false

2009-04-24T23:54:41-07:00

Not only starting my business but starting a movement, creating a word that is representative of what the world needs with designs that speaks to each word: INfinite, PEace, LOve, TOgetherness. I am a model turned designer. It is my love of poetry, music, fashion and humanity which inspired me to take my newly created acronym: Inpeloto which stands for INfinite, PEace, LOve, TOgetherness and developed a company. Inpeloto LLC comprises of volumes of my poetry, jewelry line called Inpeloto Bella: Jewelry with a Conscience™ that integrates my love of poetry into my designs. Inpeloto Bodywear makes tshirts and hoodies for women and men, along with camisoles and caps. It is sustainable clothing made from 100% combed organic cotton and other eco-friendly fibers. Inpeloto uses fair trade principles. Inpeloto BodyWear and Inpeloto Bella were born out of poetry, social consciousness and activism. It is Clothing with a Conscience™. This brand is a voice to the world. Wearing this brand is an opportunity to tell the world what is on your mind and what you stand for. These are clothes that make bold, conscious and positive proclamations; clean and simple designs. Consumers can invest in humanity, look amazing, and help create global dialogues.  If we truly embraced this mantra we would have solutions to problems and an evolutionary life. It is also a new word that speaks powerful volumes. 10% of the sales proceeds benefits: BookPALs (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) and Conservation International. Inpeloto’s mission: To be world relevant through social transformation by implementing infinite peace, love and togetherness for daily existence of conscious action. Love is a verb.  cJbWjUmwur3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T23:54:41-07:00

true

false

false 1

Makings of a Business

2009-11-20T17:39:50-08:00

aWlnFcmwer3QVhacfA8pyY

MelissaMichaels101

157

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T23:03:23-07:00

As three women coming from Italian and Dominican immigrant families, most of our brainstorming and work is done around the kitchen table. When we discussed starting a family business, of course the conversation took place around the same kitchen table that for generations our family members used as a platform for debating political ideas, gossiping, sharing recipes, cooking and eating meals together. It was around this same table where we came up with our new product idea. It is amazing to realize just how many more chairs we gathered around the same table as we expanded our business conversations.We started drafting the business plan for our first venture in November of 2007. We were all holding down full-time jobs, honoring family commitments, while trying to have a social life. It was then that we reached out to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). We were making great progress with our product idea when during one of the business meetings with the SBDC, we were challenged with one question we had not yet considered. “What would be the effect of temperature on the cosmetic products (makeup, skin care, and perfume) that would be used with our product idea?”Initially unable to respond to this question, we walked away disappointed. We knew one thing was for sure, failure was not an option. We were not afraid to learn, innovate, and even dare to make some mistakes as long as we learned from them. One mistake was getting so caught up in the design of the product that we did not stop to consider the proper storage for cosmetics. We were so protective of our ideas that we did not let enough people into the conversation to help us understand the limitations of our product idea.We were faced with a major decision, do we abandon the idea or do we take it as an opportunity to evolve? Evolve we did! Maybe it was the lack of sleep, in combination with too much caffeine, but one thing was certain, we would not give up.We researched the temperature issue and got some interesting answers. We learned extreme heat can shorten the lifespan of cosmetics by breaking down the preservatives they contain. This effect could be more harmful to organic cosmetics that contain little to no preservatives. We also learned that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not require expiration dates on cosmetic products. Like food, cosmetic products can and will eventually go bad. As we researched we learned that once a cosmetic product is opened, it can benefit from being stored at 54 degrees Fahrenheit. It turns out that when stored properly the right temperature can prevent a product from turning rancid earlier than its intended shelf-life. We were surprised to learn these facts and wondered why they were not more widely discussed. It turns out that this problem is commonly solved in Asia by storing products in a cosmetic cooler. It was now the summer of 2008 and we were concerned with the economic environment, but we decided to go forward as long as we could implement a lean business process, utilizing free resources provided by agencies like, SCORE, the SBDC, and the SBA. This economic downturn presented challenges for raising funds, but it offered opportunities to negotiate deals that might not have been possible in better economic times.We have found great value in the information provided by the entrepreneurs that walked the path before us. Books like the E-Myth and Lessons of a Lip Stick Queen, coupled with television programs such as “The Big Idea” continue to provide direction and inspiration.Armed with new information and a new problem space to solve, we still meet at the same kitchen table to conduct business meetings for the company we incorporated in 2009, doing business as Think Cool Cosmetics™. We are excited about the upcoming launch of our online boutique and hope to expand our conversation from the kitchen table to include our customers. Our work towards being successful entrepreneurs honors our parents’ sacrifices to attain the American Dream.  cKCk0Omv4r3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T23:03:23-07:00

true

false

true

false 1

A Cooler Solution to Storing your Cosmetic Products!

2009-11-20T13:57:40-08:00

aTy-aImvSr3QVhacfA8pyY

Vanity3

284

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T22:49:40-07:00

My family and I started a medical software company; software used by physicians to help them improve patient care. As many start-ups begin, we were working from home (out of my parent’s home in fact). My story begins in the final hours of a Thursday which ended a disappointing month for sales. As I was finishing my work day and staving off discouragement, I received an unexpected call. Prompted by a “discount expiration date” on a quote, a sales lead that I had been trying to close for some time called and whispered the loveliest words to me: “We are moving ahead with the purchase.” It would mark our most fruitful sale to date. My day went from dark, dismal and discouraged to bright shining and full of the same promise that I’d felt on incorporation day. I told the new customer a final invoice would be sent immediately. We exchanged pleasantries and promised to talk in the morning. I quickly prepared and sent the final invoice manually. I told my family the good news and very soon after my brother and I went to celebrate at a bar. The next thing I recall was my cell phone ringing on the nightstand next to my bed. It was the “big sale” customer saying that the quote looked good, but that the name and address were wrong on the quote. I apologized and jumped out of bed, squinting at the daylight (slammed a toe against the bed frame) and scurried to my computer in the other room. I couldn’t understand how I had made such errors, but went ahead and modified the invoice and resent. No more than 60 seconds passed and the phone rang again; after much back and forth and in the fogginess of my hangover, I realized that i had been talking to two different customers with similar names: Medical Pain Mgmt and Medical Mgmt. I had been talking each company, thinking they were the same. And then it dawned on me - I had sold two different customers with the same quote. I stood up from my desk and all alone, wearing nothing more than briefs, began to dance in celebration; until out of the corner of my eye I saw the shadow of a figure in the window. A window washer my mother hired was there, squeegee in hand, staring and laughing. I quickly turned away to dash for cover and was stopped in my tracks. There in the doorway, barreled over laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe, was my ex-girlfriend.  I had forgotten she had accompanied me home from the bar. With nowhere to run and with a captive audience, I smiled and finished my dance....   c7JxhsmvWr3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T22:57:30-07:00

true

false

false 1

Weirdness, mistakes, luck, dancing and Skivies

2009-11-20T16:48:03-08:00

b_006cmvWr3QVhacfA8pyY

AdamMF

142

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T21:24:58-07:00

When I went to college, I chose Mechanical Engineering as my major.  This was not due to any particular love or proficiency in using tools or cars.  I chose it because I loved math and science and I was very shy with people, so I figured, "I'll deal with things and not people, Engineering should be perfect".   Oops!   Of course all jobs involve dealing with people to some extent.  Luckily, I loved knowing how and why things worked and I was blessed with good genes and parents who had always stressed academics, so I made it through the courses fairly easily.  By chance really, rather than any deep desire, I ended up in the aerospace industry.  And it was good.  I did well and lasted about 20 years in various different jobs I chose.During the last couple of years, due both to job environment changes and personal life changes, it lost part of its luster for me and I was feeling different priorities for myself.  I needed something new or at least different.  I applied for and was accepted into a unique leadership-training program which taught leadership skills of course, but also forced the participants to do a lot of soul searching and self-understanding.  And there is where I learned which path to take.Early in the program a consultant came in, I don't recall what the actual session was about, but it changed my life.  The speaker came into the room holding a small branch he had just plucked from one of the local trees and told us to take a leaf from that branch.  He told us to look at the leaf, analyze the leaf, feel it, smell it, heck, even taste it if we really wanted to.  He told us that this leaf would give us the answer to any question that we had.  We all looked at him like he was crazy, but we followed his directions.  What the heck.  So me, being a bit of a cynic with a touch of smart aleck, asked this leaf to tell me the what I was supposed to do with my life.  And it did!I don't know what type of tree it was, and I would really like to, I definitely would plant one in my yard just as a reminder.  While I was fiddling with the leaf, I turned it over.  The veining was unique.  Instead of having a central vein with branches off to each side, the veins of this leaf consisted of hundreds of little circles, all connected.  This leaf told me that it didn't matter which path I chose.  Just choose one.  If it isn't right for some reason, all of the paths circle around, you can always pick another one later.  It's OK.  And so am I, picking a new path again. cHDanemvar3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T21:24:58-07:00

true

false

false 1

Which path in life should I take?

2009-11-20T14:55:25-08:00

dqlnc6mu0r3QVhacfA8pyY

jgiba

144

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T21:06:32-07:00

FarMor Publishing Company was established on faith. In July 2002, after fasting and praying for God to reveal my purpose in life, I resigned from my supervisor position at a K-12 publishing company of six years and stepped out on faith in December 2002 to write my first book, Living Testimonies.After completing the manuscript in 2003, I submitted it to a local publisher and was ecstatic to receive the acceptance letter. However, I was unable to afford the publishing costs, so I humbled myself and worked temporary and part-time jobs that paid well below $10 an hour—despite my bachelor’s in journalism and my master’s in communication—to make ends meet and support my two children (at the time).One day, as I drove to my proofreading job at a full-service prepress company, I started to feel that God had delivered me from Egypt (my $35,000 salaried position that was taking a toll on me) to abandon me in the wilderness (these low-paying file clerk and editing jobs that I would not have taken otherwise).Just then, Smokie Norful’s song, “I Understand,” started to play on the radio: Sometimes I feel like giving up It seems like my best just ain't good enough Lord if you hear me, I'm calling you Do you see, do you care all about what I'm going through And then He says, One more day, one more step See I'm preparing you for myself And when you can't hear My voice, please trust My plan I'm the Lord, I see and yes I understand Shortly afterward, I realized that every job had prepared me to set up my own publishing company. Then under the direction of the Holy Spirit, I established FarMor Publishing, a Christian-based company, in October 2004. With the slogan, “Reaching far more than the eyes can see,” we are committed to producing inspirational products that glorify God and exemplify the true meaning of walking by faith, not by sight.After releasing Living Testimonies in August 2005, I was contacted by a local poet, Anita B. Williams, who had been trying to publish her collection of inspiration poems for several years. On July 7, 2007, FarMor released Honey for the Soul™: This Is the Season, and has several upcoming titles slated for 2009, including:• The Tests: Releasing the Beauty Within by Elizabeth M. Kershaw • The Fly and the Hippo by Joanne H. Dumas • Honey for the Soul™: A New Journey by Anita B. Williams By faith, FarMor is soaring to heights unknown. The company will continue to produce inspirational products that encourage people to keep the faith and inspire them to pursue their passion.   bHWdw8mu4r3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T21:06:32-07:00

true

false

false 1

FarMor Publishing Reaches Far More Than the Eyes Can See

2009-11-20T18:46:35-08:00

cjEXn2muWr3QVhacfA8pyY

farmorpub

169

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T21:04:42-07:00

I’m a small business owner based out of Suwanee, Georgia. I know I know the title of my story leaves you saying hmmm, tell me more! With much help from my supportive husband I started a romantic decorating service called Creations of Love Inc. We serve the metro Atlanta Georgia and surrounding areas. How it all started! I use to be a corporate executive and traveling was a huge part of my job. In November of 2001 my husband’s birthday was coming up and I wanted to do something really special. Since I was always traveling for work, I wanted to find a way that we could really spend some quality time together alone without distractions. I had an idea, why not pick up some fresh flowers and cook his favorite meal. The idea seemed to grow legs because then I decided to pick up candles and fresh rose petals and a bottle of sparkling cider for a private toast. My imagination was running wild! I called my sister who makes the best cakes and asked her to make a cake for him. My plan for the ultimate surprise was becoming increasingly exciting and inspiring! It even expanded into turning our dining room into what I now call a love den. I put flowers around the chandelier and I purchased silk material and draped it from the archways that led into the dining room. It looked like a Grecian feast by the time I finished everything. When my sister brought the cake over, she said “you should do this for a living", help couples celebrate in style, or write a book teaching other couples how to be romantic and why it’s so important. Little did I know at that time that an idea was born, I didn’t give it any thought at the time until the opportunity presented itself, for me to leave the corporate world. I wanted to pursue my own business and was in search of something that made me the happiest when doing it. I thought about how much fun I had planning that night for my husband and the rest is history now! Well not quite, I wanted to test it and see if it would really be appreciated by a couple. The timing was perfect because one of my husband’s closest friends was getting married and a wedding gift idea was born; “The Gift of Romance!” My husband’s friend is a Real Estate agent and I was a Director of Business Development in my corporate life. I knew that he could appreciate my entrepreneur spirit and the passion once we met to discuss it. He wanted to surprise his bride-to-be with a romance package. By this time I had it all together and new exactly what to offer him. The wedding colors were canary yellow and white so I thought I’d bring that theme into the decorating. Fresh yellow rose petal trails, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne flutes, canary yellow aromatherapy candles and fragrant bath products! He added lingerie in white and a gift of a beautiful necklace that I was to place under the pillow! I was so excited my dream was coming to life with my very first customer! They were really our test market and I’m happy to say that a star was born! The bride and groom were so happy, the same night, yes their honeymoon night, they called and she was moved to tears by the surprise. She said “it’s the perfect ending to my perfect day”! After talking to friends and family, listening to women around the country in training classes and in the work place complain about not having time for romance, or time to plan something special, or their spouse not being romantic, I decided to find a way to introduce romance in a whole new way. I found that a lot of people are indeed romantic, men and women but just don’t have time to really prepare for something unique and different. That’s where CL comes in to help! Seeing how excited my husband was the very first time that I turned a few areas in our home into what I now call, a "love den" and giving the “gift of romance” to our friends, I knew that it was something that people really need, the opportunity to get away without distractions. There’s no better way to celebrate your love together than in an atmosphere of ambiance without distractions. The focus is on each other and you can rest, rekindle and renew the sparks that are often lost in our busy routines. Romance is truly a necessity not a luxury! I could go on and on about Creations of Love, after all it’s my passion! A business grant will give me the capital I need to continue to grow the business and make it even better. I have so many ideas and would like to continue my expansion efforts so that people everywhere can experience a Creation of Love. What we offer can help couples stay together and help reduce the divorce rate. We believe that we are helping to save marriages one romantic decorating job at a time!   aXRMAwmu4r3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-25T12:11:31-07:00

true

false

false 1

A desire to be different turned into an idea, which became an inspiration that turned into a business, now my passion!

2009-11-20T06:59:42-08:00

aZCvqOmuSr3QVhacfA8pyY

mchatman

486

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T21:00:06-07:00

I had a licensing job at the NBA in 1996, the year they celebrated their 50th anniversary with an 800-page book with only 3 pages about African American teams that played before the league began in 1950. Yet, I was curious because I’d seen many such teams mentioned briefly in other books. But no one knew anything more – not even the Basketball Hall of Fame. So I went to the library to do research myself, by reading old newspapers on microfilm. I devoted all of my free time, and discovered there were dozens of black teams all the way back to 1900. Each time I found a new team I trademarked the names and logos. Doing this, I created a fine collection of intellectual property and content. Then one day I was laid off, but with a severance, allowing me to pursue these efforts full time. To prove there was a market for this niche, I created my company and sought licensees. When none were interested, I created my own line of vintage basketball jerseys. I got bank credit, set up Asia production, hired a sales agency, secured a distribution service, and soon shipped to over 250 stores around the country with initial orders of over $600,000. We implemented accounting practices such as tracking orders, invoices, commissions, inventories, receivables, payables, and profits. Then the market for these fasions collapsed due to oversaturation from other producers. Almost overnight, demand stopped and many retail stores went out of business. Luckily, Nike discovered us in the process. Nike asked if they could use our team names and logos on a special line of Black Fives licensed goods they would create and sell, paying us royalties based on their sales. Their collection of Black Fives retro sneakers and apparel sold in the world’s best and coolest shops, and even in its Niketown stores. Then Converse, which Nike owns, asked if they could use the license too – to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2008. We agreed with that too. Their collection of Black Fives products got even more attention and exposure than Nike’s. People really like the good feelings they get from learning about those basketball pioneers. Their stories and experiences offer life lessons beyond history. We merge modern elements of pop culture with those valuable lessons to engage, teach, enlighten, and inspire people today. Our slogan is ‘Make History Now.’ What’s great is that I started all of this with nothing but love and my library card. b0ZECymu0r3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-28T17:39:37-07:00

true

false

false 1

How to make a fortune starting with nothing but love and a library card!

2009-11-20T19:13:26-08:00

bFyFtimu0r3QVhacfA8pyY

claude203

640

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T20:59:59-07:00

I had a licensing job at the NBA in 1996, the year they celebrated their 50th anniversary with an 800-page book with only 3 pages about African American teams that played before the league began in 1950.Yet, I was curious because I’d seen many such teams mentioned briefly in other books.But no one knew anything more – not even the Basketball Hall of Fame. So I went to the library to do research myself, by reading old newspapers on microfilm. I devoted all of my free time, and discovered there were dozens of black teams all the way back to 1900.Each time I found a new team I trademarked the names and logos. Doing this, I created a fine collection of intellectual property and content.Then one day I was laid off, but with a severance, allowing me to pursue these efforts full time.To prove there was a market for this niche, I created my company and sought licensees. When none were interested, I created my own line of vintage basketball jerseys.I got bank credit, set up Asia production, hired a sales agency, secured a distribution service, and soon shipped to over 250 stores around the country with initial orders of over $600,000.We implemented accounting practices such as tracking orders, invoices, commissions, inventories, receivables, payables, and profits.Then the market for these fasions collapsed due to oversaturation from other producers. Almost overnight, demand stopped and many retail stores went out of business.Luckily, Nike discovered us in the process.Nike asked if they could use our team names and logos on a special line of Black Fives licensed goods they would create and sell, paying us royalties based on their sales.Their collection of Black Fives retro sneakers and apparel sold in the world’s best and coolest shops, and even in its Niketown stores. Then Converse, which Nike owns, asked if they could use the license too – to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2008. We agreed with that too. Their collection of Black Fives products got even more attention and exposure than Nike’s.People really like the good feelings they get from learning about those basketball pioneers. Their stories and experiences offer life lessons beyond history. We merge modern elements of pop culture with those valuable lessons to engage, teach, enlighten, and inspire people today. Our slogan is ‘Make History Now.’What’s great is that I started all of this with my library card.    b0ZECemu0r3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-28T09:41:32-07:00

true

false

false 1

How to make a fortune with love and a library card!

2009-11-17T22:09:45-08:00

bFyFtimu0r3QVhacfA8pyY

claude203

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T20:34:23-07:00

In 1996, a good friend and I started a gift basket business on a street corner with only an outdoor plastic table and our youthful enthusiasm. We proceeded to hail down as many cars as it took to sell each of the 12 gift baskets we designed in our apartments. The idea came to me when I discovered that one of the commissioners at the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET), a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency received a custom gift basket from a friend. That weekend I researched the local gift basket market and traveled to store after store only to be told that they did not make custom baskets. It was just days later that the business was well underway. I saw this as an opportunity for my girlfriend and I to work part time during the evenings and weekends designing and figuring out how to sell gift baskets. We worked both worked fulltime for USDE national accrediting agencies, which required extensive travel around the country. We would work all day, travel the country and then came home joking that it was time to “work the street corner.” We continued with incremental yet encouraging growth but it was not satisfactory, given my lofty goals. One year after the business was formed; I notified the accrediting agency that I would like to work part time so that I could devote more time to marketing the business of my dreams. We eventually negotiated some shelf space at a local shipping store and developed a line of gifts that we could reproduce for various occasions. Just as it felt that the sky was the limit, personal issues came between us and the small operation was divided and I was the only party interested in continuing the dream. I then formed “Thankfully Yours” which began with personal gifts to say thank you and happy birthday, which now provides corporate gifts to the largest property management, legal, accounting, and concierge firms in the United States. All the while, I worked part time for the accrediting agency for 12 years while growing Thankfully Yours. In April 2007, I resigned from the accrediting agency and started Accreditation Training Advisors, (ATA) an educational consulting firm. Outside some part time and temporary assistance during the gift basket high seasons, I have managed both businesses with great success. ATA has quickly risen to the top of the higher education market and I am a trusted management and educational advisor to schools and corporations around the country. The work and now travel for ATA is never-ending but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am sharing my story today because I am passionate about both of my female only owned small businesses and would be thrilled to witness their full potential. It would be my absolute pleasure to have each operation serve its’ client as they so richly deserve for their loyalty to me, some from the very beginning.   c9exqMmuKr3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T20:34:23-07:00

true

false

false 1

Thankfully Yours

2009-11-20T11:00:35-08:00

cItQ7SmuKr3QVhacfA8pyY

acedrvr

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw

false

2009-04-24T20:31:49-07:00

My goal is to be the person my dog thinks I am. At five years old, I loved animals and my fondness only grew with time. I worked my way through high school and college working for veterinarians, boarding facilities, and pet resorts. I learned the skills of customer service and the art of employee management. Most of all, I gained experience in my industry and confidence in my knowledge. Even though I didn't realize exactly where my path would lead at the time, I just kept working hard. At the age of twenty-seven, my path became crystal clear. An unexpected layoff left me at a monumental crossroad. I took stock in my accomplishments to date: an animal science degree from an Ivy League university, ten years of working experience, five years of management experience, and all the time in the world! For the first time, my leap wouldn’t have a planned landing pad.I followed my passion, set my sights on a BIG adventure, and just got started, having no idea how I could make it happen. I drafted a viable business plan, followed it step by step, and transformed a vast 8,000SF space into a warm, welcoming, highly specialized state-of-the-art full service pet care facility. Future months yielded major obstacles, in the form of zoning restrictions, contractor disputes, and massive financing shortcomings – each conquered in their own way. . In only one year and three days after my layoff, K9 Kingdom opened its doors. We welcomed an astounding 200 dogs and their owners into our indoor dog park over the course of that first weekend and we haven't slowed since. Our clients love the wide array of services all under one big roof: Doggie Daycare, Boarding, Grooming, Training, Self-Service Dog Wash, Indoor Dog Park and Pet Limo. K9 Kingdom has been fortunate to experience fantastic growth despite a historically challenging economic climate. March 8, 2008 marked our first anniversary, and we're already averaging thirty dogs per day in daycare, with a two week grooming waitlist. We recently completed our first major expansion project, now offering boarding services with over forty overnight condos.  What’s next? Plans for a second location, of course. All of this before celebrating my 30th birthday!  Keeping me going through every ounce of hard work are the proud gazes and wagging tails of my own two proud puppies!  Nothing beats their approval!   bROJn4muKr3QVhacfA8pyY

false

true

false

2009-04-24T20:31:49-07:00

true

false

false 1

From Employee to Entrepreneur in Record Time - Making my K9 Admirers Proud!

2009-11-20T19:22:14-08:00

aUAv_2muir3QVhacfA8pyY

K9Kingdom

109

dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw