Can you tell us a bit about your business?

I started Third Hand Secretarial Service LLC in 1994 and have been assisting small business owners with their bookkeeping and administrative needs ever since. I am a Certified Bookkeeper with the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and help small business owners in setting up their QuickBooks as well as maintaining and reconciling their accounts each month.

Third Hand Secretarial Services offers bookkeeping packages allowing the small business owner the predictability and consistency in their monthly bookkeeping costs, rather than an unpredictable price based on an hourly charge. Packages are determined by the average number of transactions each month. Other services offered include website updating on WordPress sites; article submission services, newsletters created in Constant Contact, Social Media services including setting up of profiles in LinkedIn, Facebook as well as monitoring and posting to Twitter accounts; travel arrangements, email and voicemail coverage while traveling or on vacation and much more.

I am a member of the Delaware Valley Virtual Assistants Association currently serving on their Board of Directors (2009-2011) as Treasurer and a member of the International Virtual Assistants Association and have also served on their Board of Directors (2006/2008) as Treasurer. I also belong to the National Association of Women Business Owners, Central Jersey.

Third Hand Secretarial Service assists clients located throughout the United States as well as in Canada.

You have been in business for a long time – Since 1994 – Probably way before the term ‘Virtual Assistant’ was coined – How did you make the leap from an office job to your own business? Were you afraid?

I have always wanted to own my own business and when word processors were introduced into the office, I knew this was an avenue I could pursue. I had to relocate to another part of the state as my husband was relocated for a new position and needed to find another job. Well for a period of 3 years I had 4 different jobs due to the economic downturn in the late 1980′s and I decided this was the time to start my business.

I did find another job and started my business part-time. I worked at my business at night and on weekends, trying to build my client base. I did this for 2 years and then finally made the decision to devote all my time to my business. It was very scary at the time but I have not regretted that decision. It allowed me more time to market and bring in new business.

You have been running a successful business for more than 15 years. If you had to pick one thing that makes you unique and successful in business, what would that be?

My client relationships. I really stay connected to my clients. I want them to succeed! If I see an article or a website that a client would benefit from, I send it to them. I have such wonderful and inspirational clients and they truly rub off on me. I also offered such a wide variety of services that really fit my clients well at the time. I did not specialize and I think it really helped me grow. If a client had a need, I researched to see if this was something that I could do for them, if not, I helped them find the right resource.

Do you see huge, medium or slow growth in the virtual assistant industry in the next 5 years ? And also what do you think is the future trend in this industry – is it specialization or being a generalist virtual assistant ?

With this down economy, I see a lot of potential for virtual assistants in a variety of ways. With people being laid off, many are now starting new businesses and they need or will need support, whether it is administrative, website development, marketing, or graphic design. With larger companies, they are outsourcing more and more services so I see my clients picking up those opportunities as well as virtual professionals.

When I first started my business I was a generalist – and it has benefited me. For some time we had quite a few virtual assistants service realtors and that industry was really growing up until the housing downturn and now we have virtual assistants looking into other areas in order to bring in new business whether it be social media support, website development or shopping cart services. I feel it really depends on the individual and where their strengths are. You need to do what you love to do as it comes across in your work.

If you had to give two pieces of advice to someone new to this industry then what would that be ?

Network, network, network. It is so important to get out and meet other entrepreneurs. You learn so much plus they get to know you and what you do. I find that many people will refer you if they made that personal connection. Also get involved, volunteer on a committee – let them see the work you can do plus you will have great rewards when giving back. My other advice would be to stick with it. It does take time – you must give 150% of yourself and prove yourself. When your clients receive more than they expected, the referrals will start and the business will grow.

How do you promote yourself ?

I do belong to National Association of Women Business Owners and try to attend their monthly meetings. I also have a monthly newsletter called VirtualConnections, offering tips and website resources to my newsletter readers. I update my blog regularly and also post to my various social media sites. Another way that I promote my business is direct mail – I try to send out postcards every 3-4 months highlighting a different service I offer. And lastly, article writing. I have been writing articles and submitting them to various submission sites and I have definitely seen some increased traffic to my site from these articles.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Do what you love to do as it will come across in your work. If you have tasks that you dislike doing, then hire a subcontractor. First when you do something you do not like to do, it will take you much longer to do. Plus, it will give you the free time to network, spend time marketing, or working with a client
2. Work with a Business Coach or participate in a Mentor or Mastermind Group. If you are just starting out or growing your business, look for help and assistance. Someone you can share your ideas with and provide that much needed direction plus it really does keep you on task.
3. Prepare a business plan each year. It does not have to be complicated or a long 20 page document. There are templates available for a simple One-Page Business Plan. I can’t tell you how this has truly benefited me and my business each year. I also set time aside to review my business plan and make any necessary adjustments throughout the year.
4. Hire good talent. Having a good team behind you will definitely move your business in the right direction and also allowing you the time to continue to market and grow the business. Of course you will need to have all the processes in place so document as you go along. It will make this transition much easier in the long run.
5. Listen to what your client needs are and see how best you can serve them. If it’s a service you are not good at or feel they would be better served by someone who specializes in that particular service then make that suggestion to the client and if you know someone, recommend them. Your honesty will be much appreciated by the client.

Sites Of Interest

http://yourextrahand.com/

This interview was published on 22nd July 2010


Visit Linda’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the virtual assistance industry click Virtual Assistants

Can you tell us a bit about your business – ‘Virtual Gal Friday’

Virtual Gal Friday is a Professional Virtual Assistant business. We handle virtual office management, web design and development, database design and development as well as social media and marketing for our clients. Our clients are located globally and consist of business consultants, marketing strategists, financial advisors, fashion stylists as well as general contractors and small business owners. Nancy has also written a book for new virtual assistants, and it can be found on virtualassistantebooks.com.

What were you doing prior to starting this business?

Before I started my business in 1998 I worked as a ‘contract’ secretary for ExxonMobil. I have always worked in 1 capacity or another as an Executive or Administrative Assistant since 1986.

How do you promote your business?

I promote my business online. My rankings in google are established therefore I do not pay for advertising for virtualgalfriday.com, I also use twitter and facebook to promote my business and my book.

If you had your time all over again, what two things would you do differently in your business?

I think the only thing I would do differently is that I would have started my business sooner!

What is your favorite stress relief tactic?

My favorite stress reliever is to get away from the computer, I have to turn off the computer screen so that I cannot see it glaring at me, then I go outside and work in my garden or take a walk with my husband. Sometimes, I zip over to Sonic for my favorite drink, a Cherry LimeAide….it doesn’t take much but it is important to break away from the work and enjoy your life!

If you had to pick two negatives about being a virtual assistant, what would that be?

To me there really honestly are no negatives, I would recommend to newbies in the industry since you are going to be working from home and may feel isolated at first, join some networking groups, online and offline.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Perseverance and the confidence to push forward during difficult times and growing pains of a new business.
2. Doing something you love and following your passion! That’s key!
3. Join IVAA.org – International Virtual Assistants Association.
4. Create a set routine/schedule every day to work, if you are just starting out and do not have clients yet use that time to work on your business. Research the industry, develop your business plan, build your website, market your business.
5. Forever grow and evolve your business, add new services and new products, this will keep you excited about your business! I can’t wait to go to work every single day!

Sites Of Interest

http://www.virtualgalfriday.net

This interview was published on 22nd July 2010


Visit Nancy’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the virtual assistance industry click Virtual Assistants

Can you tell us about your business ? What is ‘AssistU’?

AssistU is the first-ever training organization and community for Virtual Assistants. We began training VAs in 1997, and continue doing so today with great delight. We also provide them with a professional online/offline community, professional coaching, continuing education, certification, and the opportunity to get referrals from our Registry. With our Registry, we also provide services for the public who want to work with our VAs.

What were you doing before you started this business?

I ran my own business as an executive travel planner (a fancy travel agent for road warriors), and VA. I was also just starting my coaching practice.

Can you tell us a about the two types of certifications you offer (CPVA and CMVA) – a brief overview?

They are the highest certifications available in the industry–and are available only to AssistU-trained VAs. They call a VA to prove that she’s working to our certification standards with experiential exams rather than knowledge-based exams. Our theory is that certifying someone who has never done the work and can’t prove herself capable to the examining body isn’t worth much. We wanted our certifications to absolutely mean something to the clients who are thinking of working with one of the AssistU VAs, and they do that fabulously well.

You also offer a registry to find virtual assistants. Do all your graduates automatically go into this database ? This database can be very helpful for employers looking for a Virtual assistant. Can you tell us a bit about this service you offer?

It’s a subscription-based service that all members are eligible to join once they graduate from our Virtual Training Program. Many of our graduates have filled their practices from clients who have come to us through The Registry. The Registry, by the way, is free to the public.

If you had to pick two qualities that will make a good Virtual Assistant, what would the two be?

A good one? I’d rather go for great! And I don’t think I could pick just two. There are so many things–from resourceful, to proactive, to self-knowledgeable, to self-directed, to self-assured, to relationally mature, to having low associative borders (connecting dots most people can’t see)…yep, I can’t do it!

Can you give us a couple of your tips on how a Virtual Assistant can market their business?

A VA can market her biz in any number of ways, but what she has to do before that is make sure that her business foundation is well laid. If it’s not, it won’t matter how she markets, her efforts to find relationships with idea clients (by however she defines that) will constantly evade her–and she probably won’t understand why.

With a strong foundation under her business, she can really engage in any marketing methods that work for her (and I absolutely suggest that each VA do it her own way!) and be successful with them.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Strong personal and biz foundations
2. High standards
3. Relational maturity
4. Heart-based
5. Life-long learner

Sites Of Interest

http://www.assistu.com/

This interview was published on 22nd July 2010


Visit Stacy’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the virtual assistance industry click Virtual Assistants

Tell us about your business – ‘A Clayton’s Secretary’?

Basically it began as a sole operator home based secretarial business that has grown into a network of mainly women doing the same. These days we’re called Virtual Assistants rather than home based secretaries.

You started your business way back in 1994. How did you get the idea for this business – Back then, was it hard to find clients – I am assuming that you probably had to educate the clients of what you do – Tell us a bit about your early days ?

Long story I’ll try to make short. Picture this: 1993, life is crazy. My husband and I had shifted from Adelaide to Melbourne and had no family or friends here. We found a babysitting club but of course that didn’t work too well if the kids were sick. I was in a corporate job, as was my husband. We had 5 young daughters all in jnr & primary school.

I hated hearing a little voice saying ‘mummy, I don’t feel well’ because I didn’t know who to turn to for help. That same year, by some miracle, I won ‘Secretary of the Year’ for Victoria and was the National runner-up. Microsoft was one of the prize sponsors and I received the full MS Office 2.0 suite amongst other things. I couldn’t use it at work and I said to my husband, ‘if only I had a computer at home…’ It as as though speaking it out loud seeded a thought and less than 6 months later I had left my corporate job and was working at home!

We bought our first PC and I just told anybody and everybody I was going to work from home. My first client came through my church and he told someone else and then someone else who knew me told others and it grew from there. Networking and word-of-mouth – amazing but those things still work today. In those days I had to fight the stigma of ‘home based businesses being backyarders so they had to be shonky’ to today teaching people that Virtual Assistants are not $4 an hour employees from another country.

We actually live here in Australia and work for Australian rates providing a very wide range of services. The networking and word-of-mouth is now done both online and offline and of course we have other mediums to promote our businesses now.

You run a very successful business – have received numerous awards – and wide media coverage. If you had to pick one thing that made you so successful in your business, what would that be?

Not an easy question to answer in some ways and yet in others… I think my desire and need to be home for my family kept me motivated. Just today I was have a ‘dance card’ with a fellow member from BNI and he said twice to me that what he liked about me was my enthusiasm and that I bubbled up. I still love today what I loved back then over 16 years ago – being home for my family using skills I have honed and doing work I love.

In your experience what are a couple of most common mistakes new virtual assistants make?

One would be thinking that all their clients will come from online and mainly via a website or networking site. The reality is they have to do what all business owners do – network, network and network some more. It’s no use registering with VA networks and other business type networks and then sit back waiting for the work to come – it won’t happen that way.

What I mean is that won’t be their only source of business and while the networks do work they shouldn’t depend on them for bringing in work overnight – it takes time. So they need to be prepared to seek several sources for finding clients.

Another mistake is seeing themselves as an employee. They’re not, they’re a business owner and they need to shift that mindset quickly. You know I’ve written a number of blog posts on mistakes VAs make – so far there are 21 entries in that category. http://vadirectory.net/blog/category/mistakes-vas-make/

What are your predictions for the virtual assistant industry – Do you see a lot of growth ahead – Is this just the beginning?

Predictions – could be anyone’s guess really. Growth? Yes, that’s happening and yes we’re still in the early stages of the industry. I’d say we have passed the infant years and are probably more in the teen years. Co-incidentally the industry is around 14-15 years of age. Not yet reached maturity but on its way. Business people are still finding out about us and it’s funny, but I still get phonecalls or emails from people (mainly women) who tell me they had this idea and then discovered that many were already doing it, or that they had been doing VA work for a few years but didn’t know they were called Virtual Assistants.

What is the best piece of business advice you have ever received?

When things are really tough going and seem to be at its darkest, the light is just around the next corner. Many people give up just when they’re actually making progress. I’ve nearly done it – twice.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Well, I’ve already said networking – I cannot emphasise that enough. I don’t care how busy anyone is right now, that does not stay that way forever so you should never stop networking and promoting your business.
2. Care about people – be genuinely interested in them. Whether or not they want your services or products, they will tell others about you if you make the right impression.
3. Set goals and have them written out and visible in front of you on a daily basis.
4. Be prepared to give back to community. I make it a habit of having at least one volunteer project a year – it might be hosting and maintaining a website, being on a committee for something or maybe something else, but it’s always important to give back.
5. If you don’t have time – for anything, then it’s time to assess where your time is going. We all have the same 24 hours a day, it’s what we do with them that counts. This kind of ties in with number two – I like to make sure I have time for people and most of all my family which is why I work from home.

Sites Of Interest

http://www.vadirectory.net

This interview was published on 21st July 2010


Visit Kathie”s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the virtual assistance industry click Virtual Assistants

Can you tell me a bit about your business?

I offer virtual assistant services focusing on helping business creatives (writers, coaches, teachers, etc.) and attorneys adopt and maintain web-based office protocols and online marketing, specifically via the use of a blog.

I also provide WordPress site creation and assistance as well as coaching for WordPress and Headway through the Girly Girl Geek division of my business.

What were you doing before starting this business and when and why did you start this business?

Before starting my business I worked as a title processor/real estate paralegal. The office I worked for closed its doors in the summer of 2007 due to the drop in the real estate market. I found myself unemployed and unable to find a new job in the industry I was experienced in or in the medical coding/billing field that I was training in.

I knew I was good at what I did, and I also knew that I was always the person my employers had turned to when it came to embracing technology. I knew I had to make something happen with the abilities I had. At the time, my daughter was in college living with me, as was my son who was still in high school; I couldn’t wait for the economy to turn around and the job market to get better.

At that same time I stumbled upon the term ‘virtual assistant’ and found it fit those skills I possessed. By September of 2007 Clerical Advantage was open for business.

If you could give any tips or advice to someone looking to becoming a virtual assistant, what would it be?

Understand that it takes more than just having the administrative skills and experience required, you also need to understand how to run a business. Too many would be virtual assistants (or VA’s) think it’s an easy way to make money and work at home, especially those with children.

Running your own business is never easy. You have to be prepared with protocols and plans in place, goals defined and the knowledge that you’ll end up working more hours than you ever did as an employee. At least for awhile.

How do you promote your business?

My marketing consists completely of online blog & social media marketing and word of mouth. My blog has been the most instrumental in getting me noticed and my clients are fantastic about sharing their experiences and recommending my services to others.

I’ve also taught classes and made presentations both at local businesses and online which combines teaching others about virtual assistance and introducing my services.

How did you get your first client?

My first client was an attorney that I had worked with when I was a title processor. When explaining the advantages of using a virtual assistant, he realized that it made more sense for him to work with me rather than hiring an employee for a position he was getting ready to fill.

If you had to start all over again, is there anything you would differently?

I wasted a lot of time trying to market my business in a ‘traditional’ manner. I spent a lot of money on brochures, mailings and postage, and wasted endless hours at chamber events that never yielded a single client. The backbone of my business and my individual strengths are found online.

Looking at it now, I realize I was trying to sell my services to individuals who were not necessarily technology savvy and just couldn’t grasp the fact that my services could be delivered that way. A tech savvy individual was more likely to be found in online forums, via e-mail and social media rather than snail mail and chamber events.

If I could go back and do it again I would have ignored the people telling me I had to use old fashioned marketing methods.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Determination- You have to be able to push yourself even when things look bleak. It can take a long time to get that first client, or enough clients to consider your business a success; you must have the determination to follow it through.
2. Vision- In order to have that determination you have to have a vision of what you want your business to be and where you want it to go. If your vision isn’t there or if it’s not clear, it’s like driving blind. That’s where the importance of a business plan of some sort comes into play.
3. Preparation- This includes creating your business policies. Too many people don’t think ahead to things like how they will deal with late payments. I devote three whole chapters in my VA Survival Guide to some of the things that many virtual assistants (and others) fail to think about before they start doing business.
4. Professionalism- Just because you’re working from home and you’re the boss, it’s still extremely important to be professional. This is one of the reasons that someone should have experience working in a traditional office setting in a position that included extensive responsibilities within the business. Professionalism is something that is extremely difficult to teach, and is most often learned by both observing and experience. But it is crucial to the success of your business that you not only understand professionalism, but that you exhibit it in your interactions with others. This is another item I go into in detail in my book.
5. Confidence- You have to have confidence in yourself, your abilities and your business. This is crucial. You would be surprised how many small business owners answer this question with a half hearted response. It’s obvious they lack confidence in themselves and/or their business.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how do expect someone else to do so?

Sites Of Interest

Clerical Advantage
Girly Girl Geek
On Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/TMarieHilton )
On Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/ClericalAdvantage )





This interview was published on 20th July 2010


VisitTina’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the virtual assistance industry click Virtual Assistants

Tell us a bit about your business – what you do, when you started and how you got the idea ?

Sweet Little Things specialises in sending something beautiful – an online emporium whose virtual shelves are bursting with all things ‘little’ and ‘sweet’.

We launched the shop with our signature item – gourmet cupcake hampers. The range has since expanded to include handmade designer baby clothes, jewellery, organic beauty products, men’s skincare, soft toys and more. All products are natural, Australian made and high quality.

Some are designed and made by me, others by people whose work I admire. There is a designers’ page on the website with a small, tongue in cheek biography on each designer. Another tool I like to use to keep it personal.

We cut through the online space with our highly personalised website and customer service. We communicate with customers via our blog which is like a window into the everyday life of Sweet little Things – pictures of hampers that get sent out, customer feedback, sewing projects I have been working on and more. We encourage interaction with our customers and like providing free information such as recipes and patterns. In return they know they are dealing with real people and not just some automated website.

Sweet Little Things is a brand synonymous with quality, beauty, ethics, fashion, design & community. I have always been fairly creative and would make gifts for friends who had babies. I would put together little packs of colourful boxes filled with cupcakes, soft toys and anything else I found interesting.

I noticed there was literally nothing like it on the market. Sure, you could buy cupcakes in a plain white box from a shop, but no one was offering them beautifully wrapped, made with all natural ingredients, or (and this is where we still dominate the space) the ability to complete your order online for next day delivery.

In my last job I was working for Pacific Brands and our category was going through a re-shuffle. I was offered a promotion which involved a lot of travel to Melbourne and just thought it was the time to branch out on my own. I had been talking about having my own fashion label since I studied fashion design 10 years ago. That dream hasn’t ended either. Women’s clothing is still on the cards for Sweet Little Things. That’s why I created a brand with a business model that allowed the addition of products as long as they fit the description ‘sweet little things’, rather than focusing on one product.

The entire concept is to be a reflection of my personality which is constantly interested in new ideas, anything fashionable and a real sense of community….oh, and cupcakes! I have a tendency to do all of my major life decisions at once, so I combined starting my business with buying a house, a dog, marrying my husband, quitting my job all while he opened an advertising agency at the same time!

Sounds a bit mad, I know, but I actually find comfort in action !

Can you tell us how your first few months were – were you doing the entire baking, wrapping, promoting etc yourself – and from there how did you transition to the next level ?

First few months were spent doing research. In fact I was so determined to make sure I was proud of my product that I spent about 9 months setting it up. I never intended on baking the cupcakes as it was more about getting the best product I could out to people in the most efficient way possible. They are my strengths. I was never a baker who decided to take it commercial. I am a marketer who saw a gap in the market for a premium product with matching customer service.

I imported 3 tonne of packaging from China, because trying to do it here became downright impossible. I found it very difficult to find any companies who would develop the product with me to the standard I needed it to be. So I went back to my fashion roots and contacted some suppliers in China I had previously worked with. The process was so much easier than trying to do it here, which is a shame, because I really wanted everything to do with my business to support Australian industry. At the end of the day though if people aren’t willing to work with you, you need to find those that will, and for me that was overseas.

I am still very hand on in terms of marketing, product development, sourcing and customer service. I use contractors to package up our hampers and an external courier company to deliver. This was and is an easy transition. In the first few months we did try to do all of that ourselves and let me tell you – there is a reason why being a courier is a specialised service – it’s a nightmare!

How do you promote your business?

I look after all marketing activities myself. I source PR and promotional opportunities and put a lot of time and effort into making sure our brand and its message is consistent. I would never send anything out (brochures and other DM) that I wouldn’t be proud to give someone myself. These things are really important. Consistency is certainly key. So is building relationships. I am a very big believer in what goes around comes around, so I always treat everyone I meet with respect. My girls in the office are the same and in this way every day our business is being promoted in the exact way we want it to. I build relationships with key media and customers I come into contact with.

Always look at media and consider if your brand would align well with it, or not. You know your business better than anyone. You essentially write the press release, so often it is just a matter of contacting the right person in the right media.

Personally I know many PAs and they control purchasing and have the ability to influence many. Friends will want to promote your business. Let them. Use any contacts you can think of – old school friends, sports buddies, ex-work colleagues

Social networking platforms Use any mediums available to you to increase your own network – My Space, Facebook, Blogging, Flickr, Craft sites, cupcakes take the cake – people have become ‘fans’ and even if they don’t purchase they are still spreading the word in a positive light

You need to do something different to set yourself apart. If the service and product is as expected, no one will talk about you. Exceed Expectations.

If you had your time all over again, is there anything you would do differently in your business?

Do you know what – I actually don’t think so. I was talking about this with another friend who has her own business and I think I needed to do everything I did because I have learnt so much. I am now in such a great place and have learnt from my mistakes. To be honest, you have to learn constantly, otherwise you can’t grow. My friend was saying that even if her current business isn’t the one that makes her achieve her goals – then maybe the next one will be. I can so identify with this.

I definitely think Sweet little Things will always be a successful brand, but perhaps its main offering will change. We are already considering delving into the wholesale market, which is where all my corporate experience lies, and I wouldn’t have even considered that when I first started! I needed to go through the process to learn what I know now!

One thing I have learnt that I would have been stricter with starting out is to stay on top of suppliers. I have been surprised by the lack of attention to detail from many Australian suppliers. They don’t phone you back and many are complacent and rude. Don’t settle for second best, especially if they don’t seem to care about servicing your business. Keep searching for that great supplier they ARE out there! In the early days – it’s hard to get respect because you are usually a small fry in their eyes, but hat many don’t seem to realise is that you will grow, and with that, so will their business. Find someone who understands this!

What is the best advice you have ever received about running a business?

If you truly believe in yourself and your product or service, then go for it. The most important lesson is to be selective about what you take on board.

EVERYONE has advice and EVERYONE feels free to give it to you (even when you haven’t asked for it). I certainly believe in asking for advice and acting on what you believe to be advice, but many people can be negative this can get you down. Smile, thank them for their opinion, and then promptly forget it and move forward enjoying what you do and living every moment to its fullest. Remember – you got into your own business for a reason. To live YOUR life, the way YOU want it.

Certainly ask the opinions of others about everything that you do (free market research – and you should do this OFTEN!), but only act on what you believe to be valid from someone whose opinion you respect.

Where do you see yourself in the next 2 to 3 years ?

Stepping away from the day to day running of the business and taking on a more strategic role. I think I will always be involved in product development, marketing and brand positioning as these are my strengths, but I certainly think it is imperative to hire people better than you for the roles you are not so good at.

Happiness to me would be hiring a financial controller to take care of the numbers side, so I can be free to create, negotiate and market the business with every now and then receiving a tap on the shoulder from my very competent financial advisor to keep me on track financially! Having said that – starting out having to do every single process is so great because it means you completely understand your business and all its complexities.

We are also branching out into the wholesale market next year selling our (previously unavailable to consumers) gorgeous cupcake decorations into gift stores.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Keep it simple – keep your message clear, it’s easy to over-complicate sometimes when you are so involved, so take a step back and simplify
2. Stay on track – spend time planning your vision and stay true to it. Too many people get swayed be opinion. Everyone has an opinion. If you change your mind according to everyone else’s opinion you will lose focus and it becomes evident to an outsider looking at your brand.
3. Triple check all of your copy – get other people to read everything you have written
4. Be nice to everyone you come into contact with – you never know where they (or you!) will end up one day
5. Hire people better than you at the things you are not so good at/ don’t like doing

Sites Of Interest

www.sweetlittlethings.com.au




This interview was published on 8th January 2010


Visit Cathy’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the gifts’ business click Gifts Business Ideas

Tell us a bit about your business – what you do, when you started and how you got the idea ?

I am a glass artist, I work with cold glass, using techniques of stain glass, mosaic, fused, casting and etching.

I have been working with glass for about 12 years, have turned the hobby into a business after giving up my zoo keeping career to have children. Working with glass is my other passion after animals and my children.

What challenges have you faced on your road to success ?

My two biggest challenges have been getting exposure with limited funds, as well as the time to do everything in a business, as well as making all the ideas I have that I would love to produce.

How do you promote your business ?

So far, has been word of mouth for people to do private home exhibitions, as well as a couple of galleries displaying my pieces. I am working on a portfolio, and brochure so I can speak to interior/exterior designers and events planners. I am looking at advertising in two Perth children’s newspapers about the babies and children’s feet imprinted in glass.

Am I right in assuming that all the pieces are hand made – From the time you get an order how long does it take to complete an order (an average order) – Is it quite time consuming ?

Yes all my pieces are handmade, with many of them created from ideas in my head, or requests from clients. The time can vary largely due to how complicated the design is. Here are some average time spans for the various techniques.

• Stain glass – too variable due to number of pieces to cut and solder together.
• Mosaic – too variable due to the size of piece as well as the number of pieces to cut
• Fused – a flat piece 1 1/2 days – a shaped piece 2 1/2 days
• casting – between 5 and 8 days
• etching – 1/2 to a full day on a simple design

What is the best advice you have ever received about running a business?

Not to understate my work with price of pieces.

How many hours do you work each day ?

Varies due to demand, as well as juggling a baby and young child. Will generally do between 3 and 8 hours, and what ever it takes to meet deadlines.

Finally, your five keys to success?

Commitment and honesty, belief, determination, continually improving skills, listener, passionate

Sites Of Interest

http://www.glassbygina.com.au




This interview was published on 5th November 2009

Visit Gina’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the handmade products business click Handmade Products

Tell us a bit about your business – what you do, when you started and how you got the idea ?

Tara Bulum worked in the corporate world for 20 years in various industries and roles. For about five years of that she worked part-time or in her own business while working full-time for someone else.

Tara is an entrepreneur with three businesses. These are (and the following answers for each will be in the corresponding colours):

A Touch of Harmony (10 years old) – Life Coaching and Self Improvement programs (including book clubs) – started after Tara had volunteered as a counsellor, found she liked it and could incorporate it into some healing work in her own business. From here a natural evolution occurred from client requests that led to Life Coaching and training in topics of personal development. Today this business continues to provide Life Coaching, Health Coaching, Self Improvement programs and book clubs which are largely provided by a great team of Life Coaches.

Ecobub Nappies (3 years old) – environmentally friendly nappies and associated products that are safe for your child and the environment – prior to starting this business Tara had a pretty good awareness of some of the dangerous ingredients in products freely available on the market and an understanding of how they impact everyone’s health, particularly on those who have little or no natural defence systems. She had also made a commitment to herself when in her early twenties to never use disposable nappies on her children that contained dangerous ingredients or negatively impacted the environment.

When Tara became pregnant she endeavoured to find fitted cloth nappies made from natural fibres with no dangerous dyes or other chemicals. During this research she found there was little made in Australia or produced by Australian companies apart from biodegradable disposable nappies made in Germany. Not being able to source much in Australia led Tara to leverage her many years of business experience and launch her own business providing well researched high quality products to the Australian marketplace.

Now there is a place for parents who want quality nappy and associated products that are safe for their child(ren) and the environment. Products include a range of organic cotton cloth fitted nappies; organic cotton cloth wipes, cot sheets, towels, wraps, breast pads; biodegradable disposable nappies and biodegradable wet wipes; baby care products (wash, lotions and sunscreens).

Business Block Busters – (1.5 years old) – Business Mentoring and Coaching, Business Development, Business Management, Professional Development Training and Professional Development Coaching – Tara conducted one of her annual business reviews for A Touch of Harmony and realised that the majority of clients were women (usually Mums) working in their own or family businesses. The issues or aspects that were being worked on were about business and life. It seemed natural to Tara to separate this aspect of her business into a new venture because she realised that it was where she added the most value and gained the greatest satisfaction.

The thing that differentiates Business Block Busters from most business coaching services is that it doesn’t just focus on the nuts and bolts of the business but the skills and motivations of the owner/manager. It uses psychology and other perspectives to focus the business owner on setting and achieving short and long-term goals and dreams.

How do you source your products ?

A Touch of Harmony – the only products it has are books, CD’s and DVD’s that enable clients to achieve their goals or advance their knowledge about themselves. These are sourced from various places, referrals and experiences of what really works and aligns with the philosophies of the business.

Ecobub Nappies prefers Australian-made and Australian businesses and/or Australian made. Products must meet certain criteria such as:

Business Block Busters is currently building a website which will promote our services and have books, CD’s and DVD’s that enable clients to achieve their goals or advance their businesses. We will also offer some free information on this site for small and home based businesses.
These are sourced from various places, referrals and experiences of what really works and aligns with the philosophies of the business.

If you had to start all over again, is there anything you would do differently in your business ?

I would trust my instinct more and engage more with those who support my business goals and ideas. I would also remember that I am only one person and need assistance to achieve my goals, so engage help early on to build websites, undertake marketing and promotions as well as sales. You can’t do all the functions and need to realise that early on to save a lot of angst.

If you had to name one single most valuable tool for you in your business, what would that be ?

The internet is definitely a valuable tool but I also realised that networking is also equally valuable.

What is the smartest bit of marketing you have ever done ?

Building alliances with other like, but not the same businesses. Example – Business Block Busters aligns with a PR company, a printer, a graphic designer.

How many hours do you work each day? Any time management tips you would like to share with us?

I work more than I have to because I love what I do and am on a mission.

The most important management tip I can share is to not try and do everything yourself, if you are not good at something or it is not your priority, get someone to do that task that has that as their priority and does it well.

Finally, your five keys to success ?

1. Outsourcing to the right people
2. Engage a Business Coach
3. Plan ahead to achieve your dreams, so being really clear and detailed about what that is, how it will look and feel
4. Pay yourself as soon as you start getting money in, even if it starts at 5% of your business income
5. Show yourself and the Universe you are serious in all that you do by your actions and thinking.

Sites Of Interest

http://www.ecobubnappies.com.au/




This interview was published on 15th October 2009


Visit Tara’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the kids products industry click Kids Products

Tell us a bit about your business – what you do, when you started and how you got the idea ?

Ma Mère is an online lingerie store specialising in designer maternity wear and nursing lingerie.

In 2007, I fell pregnant with my son and became increasingly frustrated by the maternity lingerie available in traditional retail outlets. It seemed almost impossible to find lingerie to fit without sacrificing on style. After years of wearing beautiful lingerie I was sure there had to be an answer – and so Ma Mère was born.

How do you promote your business ?

We advertise in traditional media, but also focus a lot of our efforts on new media. For example, I regularly contribute to several blogs about pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s a lot more work than simply running a press or banner advertisement, but it’s worth the effort. We also have produced a free Guide to Maternity Lingerie that we send to customers on request.

Looking back, if you can go and change one thing then what would that be ?

I would spend more of our start up capital on systems that improved the day-to-day running of the business. For example, we initially had a manual stock management system. It took a lot of time to keep updated and had a lot of room for human error. Automating as many processes as possible gave me more time to focus on growing the business.

What is the best advice you have ever received about running a business ?

The best piece of advice I have ever received is ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. It’s overused in business literature, for a very good reason. I also read several business blogs religiously. My favourite is Seth Godin’s, which challenges the way I think about how I run my business every day.

What is your most popular product?

Our most popular product is the Cache Coeur Kimono nursing bra. Ma Mère is the Australian distributor for Cache Coeur and response to the range has been better than we anticipated.

What is one business tool you cannot survive without ?

The one business tool I cannot survive without is our performance dashboard. It measures the parts of our business that influence our goals and forces us to stay accountable to the areas that really matter.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Surround yourself with passionate people. Their energy and enthusiasm will encourage you to stay positive.
2. Have a solid business plan with quantifiable goals. If you don’t plan where you are going it’s unlikely you’ll ever get there. Making sure your goals can be measured is also really important so you can really tell if you have achieved them.
3. Measure your performance against your goals. This will keep you on track and identify areas you need to focus on. Remember, you can’t change what you don’t measure.
4. Go further than simply listening to your customers. Hearing what your customers have to say is pointless if you don’t change how you run your business as a result.
5. Great is never good enough. This may sound a bit negative, but constantly striving to improve all aspects of your business will be what sets you apart from the competition.

Sites Of Interest

http://www.mamere.com.au




This interview was published on 24th September 2009

Visit Khali’s website to get more information about her business


To read more stories about women in the maternity clothes industry click Designer Maternity Wear

Tell us a bit about your business (about The Seed and Boutique for the Soul) ?

Boutique for the Soul was launched in May of 2007 and is an organization that supports and connects women in business.

We do this through producing events or partnering with other events or organizations to allow for women business owners to meet their potential customers face to face and build their businesses through building their relationships first.

We educate women on promoting themselves as their best asset so the consumer builds a relationship with the person and not just the product or service. Since its inception, BFTS has produced over 300 events and has assisted thousands of women business owners in getting the support they need to build a sustainable business.

The Seed is an “off-shoot” of the BFTS concept. We saw the need for women to have everything they need to manage their business in one place, virtually. Creating a virtual space where women and women in business can be connected with the resources that they need at the time they need them AND the way they need it (social profiling) has never been done before. Just think Facebook meets Match.com, meets Monster…and then add classified ads, events (post or register), non-profit collaboration (donate, volunteer, event postings), managing your other social accounts from one place…and much more!

What were you doing for a living prior to starting your own business?

I have been en entrepreneur for over 10 years now and in the workforce for 20+ years. My background consists of home sales, lending, marketing, sales, fundraising and strategy execution. Prior to BFTS, I had a consultancy that worked with some of the major US banks in creating and executing sales & marketing strategies for their high-end sales representatives.

In your business you meet many business owners. Based on your observations, what are some of the characteristics of successful business owners (what separates them from the others)?

You have to treat what you are doing like a business and NOT a hobby. If you do not have a plan, budget or strategy, you are in a hobby, not a business. A great quality in a successful business owner is that they know to surround themselves with the resources and experts that manage the tasks that they themselves are not good at managing. You need experts in your business to assist you in making the right decisions. It is hard to admit that you may not know it all…but once you do admit it, you will be so grateful to have experts in your life and business to do the things you do not like or have the knowledge to accomplish correctly.

What has been your biggest hurdle so far and how did you overcome it ?

Teaching business owners that they are the ones responsible for their success has been the largest hurdle to climb. Business owners need to be accountable for the actions that they take to be successful and they need to do everything that they can to make each and every task that they do valuable. Learning from mistakes and growing from every experience will assist you in growing personally and professionally. Business is not just going to come to you. You will need to work hard at everything you do to earn it!

How can business owners benefit from becoming a member of one of your businesses?

Just getting out and meeting or connecting with people is a benefit in itself. If you add to that the instruction, education and guidance given by our organizations along with the opportunities that are presented (which you most likely would have not received otherwise), you will be that much farther ahead than your competitors. Both BFTS and The Seed accomplish these goals.

What is the best advice you have ever received about running a business?

The best advice I have received is to find a mentor early on in your business. It is free and experienced advice. Creating in a bubble is dangerous to the success of your business. A mentor or team of advisors will assist you in bouncing ideas and concepts off those who have the past experience and knowledge to lead you in the right direction.

Finally, your five keys to success?

1. Love what you do…wake up every morning with a smile.
2. Put others first…karma does exist for those who give more than get
3. Be honest with others and yourself…learn from your experiences even if they are not all positive.
4. Work hard…nothing comes for free.
5. Balance your work and life so you can reap the rewards of both!

Sites Of Interest

http://www.theseedconnection.com/


This interview was published on 3rd September 2009


Visit Erin’s website to get more information about her business

To read more stories about women in the service based industry click Idea Home Based Service Business