iVillage: Home Runs: The Mommy Mall

Reprinted from the November 05, 1998 Home Runs Column at iVillage

Mommy Mall

Interview with Julianne Gentile, Cleveland, Ohio

In February of 1997, Julianne Gentile left a successful career with a major corporation in order to start her own home-based business. One reason for making this move was that she was hit with an illness that made going to work nearly impossible; she also felt that she'd simply had all she could take of the corporate rat race. With several years of experience online and a burning desire to start her own Internet-related business, she stopped dreaming about her business and started doing it. Here's her story.

WFH: What do you do?
JG: I started with Web design, which blossomed into the creation of the Mommy Mall. The Mommy Mall is an effort to showcase small businesses while at the same time providing a unique shopping experience for women online. Small businesses often do not have the budget to purchase online advertising, so the mall's purpose is to pool the resources of several small businesses and provide some of the advantages that the larger ones have. The Mommy Mall is divided into "shops" that categorize the businesses by function, such as the Baby Shop, Gift Shop or Opportunity Shop. The vendors in the mall are selected from the many membership requests we receive for their quality, customer service and value to the community.

WFH: How do you manage your time?
JG: For me it helps to have a schedule and remember that even though I am at home, I do have a workday. I am flexible with my hours, but I do treat my work time just as if I were in a regular office. It's also important to take breaks and a lunch hour and not work nonstop, or you begin to lose focus. As far as organization goes, this should be a top priority for a home business owner, as well as careful record keeping. The kitchen table is not a suitable replacement for a good filing system. Invest in your own filing cabinet and use it. Try to handle each email and paper that comes in immediately, and then file or toss related papers as appropriate. Don't wait until you have stacks of issues to deal with.

WFH: What do you enjoy about working from home?
JG: I have surpassed my previous income as an accounting specialist and I'm working and contributing to society rather than feeling sorry for myself or collecting disability income. The best part however, is the effect this has had on my children. I am able to spend time with them when they need me, and work when they are with Dad, in school or asleep.

WFH: What are some of the adjustments you've had to make?
JG: Initially my biggest hurdle was the sense of loss I felt at losing "the girls at the office." My method for compensating for that loss of peer interaction was by creating a discussion list specifically for home business owners called Home, Not Alone. We have managed to form a real community and several friendships and are able to bounce ideas off each other and help one another with problems that come up from time to time.

WFH: Any advice for would-be home business owners?
JG: Yes. First of all, determine how much you need to earn to make it happen. Don't forget to consider things like commuting and childcare and lunches that you may not have to spend money on anymore. Then, work out a sound financial plan and take advantage of small business help in your area. There are many free sources of information in most communities. I called city hall for a list of recommendations and went from there. Dreaming about owning your own business doesn't get you any closer to being there. Take the steps to make it happen. Talk to other professionals, get lots of advice and don't forget to consult an accountant.

The Mommy Mall

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