Contest Closed. The winner is….MAYA! Congrats!

Angie Shafranek is “the mom” behind Tiny Tots with Style! I had the privilege to learn a little more about Angie & her business this past week.  Listen in on our discussion:

1. How do you balance work/family life? This is an ongoing question and sometimes I’m not really sure I know how to do this. I do a lot of my work on Tiny Tots with Style after my son goes to bed. I hardly ever get to bed before 11:00pm. When he is awake my husband and I spend that time with him playing and doing the things he likes to do. Every night we have dinner together as a family with the TV off and talk about our day and just things going on during the day or upcoming events. It is hard to be a mom, member of the community, business owner, active member of your church, wife… and the list goes on and on!  But I think you just have to prioritize the day.

2. Favorite family activity? When it is nice outside we go on a lot of bike rides. My son loves bike rides. It is nice to get out, get some exercise and spend time as a family.

3. What resources you recommend to other moms wanting to start their own business?
I recommend tapping into your local chamber. You don’t have to join the chamber but they have lots of information and local businesses to talk to. I also recommend finding other business owners and/or moms that are in the same business you are in and using them as a resource. Take them to coffee/ lunch and pick their brain. They are doing what you want to do and have a lot of information to share. Women love to talk and connect with other women. Find local networking groups and attend them. Network and get your name out there. There are also a number of good books out there about women starting their own business. I also think social media is a great resource.

4. What does an average  day look like for you?  My day consist of getting my son ready for preschool in the morning and out the door. Drop him of at school and head to work, which I put in 40+ hours a week, pick son up from pre-school/childcare at 5:30 and head home. Cook dinner, play with son, talk to husband about day and events coming up, put son to bed. After I pick up the house a little bit I then go to work. I put in a few hours on Tiny Tots with Style every night and then I’m off to bed.

5. How does your online store work? (Where do you find the products? Do you keep these in stock at your home? etc.)
I find products for Tiny Tots with Style mostly by doing my own shopping. When I come across a product that fits with the image of Tiny Tots with Style I contact the owner and see if they would be willing to wholesale their products. If so, then products get added to Tiny Tots with Style. I do carry some items in stock at my home, while others are drop shipped. It just depends on the agreement I have with the store owner.

Thanks Angie! Want to hear some good news? Angie is offering a $25 Gift Certificate to 1 lucky winner to use at Tiny Tots with Style!

The Giveaway:

A $25 Gift Certificate to Tiny Tots with Style!

 

To Enter:

Leave a comment with a means for us to contact you

 

EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN!!:

(IMPORTANT: leave a comment for EACH task you complete!)

1. Visit www.tinytotswithstyle.com and tell us what you’d do with a $25 gift certificate!

2. Follow Tiny Tots with Style on Twitter: @TTWS09

3. Tweet this on twitter: RT @mommybags: Enter to win $25 Gift Certificate to Tiny Tots With Style! http://tiny.cc/FW7ax  @TTWS09

4. Become a fan of Tiny Tots With Style:  www.facebook.com/TinyTotswithStyle

 5. Follow this blog!

 6. Become a  fan of The Christian Moms Business Resource www.facebook.com/cmbresource

Contest will Close Wednesday 3/3/10 at 10pm MT. Entrants will be e-mailed Thursday morning with a link to the list of winners. All winners will have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen.