Julianne Wish, Member Contributions, Member Spotlights
After over a decade in autism and early childhood intervention, Brenda retired from a very successful career to raise her now-3-year-old daughter. Her venture into being a mompreneur began as a way to be with her but also provide for her.
1. Please tell us about your business and the service that you provide:
I have two (actually 3) businesses. Aerowyn’s Castle — hair accessories, tutus, custom tees, and much more. Master Signing Time instructor certified to teach sign language to infants, children, families, and educators utilizing the Signing Time curriculum (this one is on hold indefinitely). My newest business is as an Independent Consultant for Rodan + Fields Dermatologists.
2. What motivated you to start your business?
Aerowyn’s Castle began when my daughter was a few months old. She had a TON of hair and we couldn’t afford boutique prices for clips, or rather chose not to spend our money on them. It soon expanded into more items than I can name in this small space. I became a Signing Time instructor because I wanted the full curriculum for my daughter and I figured I’d give the business a shot. Not wanting to schedule weekly time away from her, I never taught organized classes, but have done occasional play dates, etc. It took me a long time to take this plunge into becoming an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields because I made every excuse as to why I couldn’t/shouldn’t. I finally decided to do it because I really needed the products and I found that I was almost instantly profitable. This business provides an opportunity to solidify an income that neither of the other two companies could provide in the same amount of time.
3. What kind of background or expertise do you have in your field?
Everything I make for Aerowyn’s Castle I’ve either taught myself or learned from others I’ve come into contact with. For Rodan + Fields, this is all new to me. I never saw myself in network marketing or any type of sales position. I’m learning every day and what I’m learning most is more about myself and the person I want to be. As far as building and supporting my team, I have a lot of experience in training from my years as an educator and program coordinator.
4. What trends do you see in your current industry?
Aerowyn’s Castle: It seems like everyone is on the tutu/hair bow bandwagon right now and so many vendors have driven the prices down to unsustainable by not accounting for time and incidentals in their prices. I still love making the products, but have come to realize that the income potential is not worth the time away from my daughter. This is why I’m choosing to focus on my skincare business.
Rodan + Fields Dermatologists: I have big goals for this. Anti-aging skincare is projected to double in the next few years and network marketing is an industry that does better when the economy is down. The timing is impeccable for this type of opportunity, especially with this one basically being ground-floor right now.
5. What are the most demanding aspects about your business?
The toughest part of being a work-at-home parent is finding balance. I don’t leave for the office, get my work done, and then come home without it. Then again, even in my old career I always brought work home. Network marketing is foreign to me, so the most demanding part is getting out of my own way and overcoming my fears.
6. What are the most rewarding aspects about your business?
Days like today are why I have my business. In one day I made plans for my good friend and business partner to join me on a trip at the last minute which is a huge step in her personal development, we talked about our dreams for our businesses, I touched base with old friends, worked on fostering new relationships, was able to alternate between calls/emails/research and playing games with my daughter and helping her put her first 24-piece puzzle together, and when she decided to take the all-but-gone nap, I was here for her to crawl in my lap, give me a kiss, give a big yawn, and fall into a peaceful sleep. I then made the executive decision to just hold her while she slept because I don’t know how much longer I’ll get to do that. I also love that I help others realize their dreams as they join me on this journey.
7. What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business like yours?
Enjoy the journey. You’ll hear people talking about running as fast as you can to the top, etc. and I agree you need to “hustle,” BUT be sure that when you get there, you can look back and enjoy the getting there too. And as most anyone in network marketing will tell you, there are two rules to being successful: Sign up, and don’t quit.
8. What are you most proud of as a parent-preneur?
I’ve never been asked this question, and I’ve been interviewed by several people about being a parent-preneur. I guess what I’m most proud of is me. I’m able to fulfill my desire to be there to raise my family yet I’ve found a way to have a little bit of “me” left. I’d gotten lost there for a while. I had two dreams when I was younger: have a successful career and be a mommy. I’m happy that I’ve found a way to do them both the way I want to do them.
9. How have you been able to balance your time between work and your family?
Still working on that. I did just start using a time tracker for when I’m working on the computer because I found that a) you end up wasting a lot of time doing everything but the project you set out to do and b) I never really knew how much time I spent because I was constantly reading a book, playing a game, making food, helping my daughter with something, etc. in the middle of the project that I felt it took all day when I really only got a solid hour in. I have a few large, time-sensitive projects to complete and then I will be setting more firm work hours with flexible blocks of time to accommodate my daughter’s activities and her career.
10. What has been the most effective way for you to promote and market yourself?
Right now, I’ve been going on word-of-mouth and calling old friends, but I’m working on building my social media outreach.
Finally: What does your “Milk Money” provide for you and your family?
It provides extra breathing room for us while my husband is finishing school and working full-time for free (actually, we pay tuition so that he can work for free). It also gives me back some of my self-confidence and self-worth, occasional reasons to grab some “me” time, and a little less guilt when I decide to splurge on something fun at the store for one/all of us.
Julianne Wish, Member Contributions, Member Spotlights
Married more than 20 years with 3 children, Tim & Andrea began baking for friends and family at the holidays and it proved so popular that they decided to offer McLaren’s for purchase as gifts for the Christmas and New Years Holidays. They continued to grow and now MacLaren’s products are available year round.
The delicious Scottish Shortbread has been a tradition in their family for at least five generations; both sides of their family have their roots in Scotland, through the McLaren & Forbes Clans. The family recipe was passed down from Tim’s great-great Gran who lived in Glasgow, Scotland. Each batch is hand-made, baked in clay trays and hand packaged.
In 2020, the couple retired and sold the business… and so the tradition of hand-made Scottish Shortbread, Curds, Jams and more continues! Faithfully using the same recipes and methods, the new ownership continues providing customers with the best products all through the year. This is an interview from 10 years ago, reposted!
1. Tell us about your business and the service that you provide:
McLaren’s is a specialty gourmet food business, focused on hand made foods with a Scottish, British or civilized flair, for afternoon tea, dessert or any special occasion.
We make all of our products by hand, with the finest ingredients available. Our products include:
Original Scottish Shortbread
Ginger Lassies
Lemon Curd, Lime Curd, Orange Curd
Specialty Jams, Jellies, Marmalades
Traditional Scone Mix
Maple Scone Mix
Old World Gingerbread Cake Mix
We sell individual products as well as beautiful gift baskets. We also offer corporate gifting, weddings favors and special event bids.
To specialize gifts we have an ever-changing inventory of new, vintage and antique teacups, teapots, biscuit barrels and more.
Product Descriptions
Original Scottish Shortbread-
Ginger Lassies (a spicy chewy ginger cookie, 2 varieties, hot or mild)
Lemon Curd, Lime Curd, Orange Curd- no fillers or thickeners, only eggs, sugar, butter and fresh squeezed citrus juice
Specialty Jams, Jellies, Marmalades- all of our fruit is purchased from local growers, fresh and in season (with the exception of one jam whose fruit comes from Oregon) We purchase from local growers, not only to assure quality and freshness, but to support our local farmers as well.
We also sell 3 mixes to bake at home.
Traditional Scone Mix- this makes a light fluffy proper scone, and should be eaten warm, the day it is made.
Maple Scone Mix- this mix is sweetened with pure organic Maple Sugar and includes additional Maple sugar for a glaze. This makes a light fluffy proper scone, and should be eaten warm, the day it is made.
Old World Gingerbread Cake Mix- Our Gingerbread mix makes a fantastic dessert or teacake! This is not a gingerbread cookie mix, but a gingerbread cake, best served warm with fresh whipped cream, or better yet topped with your favorite Jam.
2. How did you decide to get started?
I am a teacher in the CA Community College system and Tim is a mortgage broker, so…. 2 years ago, when the market crashed and my class load was severely cut, we needed to do something to make money to support our family. That first Christmas season, we knew that our cookies were popular with friends and family, so we put out a little email and BANG! We sold over 1200 lbs of shortbread with very little marketing. We decided to take his family shortbread recipe public and expand into a legitimate business. So we moved from our home kitchen into a commercial kitchen and off we went, into the world of farmers markets, serv safe, sampling permits, and Scottish Festivals.
3. What kind of background of expertise do you have in your field?
We had no commercial baking/cooking experience. We did know that we and our friends preferred fresh foods with no preservatives and no additives.
4. What trends do you see in your current industry?
Customers want delicious foods, made with real, fresh ingredients and are willing to pay more for great quality.
5. What things do you find to be most demanding about your job?
We go into the kitchen at night, after we finish our other jobs. We travel to Farmers markets, Scottish Festivals and Craft shows all year, it’s tiring.
6. What do you find to be the most rewarding about your job and your day-to-day routine?
One of the most rewarding things for us is that we are able to pick up our kids from school, and be home with them after school. Also, let’s not forget the look on customer’s faces when they try our products! They love them. One of the greatest rewards ahs been being able to keep our home.
7. What advice would you give to someone else who is interested in starting a business like yours?
First, get ready to work very hard, long hours. Find a product that you believe in and that you know other people like and will buy. Try to find a mentor in the same or a related business, do not ask someone who sells the same product that you want to sell. Find out the laws and regulations in your sate and county, before you invest a dime! (CA- Take your Serv Safe class first, then get your DBA while you look for a commercial kitchen.)
8. What are you most proud of as a parent-preneur?
I am very grateful that I have been able to be home for my kids and that my kids have helped out, learned to bake and cook right along side us. I am grateful that as a family, we worked together to build this upstart business and my children have learned the value of hard work.
9. How have you been able to manage your time between work and your family?
By soldiering on. It has been very hard to balance everything. Some days it is more work and some days it is more family. We do the best we can. The idea of balance is a myth, perpetrated by pundits and magazine writers who have no children. Life is more like a crazy pendulum, but it eventually will swing back the other way.
10. What has been the most effective way for you to promote yourself?
We have built our business on our reputation for the highest quality products and the customer satisfaction we have built at Farmers Markets and Scottish Festivals. We also use Constant Contact, have a web site, Facebook, Twitter and a blog.
Finally: What does your “Milk Money” provide for you and your family?
It saved our home and continues to provide a growing income for our family.
Julianne Wish, Member Spotlights
Founder of The Next Big Zing. Dhana’s company finds and promotes inventors of new products! It’s a win for consumers…they get to see and purchase the latest new products! It’s a win for the inventors as they get their product promoted! Read on to learn about Dhana, what she’s learned and her vision for her company.
1. Tell us about your business and the service that you provide:
The Next Big Zing is an innovative way to shop online. Through video reviews, consumers will have the opportunity to watch, engage in a product or two they love, and then purchase. Inventors, on the other hand, have an amazing opportunity to get their products seen and heard through a third party endorsed video review…plus given a grass roots marketing program.
2. How did you decide to get started?
I have always had great ideas, developed products and always stopped short…I came up with the idea to promote other inventors and said video is the way of the future!
3. What kind of background of expertise do you have in your field?
My background is advertising and marketing…but from the old school of traditional media.
4. What trends do you see in your current industry?
Wow. That could take all day! Video for sure is the way to go to promote your business. No one wants to see a stagnant web page. I also see the changing face of retail. Traditional retailing is tougher now to get into…you must be creative!
5. What things do you find to be most demanding about your job?
That I don’t have enough time in my day to get everything finished and that I don’t have a staff to help.
6. What do you find to be the most rewarding about your job and your day to day routine?
I love finding those unique products and helping them get noticed!
7. What advice would you give to someone else who is interested in starting a business like yours?
It takes a ton of time and money and little to no pay for a long time! Be prepared for working harder than you ever had for someone else, because it truly is one of your babies!
8. What are you most proud of as a parent-preneur?
Proud that my kids want to be involved. In fact, my 14 year old son said today, “Mom, you need to tell me what meetings you are going to since I am the Vice-President.”
9. How have you been able to manage your time between work and your family?
It’s tough. I want them to be proud so I do work a lot, and since I run my business out of my home, I tend to work while they are around.
10. What has been the most effective way for you to promote yourself?
Through social media, networking and strategic partners.
Finally: What does your “Milk Money” provide for you and your family?
Not much yet…but I will say that I know in the future it will provide so much!
Julianne Wish, Member Contributions, Member Spotlights
Formerly a staff member at Our Milk Money in it’s first few years, Wendy did our books for years and we can’t say enough about her!
For tax preparation in Santa Clarita CA, you can count on Wendy Conte at Bookkeeping Scv, Inc. Wendy Conte assists taxpayers and small businesses with taxes in Santa Clarita CA and the surrounding communities. Whether you are an individual or a local business in or around Santa Clarita CA, Wendy Conte has years of valuable experience as an IRS registered tax preparer.
1. Tell us about your business and the service that you provide:
I am a Certified Bookkeeper and Quickbooks ProAdvisor. I offer a full range of bookkeeping services in the Santa Clarita, San Fernando and Antelope Valleys.
2. How did you decide to get started?
After working for someone else for over 15 years, I decided to take control of my employment and use the skills I have to work with a wider range of clients rather than just the employer I had.
3. What kind of background of expertise do you have in your field?
I have an Associate’s degree in Accounting, I am a Certified Bookkeeper and I am Quickbooks ProAdvisor. I am always looking for more learning opportunities in my field.
4. What trends do you see in your current industry?
Bookkeeping is a key part of every business. Businesses will always need bookkeepers. Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs. An outsourced bookkeeper is a way to accomplish that.
5. What things do you find to be most demanding about your job?
Deadlines are a demanding part of my job sometimes. My clients like to see the status of their financial picture on a regular basis and that means making sure that all of their records are always up to date. There is also the issue of invoicing client customers on time. Finally, reporting information to tax entities for payroll and sales tax.
6. What do you find to be the most rewarding about your job and your day to day routine?
The most rewarding thing about my job is being able to help people. I really enjoy working with very small businesses, many of which cannot afford to have an on staff bookkeeper. I love being able to take the stress of that task off of their hands.
7. What advice would you give to someone else who is interested in starting a business like yours?
I would recommend getting formal education in the field both in the basics of accounting and the software options that are available for the job. The Quickbooks ProAdvisor program is very helpful in learning the overall use of the program and how to set it up properly. Then I would say network and get your name out there.
8. What are you most proud of as a parent-preneur?
I am most proud of being able to demonstrate to my son the hard work ethic that I was raised with.
9. How have you been able to manage your time between work and your family?
Balancing time is always a challenge. I try to work around the schedule of my family as much as possible during the week and to take weekends off unless there is something that really needs my attention or my family has plans that do not include me.
10. What has been the most effective way for you to promote yourself?
Word of Mouth is extremely powerful. Actions certainly speak louder than words. I provide the best service that I can consistently and with attention to the details. Giving at least 100% to your clients is something they talk about.
Finally: What does your “Milk Money” provide for you and your family?
My Milk Money provides a way for us to pay the bills and have a bit left over to have fun.
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