It was only a matter of time before creative moms discovered a way to have it all: family time, an income, and an outlet for expressing their talents. The Internet has given scores of stay-at-home moms access to a vast virtual marketplace. By taking advantage of e-commerce and other home business solutions, moms can launch successful businesses on their own terms.
More and more moms are finding a way to indulge their maternal instinct while staying in touch with their inner entrepreneur. The Center for Women’s Business Research recorded a 32 percent increase in women-owned businesses from 2002 to 2008. Revenues of those businesses grew at a rate of 48 percent and employment by 27 percent in the same period.
Clearly, moms are looking beyond the cubicle for benefits the corporate world can’t provide. Women entrepreneurs cite job perks like “being available for your child when he or she is sick, starting dinner at a regular hour, and never being worried about children at home alone after school.” Home businesses allow moms to work just as hard as they would in a corporate environment, but on their own terms.
A Little Help from E-Commerce Solutions
How do they do it? The engine of home business is the Internet. Moms can market, sell, source, and distribute products online, from the comfort of the park, the backyard sandbox, or the home office. They capitalize on low-cost marketing tools such as an e-commerce website and internet marketing campaigns. Many moms tap into online networking tools through Twitter, Facebook and Tradeseam.
Here’s a look at some creative moms and their e-commerce ventures:
- Personal Trainer. Jennifer Hairston quit her job as a full-time physical therapist to care for her 3-year-old daughter. But she hasn’t missed a beat professionally. Hairston founded a business as a personal trainer, marketing and managing her personal training services from home. To get started, she posted ads on local message boards, advertised through social networks and generated sales leads using online marketing strategies.
- Event Planning. Monica Moody found her path back home in an event planning venture. In 2004 she launched Spa Party Creations, which organizes on-site spa retreats for women and girls. To get the word out about her business, Moody relies on a strong e-commerce website that “provides visitors with access to great resources,” from information to event planning ideas.
- Home Schooling. Education is at the forefront of every new mom’s mind. Some of them take the interest a step further by setting up an educational home business. Former LA Raiders cheerleader Tanya Hutchison founded a home business teaching social etiquette and performance to children. Jackie Friedman Mighdoll started the Sponge School, which offers language classes for toddlers, to help children capitalize on their ability to absorb foreign languages.
- Personal Assistant. Beth Adams founded a personal assistant firm on the strength of her multitasking ability, honed while raising four children. Her service My Girl Friday helps moms and other clients master the minutiae of daily life, taking care of errands, cleaning out closets, etc. Home-based virtual assistants take care of errands online. As a virtual assistant, you can help busy people with:
- travel planning
- email and mail correspondence
- bills and bookkeeping
- organizing appointments and meetings
Staying at home with the kids no longer means staying out of the public sphere. Count on business services such as Website design, Search Engine Marketing, and Search Engine Optimization to help you find a virtual marketplace for your products or services. With a little creativity and vision, you can be a stay-at-home mom and an entrepreneur.
