homebiznotes.com

November 6th, 2007

Mystery Shopping Scam Alert

Laura, at Work from Home Momma, mentioned in her comment on Yvonne’s post, Mystery Shopping Scams - Consumer Affairs Caution - Video , that she’d written today about a mystery shopping scam that’s making the rounds, especially to appeal to those working at home.  So I checked out her blog and thought some of our Home Biz Notes readers might like to read Laura’s post, Mystery Shopping Scam; Work-at-home Scam Alert.

It’s interesting when we find information that reinforces something we’ve written.  Yvonne’s post must be a timely one.  She also wrote about mystery shopping itself, Mystery Shopping - Home Business Savvy.

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By Mary Emma -- 2 comments

September 20th, 2007

Plan for Home Business Theme Days in Advance

Laura, at Work From Home Momma, mentioned in her comment to the previous post, Basing Your Home Business Promotions Around Themes, that business owners can begin planning for next year. 

“It’s not too late to put it [pilot theme day…or any other] on your calendar for next year, either.  Especially if you are going to purchase or make items based on the theme, you will need some lead time.”

So begin planning ahead for theme days.  Then the date isn’t suddenly upon you without your having made any products, prepared a promotion, or developed a strategy.

* Put the various dates on your calendar. 

*Look at the dates periodically.

*Jot down as ideas occur on your calendar.

*Make items for various promotions, sales or themes ahead of time.

*Perhaps you can get others to join your for a theme day…either within an Internet group or your community.

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By Mary Emma -- 1 comment

September 15th, 2007

10 Home Biz Notes Posts Featuring Home Businesses

We generally like to learn about other’s success stories that give us the feeling…

“Ah! If she/he can do that, I can be successful with my business” 

Or…“What a great tip!  I’ll have to try that with my home business.”

Over the existence of Home Biz Notes, I’ve interviewed and mentioned numerous home business.  I’ll round up some of these in case you missed them…or are at a point in your business where some of these tips now will inspire you.

*Mark Allen operates an online business through the utilization of CafePress as his “store.”

*Dorothy Thompson has discovered that the Internet offers her the opportunity to develop a home business organizing and promoting virtual blog tours for authors.

*Laura Spencer, on a guest post at Home Biz Notes, tells about setting up and operating her business, Writing Thoughts, while taking care of her father who had Alzheimer’s.

*Yvonne Russell discusses developing a Home Based Bookstore, with tips for operating it solely online or as a walk-in business in your home.

*Jewelry Maker Barbara Giordano has created a successful online jewelry business using the theme of adoption.

*Laurie Maier developed Blue Indigo by designing, sewing and selling handbags made from vintage fabrics.

*Quilter Eleanor Burns’ business evolves from her home into a multi-million dollar corporation.

*Richard McManus has developed blogging as a home business.

*Patricia Bolton established a home published quilting magazine, Quilting Arts, into a business with international recognition.  She soon also will host a quilting show for PBS.

*I was interviewed on Work From Home Momma about my experiences operating home businesses for the past 40 years.

What about you?  How about entering the “Jump Start Your Business” contest, as well as utilizing some of the tips from the business owners mentioned above to start your own business or expand it?

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By Mary Emma -- 0 comments

September 14th, 2007

The Home Business Juggling Game

 When I learned Laura Spencer, of Writing Thoughts, had juggled  a home business with caring for her father, as well as her family, I thought some of her tips would be helpful for other home business owners who are in the midst of this, too.  They’re part of the “sandwich generation” with responsibilities in numerous directions.  Even if your business doesn’t involve writing, Laura’s tips should help you.

Juggling Caring for a Loved One With Your Home Business

 By Laura Spencer

When Mary Emma asked me to write this guest post I was hesitant for two reasons. First of all, it’s been less than a year since Dad died and the memory is still somewhat painful. Secondly, I don’t feel that I was able to do what I did for my father on my own, I really feel that it was primarily the grace of God saw me through the past few years.

To Summarize My Situation: I left my corporate job in 2002 to spend more time with my (then) elementary school aged children. A home business seemed the perfect solution and I began to explore my alternatives. Just as I was starting to get a few clients for my business I found myself overseeing the care of both  my parents who were elderly and had become ill. Sadly, my mother died after a short time, but my father (who suffered from the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease) remained my responsibility until his death early this year.

Until my father died this year, my schedule nearly every day was to get up early and work on writing projects for clients until noon. About one thirty each day, I would leave the house and go to the nursing facility where my father was staying to check on him and to visit. If the kids were home from school, I would try to include them on those visits. Sometimes I would stop at a nearby gym to work out after visiting my father.

 If I had not met my goal for writing for the day, I would continue to write each evening for a few hours after the kids went to bed. Despite being squeezed between the demands of caring for my parents and my kids, my small business survived and even grew.  

Pointers for Caregiver/Business Owner: Here are some pointers for keeping your business running when you have the responsibility to care for a critically ill loved one:

• 1. Focus on quality. Where my work is concerned, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I proofread each document multiple times. I believe that my focus on quality is what keeps clients returning with additional projects for me to work on.
• 2. Work ahead. I don’t believe in waiting until the last minute. Working ahead proved to be a real advantage on those days where a minor crisis came up and I missed getting my morning work done.
• 3. Take time off only when really necessary. There were several times that I had to inform a client, either that I would be unable to take a project or that I would be late finishing it. Each time I was specific about the situation. For example, “I can’t take any projects right now because my mother’s in the hospital on life support.” “My father has gone into hospice and I’m spending all my time with him right now.” To my amazement, nearly every client understood.
• 4. Stay part-time. I deliberately kept myself part-time while I was overseeing my parents. To me, this meant working 30 hours or less. There were times that I said “no” to a new project or client that I knew would tax my energy.

Additional Tips: Here are some tips if you find yourself responsible for overseeing the care of someone who is ill:

• 1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. At first I wanted to care for my father from my own home. I quickly saw that I was physically unable to meet the needs of a 6 foot 1 man who needed to bathed, dressed, and fed every day. I couldn’t even lift him by myself! Instead, I researched and was able to find a full-time nursing facility near my home.
• 2. Get rest. There were several times I spent the entire night in the Emergency Room because my father was sick. On these occasions sometimes I just had to go home and crash. In the long run, my getting rest was the best for all concerned. Getting rest kept me from getting burnt out.
• 3. Be an advocate. Because my father didn’t communicate very well at his late stage of Alzheimer’s, it was my responsibility to see that he was comfortable and to make his needs known to the facility where he was staying. Not only did I look to see that his basic needs were being met, I also checked to make sure that he was kept comfortable.
• 4. Ask questions. There were many times that I had to ask a staff member at the facility why they were doing what they were doing with my father. Several times these questions stopped what could have become a dangerous situation for my father. I also regularly asked questions to the doctor on rotation for the facility.

If the need arises, it is possible to juggle the care of a critically ill loved one with your home business. I hope that this post has served as an encouragement to others who might be facing a similar situation.

Laura Spencer is a WAHM and has been a freelance writer for the past five years. Laura blogs at Writing Thoughts, Work From Home Momma , and OpinionMom Contents (c) Copyright 2007, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved.

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By Mary Emma -- 15 comments

September 9th, 2007

Tips on Operating a Handcrafted Jewelry Business from Home

Do you operate a jewelry making or similar business from home?  Have you been thinking of doing something like this?

Check out Laura Spencer’s interview of Barbara Giordano , owner of SunfleursJewelryDesigns.  This is the fifth in a series of interviews of women who work from home that Laura has conducted at her Work From Home Momma blog.

An adoptive parent, Barbara developed a line of jewelry reflecting this theme for her online business.  In doing so, Barbara discovered a niche that no one else appeared to be filling at the time.

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By Mary Emma -- 1 comment

August 23rd, 2007

Promoting Your Home Business Offline

Laura Spencer, at Work From Home Momma, has a helpful post about offline promotion, Five Tips for Promoting Your Home Business Offline.  So many people concentrate on online promotion (which is great).  However, they forget that offline promotion is still valid and, in most cases, necessary.

One item Laura mentions is the business card.  I had one business owner tell me she finds business cards unnecessary these days because her promotion is entirely online and her communication by e-mail.  Nevertheless, I still use business cards for my online business because I encounter many people in person who are interested in what I do and who may become customers.

I can see that one may use fewer business cards that they once did, now that so much business and communication occurs online.  However, that “good ole” business card does come in handy when someone needs your phone number or e-mail.  Also, I often use them for writing the other person’s name/address on the back side.

My daughter and her quilting friends usually have pictures of their art on the business cards…so these are eye-catching and may be regarded as a “freebie” piece of art for the recipient.

Anyway…check over Laura’s post for some ideas you should find helpful.

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By Mary Emma -- 1 comment

August 6th, 2007

Blogger Mary Emma Interviewed on Work From Home Momma

The blog, Work From Home Momma, features an interview about my experiences in home businesses over the past 40 years.  This interview, by Laura Spencer,  is the first in her Work at Home Interview Series about women, particularly moms.

As Laura says, “Today’s interview is with Mary Emma Allen, who began as a dressmaker and eventually transitioned to the writing and blogging business.”

This was an enjoyable experience, and I feel honored that Laura selected me to begin her series.

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By Mary Emma -- 6 comments

August 4th, 2007

Mary Emma & Home Biz Notes Receives Rockin’ Girl Blogger Award!

Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts, recently awarded Home Biz Notes and me the Rockin’ Girl Blogger Award!  For gals only, it’s fun to be included.  It’s also a neat way to recognize some of the other bloggers who leave comments, give me inspiration, and help make this blogging world a blast.

(That’s not to say the guys in the Business Channel and from other blogs haven’t been very helpful.  They’ve been so patient with a non-techie like me and have only offered encouragement.  There should be an award for them!)

Since some of the gals who encourage me have already been nominated.  As this award makes its way around the blogosphere, I can’t name everyone.  If anyone I mention doesn’t want to pursue this, that’s okay.  If I’ve missed someone who would like to participate, let me know.

Dorothy at Boomer Chick

Kelly at Taxgirl

Noreen at Hankering for Yarn

Chloe at Tangled Thread

Hsien at Eye on DNA

Beth at Meandering Threads

Darlene at Interview Chatter

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By Mary Emma -- 8 comments

July 26th, 2007

More Info on How Increased Minimum Wage Could Affect Home Businesses

Laura Spencer, at Work from Home Momma, mentions my previous article, Will Increased Minimum Wage Affect Your Home Business?, and gives additional information she’s researched for The Minimum Wage Increase and the Work-at-Home-Mom (WAHM).

One interesting question Laura poses…Will the WAHM, who is working at home to earn specific amount of money (Laura uses $500/month) have to go back to work because minimum wage increases will cause the cost of living to rise and she now needs $700?  As I mentioned in my post, when expenses go up (and wages are expenses),  businesses (including home businesses) have to raise prices for goods and services or go out of business.  Unless they can cut expenses in some other area.

I think you’ll find the additional information in Laura’s article interesting.

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By Mary Emma -- 1 comment

July 20th, 2007

Laura Suggests How to Keep That Professional Touch in Your Home Business

When working at home, whether operating a shop in your house or conducting your business primarily over the Internet, it’s so easy to take everything casually.  This is fine for your behind-the-scenes work, but not when conducting business with your customers/clients.  Yes, even when your work consists mainly or solely of customers on the Internet, you still have some contact with them that requires professionalism.

Laura Spencer, at Work at Home Momma, has an excellent article, The Professional Personal Touch Counts!!, with tips for being professional even though you’re in your home.  I think you would enjoy visiting Laura’s blog and checking out these tips.  When looking at the name of Laura’s blog you might think she writes primarily for a mom audience.   However the information she provides, especially in this post,  applies to everyone who has opted to develop a home business, whether parttime or full time.

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By Mary Emma -- 2 comments