Posts filed under 'Press Releases'
Mompreneurs Online
(WebWire) 2/21/2007 5:57:42 PM
February, 2007 - It was just over 10 years ago, in September of 1996, that authors Ellen Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe released their first Mompreneurs® book—catapulting work-at-home mothers into the spotlight, and coining and trademarking the catchy word “mompreneurs” to describe entrepreneurial moms. As work-at-home moms themselves (both were home-based writers/consultants raising young children), Parlapiano and Cobe decided to pen the book when they couldn’t find anything on the market addressing the special needs of mothers running businesses from home. “Wherever we went—whether to the playground or the supermarket—other moms would ask how we did it,” says Parlapiano. “So we decided to write our own how-to book about starting and running a business from a mother’s perspective.”
That first book, Mompreneurs®: A Mother’s Practical, Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success (Perigee, 1996), caught the attention of the media, landing the authors on Oprah, Good Morning America and several other national shows. It also led to follow-up books and a five-year stint as featured Mompreneurs® experts on iVillage.com, where the authors dispensed home business advice.
Today, Cobe and Parlapiano offer support and advice at their own website, MompreneursOnline.com (www.mompreneursonline.com), which features message boards, articles, and a unique Mompreneurs® Marketplace showcasing mom-owned businesses. They are recognized by the media as the go-to experts when the topic is work-from-home moms. Last month, Parlapiano offered tips on The CBS Early Show’s three-part series about women entrepreneurs, which also highlighted two MompreneursOnline community members, Ester LaPollo of MamaAfrika (www.mamaafrika.com) and Kathie Papera of Lilypad Baby (www.lilypadbaby.com).
Mompreneur® Trends 2007
With their fingers on the pulse of the mompreneur® movement, the authors have noticed many exciting trends that will make it easier for today’s mothers to launch their own enterprises:
●Technology makes working from home easier than ever! “The Web provides a gateway to careers that were practically unheard of when we wrote our first book,” says Cobe, citing examples like e-tailing, personal coaching, online tutoring and virtual assistants (who provide office support services via the Web). Even lawyers, bankers, nurses, teachers and other professionals—who would have been hard-pressed to find work-at-home jobs in their specialties 10 years ago—are carving out all kinds of interesting career niches, without having to switch professions. Attorneys are running advocacy websites for special-ed students, travel specialists launch online agencies, former Spanish teachers help preschoolers become bilingual, and public policy experts run thriving consulting businesses. With high-tech tools like blogs and podcasts, mompreneurs are able to reach a wider audience without leaving the comfort of their homes.
●Mothers of invention are creating new niches. Today’s creative moms are inventing gadgets and safety products that solve problems they’ve discovered in their own family lives. For example, after running out of space to display her children’s artwork, Suzy Fanning, of Plymouth, Michigan, created MacKenzie Kids Art Files (www.mackenziekids.net), a smart storage and display system. The designer of the Stowers Swaddler swaddling blanket (www.stowersswaddler.com), was inspired by her own experience as a mom and a labor-delivery nurse to create a swaddling blanket with a pocket and Velcro closures. The Web makes it easy for enterprising moms to research patents, trademarks and other legalities with the click of a mouse.
●Moms want to make a difference. “We are seeing a big increase in cause-related companies—businesses with a social conscience,” says Parlapiano. For example, Mama Afrika (www.mamaafrika.com) is an online business that benefits African women and children. It was founded by Ester LaPollo, a Lompac, California mom who sells African crafts and specialties on her site, and donates a portion of her proceeds back to the African countries.
●Funding is easier to find. Though mompreneurs® still tend to rely on savings accounts and credit cards for start-up expenses, grants and low-interest loans are more accessible, if you know where to look. Great resources include: Count Me In (www.count-me-in.org) and Accion USA (www.accionusa.com). Also check local small business development centers and women’s networking groups to see if they can recommend potential lenders. The Make Mine a $Million Business® contest, sponsored by Count-Me-In and American Express Open helps moms grow their businesses through monetary support, mentoring, marketing and technology tools. (Enter at www.makemineamillion.org). One of the 2006 winners was Renee Wood, founder of The Comfort Company (www.thecomfortcompany.net), an online retailer of condolence gifts, and a charter member of MompreneursOnline.com. “It was so gratifying to watch Renee get the opportunity to take her business to that million dollar level,” says Cobe, who was in the audience cheering when Renee won.
●Work-from-home moms are now getting the respect they deserve! With about half a million moms running their own businesses, entrepreneurial mothers are finally being taken seriously by the “traditional” work world. Corporations often hire work-from-home moms as consultants, and mompreneurs® find they no longer have to keep motherhood a secret. Moms are on a mission to attain more family flexibility and have proven that they can successfully run a business and family under the same roof. They are confident and capable. “It’s not about opting out, it’s about creating new options,” says Parlapiano.
Related Links
Mompreneursonline
www.mompreneursonline.com
Contact Information
Ellen Parlapiano
Founder of Mompreneurs
Mompreneurs Online
914-472-7322
mail@mompreneursonline.com
Press Releases
February 22nd, 2007
AppGate Security Servers deliver customised, secure remote access for council employees to boost productivity and improve service delivery
[ClickPress, Thu Jan 11 2007] A pioneering flexible working initiative launched by Watford Borough Council - enabling staff to work remotely - will increase efficiency, boost overall productivity and play an important role supporting the authority’s business continuity plans.
Watford Borough Council has deployed a network security solution from specialist AppGate, enabling council employees to work from home or remotely with secure remote access to key applications including email, file directories and bespoke customer management systems to ensure the smooth running of council services in any eventuality and to increase overall efficiency in working practice.
Lieven Hermans, Head of Business Information Systems at Watford Borough Council said: “With AppGate, we now have a proven mobile access solution, which represents a significant part of our business continuity plans. The council has the reassurance that should employees be unable to come into the council offices, services will nevertheless continue to run as normal.
“Flexible working also improves choice and working options for council employees whilst boosting productivity and helping us to achieve maximum efficiency and best value as set out in the Gershon efficiency agenda.”
Remote network access is controlled by the IT department, ensuring staff have access to the designated files and programmes necessary to work effectively and productively from any location.
With users accessing the corporate network via wireless connections, laptops and home PCs, the AppGate solution ensures the network remains secure, with personal firewalls installed on every PC and laptop, and council acceptable usage policy automatically enforced to help prevent malware such as spyware and Trojans from entering the network. Client-check functionality also ensures remote PCs are running the latest anti-virus software before any connection is made to the network.
The AppGate solution is a scalable one, and Watford hopes to extend the remote access to additional departments within the authority, to develop a wide-reaching business continuity strategy for the whole borough and promote flexible, home-working on a larger operational scale.
Press Contact:
Context
Craig Coward or Luke Ford: 01625 511966
appgate@contextpr.co.uk
About AppGate Network Security AB
In a world with fewer borders, the demand for network security changes from security at the perimeter, to security at the source. AppGate is the leader in this space, with a solution that protects applications, protects communication and secures end point devices. The AppGate solution supports all types of transmission, fixed, wireless and mobile and is easily integrated into any customer environment. AppGate has customers in 19 countries, within industry sectors ranging from defence and government to Fortune 500 companies.
www.appgate.com
Press Releases
January 12th, 2007
Virtual Word Publishing, Inc.
September 27, 2006
Margate, FL, September 2006. Do you love to read a good sci-fi book? Are you looking for information on how to start your own business? If so, it is time to focus your sights on Virtual Word Publishing’s Online Bookstore. When browsing through the state-of-the- art site, www.virtualwordpublishing.com, you’ll find a variety of categories to suit your every need. From Science Fiction novels, Cookbooks, Christian and Inspirational reports, to Business journals in Marketing, Word Processing, Virtual Assistance, Work at Home-Moms and E-books.
Our fiction selection features the highly acclaimed Sledgehammer, a gripping medical fiction thriller. The piece takes place in a Los Angeles emergency room where terrorists use smallpox as a biological agent. The antagonists plan to release the deadly poison into several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls to maximize its lethal effects. The chilling tale of suspense has received numerous five star reviews and begs to ask the question, “What if?” Its captivating plot is topped with realistic characters who readers can easily relate to. Sledgehammer will have you eagerly turning every page.
Words From Home gives readers the steps to independently start, run and profit from a home- based word processing business or secretarial service. Successful ideas include typing, medical and legal transcription. People from all walks of life can also learn how to market their own small business, making fabulous money and remaining successful by utilizing the best online marketing books. Written by industry experts, the secrets to businesses on the web are a necessity for all of today’s entrepreneurs.
The current Book of the Month is Virtual Assistant the Series, Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA. The work is a complete reference guide that leading professionals on their own journey to running a successful virtual assistant business. The site also has the newly released workbook that goes along with the Series. Virtual Assistants are highly skilled professionals who work as independent contractors to provide publicity, administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs, executives and sales professionals of all backgrounds. Virtual Assistant the Series is the Bible of the entire VA Industry and has recently been named “Book of the Week” by Frederick’s Business Start Page.
Virtual Word Publishing’s Christian and Inspirational Books provide readers with the motivation needed to face everyday struggles, either in the office or at home after a natural disaster. The delightful CD, Bon Apetit, is a 2004 Grammy Award winner for best musical album for children. And for you moms who love to cook, delicious recipes from working moms throughout the country can be found in the BizyMoms Cookbook.
All of this exciting literature and more can be found there. Merely type in www.virtualwordpublishing.com and click on your category of interest to purchase any or all of the books that capture your attention. As a reader, you are guaranteed to experience some wonderful and informative writing. And during the month of September, receive free copy of the Bizymoms Cookbook when signing up for our newsletter, the Virtual Edge.
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Press Releases, Virtual Assistants
September 28th, 2006
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