Entrepreneurship: It’s A Mom’s World

By John Voket

Nearly half of the privately held businesses in the United States are owned by women, says the Center for Women’s Business Research. That translates to more than 10.5 million businesses and generates more than $2.5 trillion, the center reports. For many women, particularly moms, the flexibility that comes with owning their own business is becoming more and more appealing.

The center reports that one in 11 adult women is an entrepreneur, and these statistics make sense to Tim Stubbs, a Newtown area consultant with The Entrepreneur’s Source.

“Women business owners have a different style to leading and growing a business. They tend to build relationships and understand the importance of work/life balance, which is extremely important to business owners who are also working mothers,” Mr Stubbs said.

As research indicates, women are more likely to listen to the expertise of others, including consultants and experts, in order to help build and grow their business.

Newtown entrepreneur Peggy Jepsen not only followed a lot of advice given to her as she attended antiques shows and auctions as a private buyer, but once she launched her own antique consulting business, she was able to help her own son in his entrepreneurial pursuits as well.

Ms Jepsen launched her business, consulting in antiques and art, as a part-time pursuit in addition to working at the Newtown Probate Court for the past 20 years. But she said her love of antiques has been a lifelong affair.

“The minute I learned you could select an antique piece of furniture, typically for less money than new, I was hooked,” she said. “And the early American items are always of better quality and durability. You just can’t get that from furniture you buy new today, unless you are building it yourself.”

Concurrent with a renovation of her antique barn on Newtown’s historic Ram Pasture about a year ago, Ms Jepsen began stocking and collecting items from regional auctions that her clients can view during exclusive consulting sessions, by appointment only.

The idea to help her son, Michael, showcase his unique metal artwork came after she agreed to show some of his pieces at the local historical society’s antique show in 2005.

“The clients really loved his things, and we sold a number of his pieces even though they weren’t antiques per se,” she said.

Mr Jepson’s Hudson, N.Y.-based operation is called Mohawk Studios, in part because virtually all of his works incorporate recycled metals including saw blades, hay rakes, and recycled rebar. His signature piece, Ramenstein, is assembled from dozens of cast off pieces of various metals and is on display as the centerpiece in his mother’s garden adjacent to her business.

“The metal works match up beautifully with the antiques — and creating the garden was a perfect spot to show them off,” she said. “It provides a great palette to paint on with my son’s art. I commissioned him to produce that Ram It was my first commission from him as an artist.”

Elaine Gucciardo of Sandy Hook-based Therapeutic Kneads is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist. Eight years ago Ms Gucciardo decided to switch careers and give up her job as a personal assistant.

“I wanted to enjoy the rest of my working life giving back to people, possibly in the health care or related field, and this fit perfectly with my life.”

Her daughter Rachel decided to go into the field herself soon after her mother graduated from massage school, and now has a thriving business in Atlanta.

“As a matter of fact, as we’re speaking she is getting ready to go to Greece for a massage modality seminar,” Ms Gucciardo said. “I already practice this specialty — myofascial release — and we talked about how well this practice worked for some of my clients. As she adds these new techniques, she will be able to serve a broader range of clients.”

Ms Gucciardo worked for two years in a chiropractic office and is now busy enough to work exclusively from her Newtown and Stratford offices. Having a child working in the same field in another distinctly different market, Ms Gucciardo finds, is an excellent advantage for both mother and daughter.

“We talk all the time and get lots of ideas, some may work better for me and the clients I handle, some may work better for her, and sometimes we both try new things out together,” Ms Gucciardo said.

With more and more new businesses starting every day, finding the proper fit is critical to a business’s success — and the business owner’s personal satisfaction. For many women, the motivation to become an entrepreneur is find a better work/life balance, so finding the right business is very important, Mr Stubbs explains.

Many moms are starting businesses that are family friendly in nature. Business such as child care centers, preschools, or educational programs can all be a good fit for a working mom.

“One of the greatest advantages to owning your own business is the flexibility. You become your own boss, so the things that are important to you — such as on-site child care or flex hours — are up to you to decide,” Mr Stubbs said.

Mr Stubbs uses a unique “discovery process” that allows people to explore business options — and uncover possibilities that are in sync with both their personal and income goals.

“The most important thing in this process — for anyone, including moms — is finding what motivates them, understand their goals, needs, and expectations,” he said.

The Entrepreneur’s Source is North America’s leading independent business ownership consulting company with more than 280 offices in the United States and Canada, offering a full range of services to individuals interested in self-employment and companies searching for methods of expansion. The goal of The Entrepreneur’s Source is to help clients identify alternative career options that best meet their goals, needs, and expectations.