Idea Cafe's Mary Marks MOM Biz GrantGrant Winners ReportsThroughout the year after receiving our Mary Marks MOM Biz Grant, each winner sent us updates on how they're doing so we can all learn from their winning biz example. Our Top Winner, Debra LaPorte, of First Impressions in Lafayette Hill, PA, provides child identification kits. Looking Back on the Year After Receiving Idea Cafe's "Mary Marks MOM" GrantIdea Cafe: What was your most important accomplishment, financially and professionally? Debra: This past year has been a roller coaster! In the fall of 2001, business was very slow, but ever since January 2002, it's been steadily increasing to the point where, today, in the fall of 2002, I think I'll have to hire some staff soon. I'm so swamped with orders and inquires, it's hard to get everything done. My most important financial accomplishment was exceeding my estimate of income for the year. If things stay as they are, I will gross over $200,000 this year. I'm already three-fourths of the way there. I would've never imagined that the business would grow so much. Professionally, I have certainly grown as a businessperson, in particular, I'm better able to source suppliers and market to large corporations. My contacts are much broader; my orders are much larger; and the company is expanding to Europe in the next month or so. I feel much more confident in my abilities, especially since I've been handling every facet of the company for several years. The last few months have really tested my patience and endurance. I don't get much of a break at all during the entire week, as I work every weekend. Still, I'm extremely happy with what I'm doing, and I hope the wave of success continues. Idea Cafe: How do you feel you personally grew in this year of business accomplishment? Debra: As mentioned above, I have grown tremendously as a businessperson. The day-to-day activities of running the business go along pretty smoothly, although there have been many snags (recently 16,000 kits had to be reprinted because of a typo! What a nightmare!). I feel I can handle adversity better, problems don't faze me as much, and if something goes wrong, I act on it immediately. I also have a more positive outlook for the company and about succeeding, as things were always a little "iffy" before. I think I have become more creative and resourceful, and can communicate with customers more effectively. All in all, it's been a great year for learning and growing as a person. Idea Cafe: How did Idea Cafe's Mary Marks MOMS Biz Grant affect your small business? Debra: Idea Cafe's grant helped me through a really tough time in late 2001, when bills were piling up and business was slow. I think if I hadn't been awarded the grant money, I may not have had as much motivation to keep the business going. As I mentioned in my grant application, I have never taken out a loan. So I was glad to have the grant money to put back into the business. Aside from the money, all the positive messages I received from people with congratulations, helped me tremendously. Knowing there were strangers out there who had such confidence in me and in my abilities helped carry me through the rest of 2001 and into 2002. This recognition was more powerful than even the money. I can't say enough how thankful I have been to be involved in Idea Cafe's Biz Grant Contest, and I very much appreciate everyone who has helped to get me where I am today.
Summer 2002 Report Business-related goals for Summer 2002
1. I'm introducing a PVC ID card and need to work on the design and ordering details.
Business-related accomplishments for Summer 2002
1. Site listed on CBS.com as resource for child abduction. I just happened upon it, they must have found me on the Web.
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in Summer 2002
1. Problems deciding how to redesign the site, since I have done the site from the start. I have to be able to give some responsibility to the web designer.
April, 2002 Report: Business-related goals for May
1. Get orders out on time.
Business-related accomplishments for April
1. Finished taxes!
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in April 1. More orders than I can handle! I guess this could be seen as a problem or something wonderful! Aside from that, things are going smoothly.
March, 2002 Report: Business-related goals for April
1. Finish up taxes.
Business-related accomplishments for March:
1. Nearly finished taxes.
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in March:
1. Put off doing taxes and needed extension; will plan better next year.
February, 2002 Report: Business-related goals for March
1. Work on taxes.
Business-related accomplishments for February:
1. Office better organized!
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in February:
1. Still too incredibly busy to do taxes; may have to file for extension.
January, 2002 Report: Business-related goals for February
1. Work on taxes, have hired an accountant part-time
Business-related accomplishments for January
1. Surprising amount of sales for January -- better than expected!
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in January
1. Learned I need to organize my monthly income/expense per month, and not all at once at the end of the year. (It's too stressful!)
December, 2001 Report: Business-related goals for January
1. Work on taxes and QuickBooks organization
Business-related accomplishments for December
1. Sent out holiday cards to customers
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in December
1. Learned I need much improvement in the area of bookkeeping!
November, 2001 Report: Business-related goals for December
1. Contacting potential customers who requested information and samples
Business-related accomplishments for November
1. Business beginning to pick up again
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in November
1. Sales still slow until about 2 weeks ago, had to do some strict financial budgeting
October, 2001 Report:Business-related goals for November
1. Contacting previous customers for reorders
Business-related accomplishments for October
1. Winning Idea Cafe Mary Marks grant :-)
Business-related lessons learned or problems encountered in October
1. Problem -- Sales slowed because of Sept. 11th
Links:
Reports from other Winners:
See all the great gifts for winners donated by Idea Cafe Regulars
Idea Cafe's Small Business Grant Center home page
Small Business Tax Center • Idea Cafe Home • Sign Up • Biz Grant Center • CyberSchmooz •Coffee Talk with Experts • People in Biz Profiles • Starting Your Biz • Biz Planning • Running Your Biz • FREE Trade Publications • Marketing • Financing Your Biz • Human Resources • Legal & Biz Forms • Managing Your Biz • eCommerce • You and Your Biz • Gen X • Work@Home • The Fridge • De-Stress • Send an Award • Send an eGreeting • Yoga @ Your Desk • Web Guide • Idea Cafe in the News • About Idea Cafe • Advertise on Idea Cafe • Contact Us • Privacy Policy • Site Map • Small Biz News
Copyright 1995-2024, Idea Cafe Inc. Downloads are for personal use only, not for resale to others, and may not be reprinted in any form without written permission from Idea Cafe Inc.
DISCLAIMER: We hope whatever you find on this site is helpful, but be cautioned that it may not apply to your own situation, or be totally current at any given time. Idea Cafe Inc. and all of its current and past experts, sponsors, advertisers, agents, contractors and advisors disclaim all warranties with regard to anything found anywhere on this family of websites, quoted from, or sent from Idea Cafe. and its related sites, publications and companies. We also take no responsibility for comments published by others on these pages. TRADEMARKS: The following are Registered Trademarks or Servicemarks of DevStart, Inc.: Idea Cafe®, Online Coffee Break®, The Small Business Gathering Place®, Take out Info®, Biz Bar & Grill®, Complaint-O-Meter®, A Fun Approach to Serious Business, CyberSchmooz, and BizCafe. |
|