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I?ll be 29 on the 12th and I can say w/conviction that it was only in the last 3 ½ years that I?ve known what I wanted to do with my life. Coincidentally, I had my daughter, Gabby, 3 ½ years ago. The entire pregnancy was surreal and exhausting as I was working full time as a supervisor for Safeway. But the second that she was laid in my arms I knew that I was meant to be a mother?her mother. And it killed me to have to leave her everyday at different times of the day (as my schedule changed daily) to go to work. It took me 3 ½ years to figure out how to help support us as I knew that noone would pay me to raise my own child. It came to me around Halloween of 2005 that I should start my own business. The amount of money that I made would depend solely on how hard I worked, I could dictate how much I worked, and I would have more control over my life. In April 2006, my family and I moved back to Washington State in the hopes of invigorating my business. I also took on a partner (my brother in law and former UPS supervisor, Cory) and we named the business C & K HomeStyles. The plan is this: C & K will participate in as many fairs and festivals in Washington State as we can get accepted to. As customers come to our booth, regardless of purchase, they would be encouraged to take a catalog and sign up for our mailing list. As revenue builds, a master website would be created which would also have a link to the gift card redemption website that is already up (www.feelslikehomegifts.com). In the end, profits would be coming in from the fairs/festivals, mail order catalogs, and the internet. The $3500 that I am asking for would be spent on the following: application fees, for example, the Victorian Country Christmas in Puyallup, WA application fee is $950), a canopy w/the company name on it is $1000, business cards, LOTS of inventory, and travel expenses such as gas and lodging. We already have our business license and merchant accounts with VISA, Mastercard, AMEX, and Discover, as well as a handheld, wireless credit card processor. And I have already submitted an application w/the fee for the Tour de Terrace at the end of July. However, I won?t know if we?ve been accepted until two weeks prior. And as profits come in they will be split 50/50 with Cory. My half of the profit would be divided between buying more inventory for the next event and paying off the debts my family has accrued over the years. Bear in mind, though, that my husband, Rob, works full time for Tub Cove in Seattle, WA. His salary ($37,440/yr) takes care of our bills while C & K gets off of the ground and we?re staying with my in-laws. Once the debts have been paid off, that portion of the money would be set aside for the purchase of our first home and our 10th anniversary wedding/renewal in April 2009. Rob was in the Army when we got married and his company was put on alert to go to Kosovo so we were married rather quickly. There was no family present and I had already bought the dress! Suffice it to say, I am dedicated to the success of C & K. This company will provide my family with the financial success we deserve and the security we crave. This is my destiny and I am ready! |
