Startup Stories

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Comment by Bridgett Mack on December 4, 2009 at 4:01pm

I have been writing since I was in the fourth grade. I give credit to my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Hidle for being the first person to encourage me to put my thoughts to paper. I am grateful to my parents for encouraging me to pursue my passion and I honor God for blessing me with this gift. I continued to write poetry, skits and short stories throughout my school years and early adulthood. Marriage and motherhood put a temporary halt on my writing...although I continued to write quick thoughts here and there.

Five years ago, I decided to write about the struggles my husband and I faced in the beginning of our marriage. My testimony transformed into a stage play entitled "He's Been Good". My pastor read the script and asked me to direct the play at church. I was little apprehensive at first because all I knew was writing...I didn't consider myself to be a director. Furthermore, I didn't think my life story would be of interest to anyone. Nonetheless, out of obedience, I complied with my pastor's request. After months of practice, studying and research, we were finally able to perform the play. There was nearly 600 people in attendance (this was huge for a small town girl like myself)

I was surprised at the audience's reaction. Some people laughed, some cried and during scene three (the scene in which the couple goes to church for prayer) a lady from the audience walked right up to the altar. Before the cast knew it, the entire altar was full of people from the audience crying and asking for prayer. The play ceased for a moment while the ministers prayed for the families. After everyone was seated, the final scenes were performed and the cast received a standing ovation.

In 2006, my husband and I started GO Ministries, a nonprofit Christian performing arts ministry. Since then, we have traveled from city to city performing free admission stage plays to the public. Our productions target issues faced by most families such as, marriage, education, financial troubles, death, forgiveness...you get the picture.

Our mission is to bring families closer together one production at a time. Our free admission productions provide entire families with a night of inspiration and encouragement. Our productions are funded through the generous donations of individuals, churches and local businesses. Because our productions contain biblical insight, obtaining funding has become a constant challenge. However, it is a challenge worth the fight. We have received numerous testimonials and thanks from individuals who have attended our productions.

Since 2003, we have successfully written and toured stage productions throughout Southwest Georgia. Helping to strengthen families is heart of why GO Ministries exists.

For more information on GO Ministries please visit us on the web at www.goproductionministries.org

Comment by Cindy Mayes on November 21, 2009 at 9:03am

I started New Orleans Women in Music (NOWIM) in December 2007, after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. I was fortunate in that I was hired to work part time at the Musicians Union after we moved back home in January 2006. As a life long musician, I saw the effects on the lives of our musicians, so many heart wrenching stories, many of them my friends. I thought & prayed for a way for me to help my city. The answer came in a huge box of performance clothing for women musicians to the Union office, sent by the Women's Professional Musicians Club (WPMC) in Chicago. This began a beautiful friendship between me & the president of this club, Jennifer Silk, who inspired me to start our own women's club. One of her members, Ruth Tobias, a retired vocalist & bass player, came down to N.O. several times & has been instrumental in advising & helping me start this club. What do we do? We provide information, support & networking for our professional women in the music industry. We present guest speakers to keep us in the know about music industry concerns & new developments, each speaker graciously donating their time. In March 2009, we presented our members in a showcase at the National Park Service's Jazz Historical Park in the French Quarter. For a venue that seated only about 60 people, we had 500 come to the performance! We wish to preserve the unique musical culture of New Orleans by supporting the education of upcoming musicians and working towards the institution of quality music programs in our schools. We also encourage the hiring of local musicians.
Why did I join Dreamers Into Doers? Because NOWIM has a dream! After seeing & experiencing the extraordinary kindnesses given to the people of our area, we wish to give thank you concerts, starting in the Chicago area and involving our two women's organizations in joint concerts. We plan to do this on the weekend of August 29, 2010 for the fifth anniversary of Katrina. To cry & moan? Oh no! We wish to celebrate the good in people & show the world that we are working hard to mend our city and show our fellow Americans, that because of their beautiful kindnesses we are able to continue producing the incredible music that bubbles forth from this great city. We are not a non-profit, so raising money for this effort will take a great deal of creativeness! We are working on that & appreciate any ideas concerning fundraising. For more information, go to www.nowim.org. I look forward to hearing from my fellow Dreamers Into Doers! Cindy Mayes

Comment by Julie Poll on November 20, 2009 at 9:51pm

I'm a people person. I've always been in some kind of home business. I became a Mary Kay consultant back in 1989 and loved to make gift baskets with the products. My husband passed away from cancer at age 40 and I was left with the family Drywall business. I just couldn't get into that type of work, but I kept it and just deal with the financial part of it. About 4 years later I was looking for a business with candles so I could get my candles at cost for my Mary Kay gift baskets. I found a home business called Affordable Luxuries out of Boston. Joined it and loved the candles. I did not like lugging candles around though. I came up with an idea to open a small retail store with our products and a party room in the back so I could hold parties there and the guests could take their products home with them that night...no more deliveries or lugging heavy product around. The company loved the idea and had me out to Boston to see the facilities and I actually had dinner with the owner of Yankee Candle Companies wife and son. Learned all about candles and running a business.
I found a retail space just around the corner of my Drywall Company building and began building my business. Unfortunately Affordable Luxuries went out of business 6 months after I opened my store "The Candle Exprience". That didn't hurt my business because after that I started expanding my lines and grew.
I've been in business for almost 5 1/2 years now and absolutely love it!!!! I do lots of parties in my party room...from candle parties, showers, red hat parties, kids Webkinz birthday parties and more. A couple years ago I added wedding rentals to the store...centerpieces, candles, artificial florals, etc. Doing very well with that. I love the ideas on Martha Stewart site and magazines...I have incorporated some into the store.
It's been a struggle for the past year, but things are picking up with the holidays. I have great loyal customers who want me to stay in business for a long time to come...so they do support me and send everyone they know to the store. Unfortunately I found out I am a BUY-A-HOLIC!!! : ) I just keep adding new lines..so much fun!! Someone asked me recently if I always dreamed of opening my own candle store...I told them no. I had never been a huge candle burner or even knew very much about them...just wanted them for my Mary Kay baskets. Once I had the idea in my head...it took off! Four months after I had the idea...I opened my store. Now I know ALL there is to know about candles and candle care.
I'm a true believer that small businesses are what makes a community. Find something you like...learn everything you can about it...and go for it!!!
Good luck to all you dreamers!

Comment by Two Yellow Dogs, Terri on November 19, 2009 at 10:26pm

Thanks for the kind words. I'm impressed w/ your business venture. Good luck w/ your training facility.

Comment by Lisa Mason on November 19, 2009 at 11:47am

What a great idea. I bet it will be a hit. Best of luck, Lisa

Comment by Two Yellow Dogs, Terri on November 15, 2009 at 3:24pm

HI,

I am new to MS *Doers*! Thanks for the inspiration PuppyBumpers and MyFlipFlops!

About me and my idea: I am unhappy continuing work in the computer support industry (~16 yrs)... I MUST find a way to lauch myself into (early) retirement and long to do something I LOVE and have passion for (again). I USE to love supporting technology in a large corporation, but the FUN has left the building! My brain and hands are always blossoming with IDEAS and CREATIONS and my friends always tell me I should turn my gifts/talents into a business. I think I have TOO many ideas... and that has kept me from getting started. I am going to focus on one and make it a reality. Oct 09 my Mom-in-Law passed away. For about a year, I worked on information/writings she left behind and published a book (writings/pictures/scanned docs/family tree) on her life. It is directly intended for her family (grand kids etc). The response by family and friends to the final product (150 pgs) was overwhelming! I KNOW I have found an avenue to blend my creative and technological talents into helping others create a legacy to leave to their families.

My Startup Story is at ground-zero. Looking for feedback on my flagship service/product. Own the URL (Two-Yellow-Dogs.com), but website non-existant (as of yet).

My Service: Inspiring, Coaching, Showing and Leading others to create a unique printed or digital legacy--their own story or a loved ones'--into something amazing and extraordinary! Classes, workshops and individual consulting via direct techniques and inspiration to guide your thoughts and pictures into a final product, in the form of a printed book or digital virtual book.

Comment by Allyson Gonzalez on November 15, 2009 at 8:21am

Hi Rita,
Your flipflops are great, you are very talented. I would be happy to put it on my website. Are you associated with an affiliate program?
I am still working on getting the donations only portion on the wesite, it should be up in a couple of weeks if not sooner.

Comment by Ann W. Price on November 14, 2009 at 7:40pm

Thanks, Rita! I looked at yourflipflops.com too. What a neat idea! We give a portion of our proceeds to ASK, an organization that give support to families of kids with cancer. These are the same kids that my therapy dogs and I have been working with for several years now. We also have Puppy Bumpers manufactured by STEPS, Inc., an organization that provides employment for people with disabilities. We think you're on the right track!

Comment by Rita Marie Kontny on November 14, 2009 at 7:28pm

I just watched your video Ann!! Fantastic idea!! Good luck with this already great business venture!!

Rita Kontny
yourflipflops.com

Comment by Ann W. Price on November 14, 2009 at 4:34pm

I'm excited to announce the unveiling of our new website www.puppybumpers.com featuring our really cute Puppy Bumper video! Puppy Bumpers (stuffed pillow collars that keep dogs from getting out of fences) are now featured in four national catalogs: In the Company of Dogs, Blair, Whatever Works and Fetch and Walker! We also have added a page to show off our retail outlets around the country. Please come visit us at www.PuppyBumpers.com and share it with a friend!

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