Updated January 6, 2009
I was newly married, we had a home in the middle of "nowhere," and we had one car. The days at home seemed long while my husband-dear "brought home the bacon" and I began my journey to keeping a home as a young wife. Money wasn't always plentiful and I began to turn the wheels of my little brain as to what I could do at home to earn a little "pocket money."
I was ecstatic when my husband agreed to buy me a used sewing machine for $25. It barely stitched a straight line and the tension, no matter where I set it, made a pile of knots, but I sewed anyway! Once I realized there were ladies out there who couldn't wield a needle—I was in business! They were delighted with my creations and I was delighted with the extra spending money.
Over the years, I have added to our family income in many ways. One of the biggest ventures included the whole family when we opened a bulk food and grain market in a re-furbished barn in our backyard.
After a few years, when our customer base increased beyond our wildest dreams, I had the inspiration to write down all the recipes and tell all the tips I constantly shared with my customers. We had just been given a computer by my dear daddy. I loved my typewriter, but when I saw how a computer worked I was in total awe!! My daughter took to it like a fish to water. I continually say she must have been born with computer brain cells—she just naturally knows how to figure out all the technical stuff! So, I wrote it all out on paper and she formatted and designed my very first book, "Greene Acres Old-Fashioned Cookery Book" (now reprinted and revised as “Martha’s Family Cookery Book”). I never dreamed I'd ever compile, write, or publish a book, but my husband had been telling me for years, "Why don't you just write a book?"
To see my first book in actual print was a thrill. We never even considered any option but self-publishing. Now, after 8 (and counting!) publications, I feel so blessed to have learned many of the ins and outs of self-publishing. It is a great way to go!
After 9 years with the bulk foods market, we sold our little 7-acre homestead. We sold the land and property to a faithful store customer and the business sold separately to another homeschooling family.
We moved to a new homestead of 130 acres and I was ready for a reprieve. I thought my days of home business were done. I had a wonderful year of renewal and rest after we moved. Then that "itch" to have a home business started up again and extra money to spend on developing our new homestead was a bit of a factor. So, thru a small series of events, Marmee’s Kitchen was launched as a web store in December 2004.
The business has grown by leaps and bounds in the past four years, mainly due to exposure given to me by The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. I have been honored to write several articles for TOS magazine, and that extra bit of having people “see” me really helped my business. I have also used their ad spaces—the 1/2, 1/4, and 1/6 page ads. I almost always include a freebie offer with the ads—that really helps draw in extra orders as people love freebies! I try to participate in promotions and that helps with sales as well. The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine really does a great job of promoting my items.
By offering articles and things I had to share to The Old Schoolhouse® readers, I have been able to gather a very loyal base of customers who end up blessing me. I honestly think I must have the sweetest bunch of ladies in the wide world who patronize my home business. I love to share what I have learned, and being able to minister with so many women via the web has been wonderful! Over and over I hear from them, “We saw you in TOS,” so I know that’s been an integral part of my success.
I think another reason for my success is that I found my niche—I found other like-minded homeschooling moms who wanted the things I had to offer. They wanted to read about homesteading. They wanted wholesome recipes. They wanted to read the types of books I began producing. They enjoy that I’m “chatty” and “real” and they can relate to me. The majority of my customers are moms just like me—with families and children at home, balancing homeschooling, cooking, and other home duties. The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has a huge following of wonderful women just like that—women who strive to be the best homekeepers and homeschoolers that they can be. Consequently, writing articles and advertising in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine puts me right in their living rooms!
About a year after I launched my mail order shoppe, called “Marmee’s Kitchen,” I was eager to offer more than just kitchen items. I found that if I loved a product and used it in my home, there were other homemakers out there who would love to have a web site to find items useful to them in their homes too! Marmee’s Kitchen expanded to offer “All Things Precious & Pleasant for the Home Circle” and with the expansion came the new name of “MarmeeDear & Co.” I knew “Marmee” could not do this all alone so I added the “& Company” to the name. My company is made of my children and husband and friends who help me offer my wonderful patrons all types of quality items for the home. They inspire me, support me, and help me in my endeavors—just like the great folks at The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine! They have encouraged me, helped me, and supported me and brought attention to my home business like I never would have imagined could happen to a mom at home, seeking to make some extra pocket change!
Bloggers have greatly added to my business and increased my website hits. Finding customers and other resellers who will promote you and your items in their blogs really helps with exposure. The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine also hosts bloggers, so that’s another great avenue for promoting your business.
I also have to add how important it is to “present” your products, not just on your website or at a book sale or homeschooler’s conference, but at the point of sale. Here’s what I do: I try to treat each order as if it were a birthday gift. Every package is different, of course, but I try to use pretty tissue paper and take care in the wrapping and packing of each item. Never just toss the items in the box—make a presentation of what your customer purchased! Customers really appreciate attractive packaging. I even toss in little freebies once in a while if I have extra on hand. Just that extra touch really encourages word of mouth, which is, of course, the best salesman of all. I even get personal thank-you notes from customers! Some are emails, some are letters, some are handwritten notes. I love to hear from my customers and I love to know that they are talking about me, saying they saw my blog, or they saw my article in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, or they saw my ad in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, etc. It’s a blessing!
I now operate 3 home businesses. I've joined hands with Rebekah Wilson and we are offering lessons to homemakers to expand their homemaking skills with our HomeMaker’s Mentoring program. We offer fellowship and advice to homemakers worldwide with our HomeMaker’s Society. I certainly hope you'll have a chance to visit and enjoy looking at what we have to offer at www.thehomemakersmentor.com and www.thehomemakersociety.com. We are teaching and expanding homemaking skills and encouraging and building homemaker’s hearts! Time and time again we hear from our members, “We found you in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine!” Again, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine has been instrumental in helping us “spread the word” about our newest business endeavors. Another new facet of MarmeeDear is expanding our sewing venues. I have organized a team of moms at home who are excellent seamstresses and my team sews up over 1,000 baby and children’s garments each year for a children’s boutique in Alabama.
I've learned more as each year passes with all that these businesses require of my brain! I love to learn and hope that desire is never quenched! It keeps this "Marmee" feeling young! Please feel free to stop by and visit anytime—enjoy my postings on my blog hosted at www.marmeedear.com and news and quotes from home at www.thehomemakersmentor.com along with a lot of free handy helpers for homemakers.
Martha Greene
Owner of MarmeeDear & Co, LLC,
The HomeMaker’s Mentor & Society, LLC
Contact Martha
Phone: 864-369-0930
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