Mompreneur
The Mompreneur movement continues to grow. More moms are taking the plunge and developing their own businesses or creating their own products. Many moms are able to work from home and strike a balance between bringing home the bacon and bringing up the kids. The internet has also opened a world of possibilities making this an ideal time for Moms to launch their own enterprises. Still, the notion of launching an enterprise (regardless of size) can be overwhelming, intimidating, and downright terrifying. So before you empty your savings account or refinance your home, consider these tips to ensure a successful transition to the world of Mompreneurs!
Define the Dream
I am convinced that everyone has one – a dream that is. We all are equipped with that still small voice that encourages us to pursue our passion. Carl Sandburg once said, “Nothing happens unless first we dream.” But sometimes our dream gets a little lost in the loads of laundry and can grow with hazy with the headache of homework. Stop for a moment and consider if you could do anything with your time – what would it be? Are there causes that your care about or problems that need to be solved. Your new business could tap into these needs and result in a successful new career. So take a good hard look and do a little soul searching. Your dream is there – just under the surface – waiting for you to take notice.
Do Your Homework
Now that you have your dream defined – it’s time to do your homework. Using the internet as your primary tool, check out what’s out there and if a demand exists. Also, consider whether additional training or education is needed. Talk to people who have succeeded in similar enterprises. Not only will that allow you to tap into much-needed expertise, it’s also a wonderful way to network.
Create a Plan
Now don’t freak out at the notion of creating a business plan. For many women, putting it on paper is overwhelming and anxiety producing. I think the reason this task can seem so difficult has more to do with psychology versus capability. It is the fear that is keeping you from moving forward RIGHT NOW. Mary Manin Morrissey said, “You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” So take that step and write the plan – it will propel your dream from fantasy to reality. Although fears will emerge as you start taking these important steps, a plan can serve as a road map and will keep you on course as your vision comes to light. A basic plan should include a mission statement, goals, marketing strategy and budget. Once that’s completed, you are on your way!
Get Going!
Once the plan is created, set a timeline and get going! I promise, the more you focus on your dream, the easier it will be to quiet the stirring within. Think of it this way, you are doing what you are destined to do! Marsha Norman said it best, “Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.” Remember, most mom businesses grow organically through connections that already exist or new ones within your community. Talk up your business wherever you go—whether it’s at a PTA meeting, Rotary Club, or the sidelines of your child’s soccer game. Develop a website that’s a showcase for you and your enterprise and keep business cards on hand. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or suck all of your free time away. It’s something that you can pace – as long as you are making progress.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mark Twain. He wrote, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Join the other pioneering Momprenuers and take the chance. Or, stealing a line from a famous tennis shoe, “JUST DO IT!” You’ll never regret it.
Nothing is more exciting than Bringing Home Baby! Momprenuer Staci Munir made it her business to celebrate that happy occasion by creating a business called Howdy Baby! Billboards.
Q: How did Howdy Baby! Billboards get started?
A: After the birth of my second child 7 years ago, I was disappointed in the local selection of Stork Sign services. The available signs were not very unique or even attractive, nor were the keepsakes. Being an artist, I considered the idea of making my own yard signs. After researching the business structure, I decided it would be a good fit for my life as a stay at home mother with 2 young children in tow and quickly got to work!
Q; How did you come up with your stork sign designs?
A: Well, my first goal was to be original and whimsical. Honeslty, I didn’t even want to offer a stork but I knew this was a traditional icon so I created a way to make him unique by making him a Texas cowboy Stork. We call him “Bubba”. We offer other designs as well for people who would like something besides the traditional stork such as a large baby carriage. Over time, we have added new designs such as “Bella” our Princess Fairy stork, and “Sam” (named after my own son Sam), the traditional style stork. “Bubba” the Cowboy Stork continues to be not only our most popular sign but our company icon as well.
Q: What kind of services does Howdy Baby provide?
A: We offer baby yard sign rental in 7 week or 10 week rentals. The rental includes delivery and set up of the sign as well as a hand painted star keepsake that is personalized with the new baby’s birth information. It’s a very special item for parents to keep and even add to the décor of their child’s nursery. Then, At the end of the rental, we come and remove the sign. We also offer 4 day sign rentals for birthday’s too with our super cute birthday cake sign.
Q: How has Howdy Baby! Billboards grown over the years?
A: Its amazing how a simply business plan can develop into a complex structure that almost takes a path all of its own. Howdy Baby started with 8 hand painted signs that were all delivered by me to families all over the Dallas area, to a fleet of 30 signs delivered by 3 Territory Operators. These territory operators are all mothers in the Dallas area that have the desire to be part of a small business and earn some extra income for their families.
We have been able to take our signs and create business packages that allow people to purchase our signs and use them to create a stork sign business of their own using our designs. All of the hard work and success secrets are shared with our vendors so that they too may go on to create a successful Stork Sign business in their area. We have 2 Howdy Baby vendors at the moment, one in California and one in North Carolina. And many other areas in the works to be opening soon.
Q: What is your favorite part of owning Howdy Baby! Billboards?
A: In the beginning, it was the fact that I could use my artistic talents to create signs that were fun and unique, then as the business grew, I enjoyed the fact that the business was something I could operate with my 2 young children in tow. They simply rode around with me on my deliveries! But the really enjoyment in this business is the joy that our signs bring to both new families but to their friends and family. We love to hear the stories of families being welcomed home with a Howdy Baby Stork sign in their yard! We also love the loyalty that our customers use us to welcome all the babies in their family, year after year. We are a big part of these family’s new baby experience and that is a really special feeling. And sometimes if we are lucky, we are able to get a peek at the new family member and that’s always special of course!
Q: What is the future for Howdy Baby?
A: As the demand for our signs service grows, so does the need for people to help cover the vastly growing metroplex areas. We are making plans to expand into the Fort Worth area as well as areas in the mid cities. We offer the opportunity to share our business success with other moms in the area who would like a flexible and rewarding side business that works well with being a stay at home mom.
For more information, go to www.howdybillboards.com
May 20th, 2010
Hospitality Suite is a boutique catering company that does completely custom orders. They are competitively priced because They don’t have a storefront. Their food is fresh and high quality. Learn more about them below!
Question. 1 How did you get…
March 11th, 2010
Nothing is more exciting than Bringing Home Baby! Momprenuer Staci Munir made it her business to celebrate that happy occasion by creating a business called Howdy Baby! Billboards.
Q: How did Howdy Baby! Billboards get started?
A: After the…
March 5th, 2010
NV CUPCAKES!
I love celebrating my Momprenuers and am consistently inspired by their stories. Today’s Momprenuer took her desire to plan a special birthday for her son into a thriving, delisious business.
Ngoc Nguyen and her sister Van were…
March 5th, 2010
This Week’s Momprenuer made it her business to dress your feet! She has an amazing company called Footure! For information on how you can get your hand on these stylist shoes, go to www.footure.net.
