If you’re a mom who has dreamed of owning your own successful business, then you might find the right opportunity within More Organized Mom. Of course drive alone won’t get you through it. Someone with the right knowledge and the will to grow MOM into what it has the potential to become is exactly what this business needs. The real question would be, is that you?
I got an opportunity to talk with Angie Morris, the mom behind MOM, to find out what it is that she’s looking for.
How old is More Organized Mom (MOM) and what are some of the products you sell?
More Organized Mom is four years old. We sell calendars, notepads and checklist to help keep moms organized. Our MOM Calendar—a weekly planning tool that allows you to record everything from appointments, To Do’s and dinner– was in Parents magazine twice in 2005. The editor of Parents, Sally Lee, is quoted as saying “Finally, a planning tool that works for everyone.”
What type of person are you looking for when it comes to someone purchasing your business? Do you have any requirements?
Ideally, we are looking for a mom. But she should also be an entrepreneur who has business expertise. Someone who has sold to women would be a plus. Someone who can recognize a company with a great brand, great products and great potential. Someone who can take this company to the next level. All start-up investments have already been made and the buyer doesn’t have to worry about that, however we did feel we needed more capital to properly market our products and expand our customer base. We are also considering partnerships.
What kind of sales has MOM seen in previous years? What kind of growth has it gone through since it was first conceived?
We launched MOM in September of 2004. Our sales in 2005 were over $50,000. Fortunately, calendars are items which get repeat sales year and year and we have found our customers to be quite loyal.
Why have you decided to sell?
My personal life right now is not conducive to owning a business. I recognize that it takes a certain type of person (and sometimes the right timing) to be an entrepreneur. All these “invention” shows and contests make it look easy–like all that you need is a good idea. But there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into it too. Owning a business is full of wonderful highs and some lows too. I have learned a lot and feel that I have created something really good. It will be hard letting go—this is another kind of “baby”, but I believe this is the best thing for my family and I right now. If we partner, I would want to stay involved, but obviously in a more limited capacity.
What do you feel will be the biggest benefit received by the person who does purchase this business?
They will have bought a turn-key business with 14 proven products, loyal customers, and inventory and can operate on Day One. With very little—and I mean just a few press releases—we were able to get exposure for our MOM Calendar and were profiled in a national parenting magazine. There is still no established leader in the market of organizational products for moms. With more marketing–the opportunity is ripe for someone to become the leader.
How much time on average per day (or week) does it take to keep this business up and running as it is right now?
More than I have. I would say it is a full-time job plus. As sales increase, pieces such as fulfillment could be outsourced. Especially during the busy season from August until January.
What are your plans once you sell MOM?
Just to be a mom. I had a newborn, a two-year old and a four-year old when I started this business. It was tough. Spend more time at school and coach a sport and that kind of thing.
Approximately how much are you asking?
We are asking $70K. Significantly less than most franchises. And it would be 100% yours. [Again, we would also consider partnerships.]
What advice do you have for someone interested in purchasing MOM?
Really assess your commitment to entrepreneurship. And be honest about yourself about what you want, what you can bring to the table and where you will need help. What resources do you have? What resources are you lacking? We had the fortune of being met with success very early due to our exposure in Parents magazine. But we were unprepared for that success. You need to examine every possible scenario.
How can you be reached for more information?
Email is best. I am at amorris@moreorganizedmom.com.
Productivity guru David Allen is the author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, the 2001 book that has sold more than a million copies and has been translated into 30 languages. His eponymous, $8 million time-management empire spans everything from $595 per-person public seminars to corporate speaking engagements that can earn him $40,000 to $60,000 a pop.
Widely abbreviated as GTD, Allen’s method of getting things done focuses on two basic concepts.
The first is that by dumping all the tasks floating around in our heads (everything from “buy toothpaste” to “write strategic plan”) onto paper or into software, and then sorting them into a system of lists, we become better able to deal with the unexpected crises that disrupt our days.
The second is that the complex projects that populate our to-do lists (say, “hire marketing manager”) should be broken into granular “next actions” (”e-mail recruiter” and “call HR about firing current one”).
Here are four key ideas from Allen’s seminar:
1. Write it down. Jot down everything from ‘buy dog food’ to ‘build vacation home’ before processing it into a set of lists.
2. Break it out. Too many to do lists are composed of complex projects that say little about what should eb done next.
3. Do it now. If a task can be done in two minutes, do it right away.
4. File it away. A good filing system, both for paper and emails is essential.
Just saved you $595.
Photo by Max S. Gerber.
What’s the airline-industry jargon for unconventional wisdom? Southwest Airlines.
By some estimates, the country’s major carriers have consumed perhaps $100 billion in capital during the past decade, but Southwest Airlines continues to be profitable. It’s been in the black for 33 consecutive years and, last week, for the 127th consecutive quarter, it paid a modest dividend.
Its balance sheet, with about $3 billion in cash on hand and $600 million in available credit, is the envy of an otherwise fuel-price-ravaged industry.
What does Southwest know that no one else does? It keeps things simple and consistent, which drives costs down, maximizes productive assets, and helps manage customer expectations.
• One Plane Fits All
• Point-to-Point Flying
• Simple In-Flight Service
• No Frills, No Fees
• Strong Management
• A Relatively Happy Workforce
• Aggressive Fuel Hedging
Photo by Southwest.
What’s the airline-industry jargon for unconventional wisdom? Southwest Airlines.
By some estimates, the country’s major carriers have consumed perhaps $100 billion in capital during the past decade, but Southwest Airlines continues to be profitable. It’s been in the black for 33 consecutive years and, last week, for the 127th consecutive quarter, it paid a modest dividend.
Its balance sheet, with about $3 billion in cash on hand and $600 million in available credit, is the envy of an otherwise fuel-price-ravaged industry.
What does Southwest know that no one else does? It keeps things simple and consistent, which drives costs down, maximizes productive assets, and helps manage customer expectations.
• One Plane Fits All
• Point-to-Point Flying
• Simple In-Flight Service
• No Frills, No Fees
• Strong Management
• A Relatively Happy Workforce
• Aggressive Fuel Hedging
Photo by Southwest.
When it comes to car repair, sometimes the best you could do would be to prevent a problem before it can happen. Preventive maintenance can save you money and time in the long run, potentially extending the life of your vehicle for as long as possible. As a business owner, you could help others while providing a service which will be profitable for yourself.
At a Grease Monkey International both the franchisee and the customer will be able to get exactly what they are looking for. Grease Monkey was founded in 1978 and currently has over 200 centers open in the US and Mexico.
Currently they are open to new franchises in a variety of cities and states, some of which includes:
* Alabama
* Arizona
* California
* Colorado
* Florida
* Georgia
* Idaho
* Indiana
* Iowa
* and many more
The initial franchisee fee is $30,000 with a 5% royalty. The total investment is anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000 for a single franchise.
