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THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Even when I was working for someone else, I have always supplemented my income with some kind of business venture at least in my spare time. When I was 18, I sold Sarah Coventry Jewelry at home parties. Later I sold Tupperware (who hasn't?). And then there was Queen's Wear and Fuller Brush. I have also owned a cleaning service (you'd never know it to look at my house now), a second hand store, a candy route, a telemarketing service, a resume & copy writing and consulting service, and of course, all of my internet businesses for the last 6 years. Currently I am also dabbling in ecommerce consulting and writing. Before we got started on the internet, we had a mail order business. That is where the name Mary Russel came from. (Mary Russel Gifts and Collectibles). It is a combination of my middle name and my husband’s first name. My legal name is Margaret (Marge). I didn't like the way either of those names sounded with Russel so I went with my middle name and now I use it on the internet as a user ID. My husband started selling his collectible scale model cars and car literature collections in 2000, to make room. He started collecting when he was about 8 years old and his collections took over the house. So I was really happy when they sold and often for some really nice money. I helped him with his new venture, as he was still working fulltime selling the street versions of cars. I anticipated finally having enough room so my house would look like a home instead of a toy store. However that backfired when we both got hooked on buying and selling on-line. In the meanwhile I also started selling plus size lingerie on-line. That was fun but short-lived as it became too competitive to make any money at it. I turned to my life-long love of dogs for my next and current business idea. Our two dogs-in-residence are larger than any dogs we have owned before and their jaws fit their body size. Accordingly, they tend to destroy toys quickly. Every week, we were buying more toys for them only to have those destroyed within minutes too. Almost at our wits end, we finally discovered Kong dog toys. They are practically indestructible and our dogs loved them. I knew of other dog owners with the same problem and decided to focus my new business on active dogs and the toys and other equipment that could be used to keep them happy, healthy and active. This winter I also expanded my line to include dog apparel to help keep them warm and dry while exercising outdoors. My husband and I are both self employed on-line fulltime now. We tend to take turns playing boss depending on the task and which one of us is either best at it or dislikes it the least. We still drive each other nuts at times so we have learned when it is best to leave the other one to work on a project alone. Having owned both Brick & Mortar and Ecommerce businesses, we have discovered that Ecommerce works best for us and our personalities. | |
MY WEBSITES: IWriteForU.com - Internet copy writing and editing to help turn browsers into buyers TheActiveDog.com - Halti Headcollars | Nylabone Frisbees | Kong Dog Toys WeeMotors.net - Diecast Model Cars | Plastic Promos | Scale Model Kits | Automotive Literature http://www.dog-lover.co.uk/megapack_mg MY BLOGS:
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Copyright 2005 Ecommerce Arena
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