WAHM News: Mompreneurs Online
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mompreneurs Online Helps Moms Take their Businesses to the Top
Scarsdale, NY (April 22, 2008)—Each weekday morning, entrepreneur Leslie Haywood drops her two daughters off at preschool, then races to her computer to log on to her favorite bookmarked website, MompreneursOnline.com. Haywood, the inventor of a barbecuing accessory called Grill Charms, can’t wait to rejoin the ongoing conversation on the site’s dynamic message boards, where regulars and newbies gather to seek business advice, exchange ideas, and support each other’s entrepreneurial endeavors. Haywood is drawn to MompreneursOnline.com for its nurturing atmosphere, as well as the winning advice offered from its founders: leading work-from-home experts, Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe, authors of the Mompreneurs® series of books.
Parlapiano and Cobe coined, popularized, and trademarked the term “Mompreneurs®” over a decade ago, after writing the first Mompreneurs® book, speaking at entrepreneurial conferences nationwide, and consulting on work-from-home initiatives for corporations like AT&T. The dynamic duo built their Mompreneurs® brand on iVillage in the late 90s, before launching MompreneursOnline.com in 2004.
As the guiding force behind this supportive site, Cobe and Parlapiano moderate the discussions and foster a rare cooperative spirit that sets it apart from other women’s communities on the Web. “At MompreneursOnline I got the encouragement to pursue my passion and turn my crazy idea into a viable business,” says Haywood. “And the other moms on the message boards did more than cheer me on. I found my wholesale and fulfillment center here and met my graphic designer, mentors, vendors, and customers.”
But much more than camaraderie keeps these entrepreneurial moms engaged. Parlapiano and Cobe have developed several valuable features for starting and building successful businesses. In addition to the lively message boards, their newly redesigned site includes a Mompreneurs? Marketplace featuring members’ products and services, blogs written by mom entrepreneurs in various fields, and a private forum—“Mompreneurs® Confidential”—where discussions can take place away from public scrutiny.
The level of excitement on the message boards recently intensified as Haywood and eight other community members garnered national attention with appearances on CNBC’s the Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. Amy Long, inventor of Secure2Me Blankets, a baby blanket that “clips on & stays on,” credits Mompreneurs® Online for helping her achieve this media milestone: “The support, insight and encouragement I receive on this amazing online forum has been instrumental in my company’s growth,” she says. “I am grateful to have access to other successful mompreneurs via the community and to be included in this fantastic circle of women.”
The members’ enthusiasm and positive feedback spurred Cobe and Parlapiano to hold the first face-to-face Mompreneurs Online conference, scheduled for May 2-4 in Chicago. In the works are more “live” events, as well as branded contests, podcasts, face-to-face networking groups, and proprietary publications.
Mompreneurs is the trademark of Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe, co-authors of Mompreneurs: A Mother’s Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success and Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build Work@Home Success. In addition to their books and website, the pair of work-from-home pros offers consulting services for entrepreneurs and speaks at events throughout the U.S.
Contact:
Ellen Parlapiano & Patricia Cobe
The Mompreneurs
mail@mompreneursonline.com
www.mompreneursonline.com
April 27th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Thank you so much for sharing this website. I am new to WAHM. We have 4 kids and it gets hard to balance family and work. Not sure when it is safe to turn the computer off! I have bookmarked the mompreneurs website! Thanks again
May 16th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Angel,
I’ve taken a look at MompreneursOnline and I must say I just love it! One of the best ways a budding WAHM can improve and expand business is by learning from the ones who’ve done it themselves. I’m sure I’ll find some gems in these blogs, and other women entrepreneurs will be able to benefit from the words of their successors. If anything, this site should be great for exchanging advice, talking about the balance of work and home, and different tricks and secrets. One thing I’ve learned about starting a small business is the importance of networking, and the great impact the internet can have on your potential market. That’s why I’ve been using Microsoft’s new Office Live Small Business to keep my business up, running and constantly growing. It’s got everything a small business owner could ever want or need to keep online business running smoothly. Have you heard of it? It’s basically a one-stop shop, with customizable web page designers (so easy to use, no HTML experience needed!) and a highly organized e-mail beta that keeps your invoices in line and checks the status of sent e-mails, and even sends reports of your website’s traffic. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks and it’s just a fabulous tool, so I thought I’d let everyone know about it!
There’s more information about OLSB at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com
Oh and one of the best perks is that not only does Microsoft host everything on your website, you get a personalized “.com” web address for free. I recommend all the WAHM readers out there check it out. I work with Microsoft, so if there are any questions, feel free to e-mail me at k-rosenberg@live.com. Again, wonderful blog post! I just signed up for MompreneursOnline, and I’ll look for you on there! I look forward to seeing your future blog entries. Hope to be in touch.
Regards,
Kimberly