Interview with Entrepreneur of Mama Made USA
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What is your full name? Lacie Schwend
Please give us a little bit of a background on yourself and tell us how you became an entrepreneur.
My husband was transferred a little over a year ago, which forced me to quit my job in the corporate world. It was perfect timing, because our son was 2 weeks old when we moved, so here I am now, SAHM. This was not a change I accepted with open arms, but I am learning how blessed I am! I did start a small home based consulting business using my degree and past corporate world experiences. With the extra time at home, I have been able to harness all of my creative thoughts and started sewing. While making a baby blanket one day, I thought it would be nice to not have to pack things up and travel to craft shows, etc to make a buck when you have the Crafty Bone like me. I knew of sites like ETSY, etc and was thinking about how to target an audience of just WAHM’s. While doing a little research, I came across a website that had been started and was up for sale. I was outbid! But a couple of weeks later, I was contacted by the new owner who said that she wasn’t ready to have two online businesses (she already had one WAHM business and it was very successful). So, I bought www.mamamadeusa.com – and here I am!
What is your business called and what do you do?
Mama Made USA is an online Venue for WAHM’s and their products. The WAHM’s at Mama Made USA are called Ewe’s. Starting a home based business while being a SAHM is a great thing to be able to do, if you can make money. But these days with all the requirements for technology, etc it’s hard to get started! That’s where my site comes in. We list your items, we promote you on FB, Twitter, and Blog about you, and take care your inventory on our site – all you have to do it pay a monthly membership fee. A very low membership fee I might add. And if your Ewe Shop has no sales, you are not charged a membership fee for the month! I don’t make money if my clients don’t make money – how fair would that be?
How did you fund starting your own business?
I bit the bullet and made an investment…and I am currently working for free, but that is not what is important to me right now. I am not going to charge until the website is doing well and I am helping WAHM’s be successful. I don’t want to add any stress to anyone’s lives and not charge them for items that I am not helping them sell.
How many hours do you work in a week?
It varies, between both businesses 20+, but I only work at nap time and night time. My little man comes first!
I have only owned Mama Made USA for a little over a month and I think it’s making progress. I have a lot to learn and I have met some other great WAHM’s who have been very helpful! I didn’t realize how many talented, wonderful, and amazing WAHM’s there are out there until, I took over Mama Made USA.
What has been your biggest business challenge as an entrepreneur?
How did you or do you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is creating a successful online store…and getting people to know it, and instantly go there for their shopping needs. I am still working on overcoming it! But I will – I am VERY determined.
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
Remember that things don’t happen overnight and nothing is ever handed to you! You have to work hard…and things aren’t easy! But, that just makes success that much more wonderful when it does happen. You feel more satisfied and you do the best thing for yourself that you can, learn to believe in yourself and know that self confidence comes from within!
Website URL: www.mamamadeusa.com
Twitter ID: @mamamadeusa
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/mamamadeusa
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