Q: What was the hardest part for you?

Tina: The hardest part for me was and sometimes still is - jumping out there and just doing it. Creating something new. What if no one likes it, what if I put this design on that bib and someone wanted something different…Oh No! What if…What if I sat there and did nothing…noting would sell. Sometimes it is still hard. What if I choose to do spiders for fall and everyone wants pumpkins, now I have spider shirts everywhere. What if nobody likes it? That type of thing is the hardest for me.

Q: What motivates you to keep going?

Tina: My motivation is when I do jump out there and make things and people flock to them and snatch them up.Just today I was taking in some bow holders and before they were even out, she was grabbing one. The other is my family. They may second guess what I am doing or why but when it is all said and done they are my biggest promoters. Especially the kids. Sometimes that can be embarrassing. But always in the best of ways.

Q: Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business or ones who have just begun?

Tina: Do what you like to do but Love what you do. It should be a passion. Take a chance on that product or design that you are unsure of. You may not be in love with it but someone will be. Don’t stop! It is a slow process. Some do jump right in and make it big but the majority of people don’t. Do not be fooled by those that say it is nothing. It is your life and you have to dedicate yourself to it. It is your job. You may not get fired but when you have no customers…you’re fired. If you stay focused on the big picture you will win. I told my son today that nothing in life worth having comes easy. The harder you work for it, the more rewarding it is in the end. KEEP GOING!

Q: Tell me about you - hobbies, favorite things, etc.

Tina: My hobbies are: being a craft junkie. If they have made it, I have the tools and supplies for it…well no I don’t… I have not made my own glass beads…yet. Every summer I give the girls a summer project. We made lotions and lip balms last summer. This summer it was soaps. The 8 year old got her first sewing machine so that is fun to show her new things and seeing her try to come up with things and “patterns” on her own. I love to sew and create different things. I would be rich if I could patent every thought that crossed my mind. I love to watch the sun come up on the beach, the world waking up. I like to watch the sunset over water. I love puppies and babies. I love my job. I teach preschool. I love children. But I have to say that my most passionate thing to do is spend “nothing” time with my family, that is more valuable than anything. Nothing meaning we don’t have to do anything, we can sit and do nothing. Those are the memories that will take us through life.

Q: Do you have a discount you would like to offer the readers?

Tina: They can get 15% off using the code MSBIZ.

Thank you, Tina, for being this week’s Ms. Biz!  Please stop by and visit Tina at The PolkaDot Frog Boutique.

Natural Mommy’s

I would like to introduce everyone to our next Ms. Biz.  Christina is a work at home mom and founder of Natural Mommy’s.

Q: Tell me a little about your business (or businesses).  For example, what you sell, services offered, etc)

Christina: The name of my business is Natural Mommy’s, the reason it is spelled Natural Mommy’s versus Natural Mommies is because I plan on making Natural Mommy’s very big with many different aspects. For example my first website is called Natural Mommy’s Pure Baby Living, My next one looks like its going to be Natural Mommy’s Pure Family Living and on and on as I expand. My business in an infancy stage right now and I am working hard to make it everything I want it to be. I sell Herbal & Homeopathic remedies for conception, prenatal, and postnatal, labor and delivery aids and of course remedies for mom, baby and childhood(up to teen years!). I strongly encourage attachment parenting so I also sell baby slings. Living a natural, chemical free lifestyle is very important to me so I am very happy to offer natural skin care for babies, this includes, soap, cradle cap treatment, lotion, room freshener, and diaper rash cream. Coming very soon I will have Natural & Organic crib mattresses.

Q:  What is your best selling product?

Christina:  My best selling products are my herbal & homeopathic supplements.  If I had to pick one it would be the Cradle Cap Salve.

Q:  How did you come up with the name?

Christina:  Selling products is not my ultimate goal, educating parents on natural birthing and natural product options and supplying evidence as to why the natural options are in there benefit to use is what means the most to me! I gave birth to both of my children naturally and painlessly and this has empowered and inspired me beyond words, from this experience came the name: Natural Mommy’s.

Q:  When and why did you start the business?

Christina:  The business started about 6 months ago and the reason I started this was pure inspiration to make a difference in peoples lives and ultimately make a difference in our society.

Q:  What was the hardest part for you?

Christina:  The hardest part for me is starting up with very little money and trying to drive traffic to my site.

Q:  What motivates you to keep going?

Christina:  What motivates me more than anything is the knowing of my life purpose is to make a difference. What keeps me going when I may feel down is releasing my negative feelings and self doubt.

Q:  Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business or ones who have just begun?

Christina:  My advice to women who are thinking of starting their own business is to really check in with themselves and make sure they are coming from their center being, to make sure that every part of them feels “right” about what they are doing. Get clear with your intentions of your business and always reexamine. Letting go of any negative thoughts or self doubt is KEY!

Q:  Tell me about you - hobbies, favorite things, etc.

Christina:  I am in process of becoming a transformational life coach, everything about this is very interesting to me. My hobbies are furthering my education in Holistic care, Homeopathic Care, Life Coaching, Natural Parenting, Natural Lifestyles, Green Living, Feng Shui, you name it, I love it!  I am a WAHM, I have two babies, age one and two, they are thirteen months apart and a hand full.

Q:  Do you have a discount you would like to offer the readers?

Christina:  Right now I am offering readers buy 2 get 1 Free on my Homeopathic Remedies!

Please stop by and visit Christina at Natural Mommy’s.

TheWritePlace

I would like to introduce all of you to our next Ms. Biz! Please stop by and visit Sam at TheWritePlace.

Q: Tell me a little about your business (or businesses). For example, what you sell, services offered, etc)

Sam: While I am involved with several business activities, my main focus is on Advertising & Marketing. Creating ad campaigns gives me the opportunity to indulge in my first love, writing. Marketing gives me the thrill of seeing my efforts to persuade come to financial fruition. As you can see from my web site, I am involved with several businesses, as I have learned how much diversification means financially. Along the way, I learned how much I enjoy and have profited from Affiliate Marketing. The key is feeling good about something enough to want to promote it because it’s the consistent advertising to large audiences that brings home the bacon.

Q: What is your best selling product?

Sam: I would have to say my best selling product is ad creation but my advertising affiliates and the mailers I offer run very close behind.

Q: How did you come up with the name?

Sam: I honestly don’t recall at this time, but I do know that it came quickly - as if on its own.

Q: When and why did you start the business?

Sam: TheWritePlace opened for business a few years ago. I tend to make friends easily (on and off the Net) and through discussions I began to realize that while so many people wanted help with their ad campaigns the price of hiring someone was prohibitive. Occasionally someone would ask me for a favor: would I write an ad for them? I did. Finally, another friend told me I was going about this all wrong. She said that since I was blessed with the talent to be able to create successful ad campaigns, why was I ‘giving away the freebies’. It hadn’t occurred to me yet that I could possibly develop my own service. Since I hadn’t needed them, I didn’t search copywriters, but now I was curious about what they were charging. I was stunned! No wonder people were unable to afford this kind of help. It was then I decided to help their struggle by offering reasonable assistance. I knew I could do a professional job and deliberately priced well below the going rates. Some thought I was cheating myself; others loved the idea. Either way, it made me marketable starting out. Since then, I’ve still kept my pricing low. There are a lot of talented, ambitious people who have trouble writing ads but most people do not have large budgets, especially these days, so I think of what I try to do for others and what they get out of it as a Win/Win situation.

Q: What was the hardest part for you?

Sam: Initially, believing enough in myself. New beginnings are exciting but they’re a little scary, too. I realized that now I’d have to start advertising ‘myself’. Could I do that? Would anybody pay attention? At the time, I was editor/publisher of a newsletter - but would that guarantee anything? Well, I just threw myself out there and advertised all over. Sometimes I still can’t believe how fortunate I’ve been. My first Testimonial had me over the moon for days!

Q: What motivates you to keep going?

Sam: The sheer love of what I do and, significantly, the people I get the opportunity to meet from all over the globe.

Q:  Do you have any advice for other women wanting to start their own business or ones who have just begun?

Same: Do not let anything discourage you. Do not let other people tell you how ‘crazy’ you are. It’s not always easy, but get yourself to the level of tuning them out. This might surprise some, but people who are independent-minded and ambitious can be very threatening to those who’d never venture outside their own build-in cocoons. Communicate with people who think like you do. I wrote a book a few years ago, “Soul Food For The Net”. It was all about people like us and how we bolster each other. There are also articles. I was very pleased with the response because it gave others the impetus to keep marching to their satisfying beat. This may sound self-serving, but trust me, it comes from the heart. Competitive Activity on the Net is stiff (and that’s putting it nicely). I can’t say it enough: do not send out Bad Ads and stop wasting your time with ads that are not working for you. Your competition can’t wait to pick up every dime you leave on the table. Again, this is not self-promotion but experience. We ALL have to change advertising courses sometimesand that includes me.

Q: Tell me about you - hobbies, favorite things, etc

Sam: Besides working on the Net (which I absolutely love!), my favorite things to do are writing, reading, traveling, cooking, watching old movies (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Jimmy Cagney, Constance Bennett, etc., etc.), anything by Rodgers & Hammerstein. To round it out, I also enjoy horror movies (Dracula’s my favorite monster) and dramas like “Gentleman’s Agreement, “Imitation of Life”, “Raisin In The Sun”, “Madame X” and “From The Terrace”. “The Godfather” and “Goodfellows” are way up there, too. I’m also a huge fan of doo-wap music and when my family gets together we love to sing it. I guess I’m pretty eclectic (or, as my friends say, I’m all over the place). I consider myself fairly lucky, too, in that I really enjoy my 9-5 (as Asst. Property Manager for a large residential unit).

Q: Do you have a discount you would like to offer the readers?

Sam: Yes, especially with the hot Holiday Selling Season on our heels! If they mention that they read about me here I will give them a 15% Discount on any writing I do for them, and that includes the packages. All info is on my site. In fact, tell them to mention “Tami sent me!”

So, stop by and vist Sam at TheWritePlace.  The discount combined with her already reasonable pricing is too good a deal to pass up!

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