As part of Intuit’s Love a Local Business competition, I was invited to share my story of how I started my online business. Until I opened my own small internet store, I never thought about focusing my buying power outside of the big box stores. Small businesses are what keeps middle class families and generationally handed down stores together.

Before I started my online store, Good for the Kids, in 2006, I had never thought about starting an online business of any kind. Through a series of events that started with my staying at home with my babies, I ended up the owner of a small online store. It’s not as hard as you’d think, and there are several ways outside of eBay to get started.

I, however, did start on eBay and Craigslist. While being a stay-at-home mom with two babies, I wanted to find a way to bring in extra money for our household. By starting with some maternity clothes and unused boxes of diapers I listed on Craigslist and eBay, I was instantly addicted. I LOVED having a way to bring in extra money for myself and my family while also learning about the online business world. My eBay store quickly rolled into being a store offering teacher reference books and children’s products that soon after turned into my own web store.

Through working hard and very VERY late hours, I learned what was required by me (and by law) to develop my hobby into a small business. I worked out of my corner of the living room, building my online store into what would become a business that had nearly $100,000 in sales.

Starting and growing the business was hard work, but I loved what I was doing because I was working for myself. I controlled nearly everything having to do with the business. Though this is a daunting task to think about stepping into, I didn’t step into it immediately. I grew a small idea into a big one.

It’s been nearly 5 years since I filed for my business license. I’ve moved on from the initial excitement of owning the business and am currently looking to sell my online store. I’ll still be a business owner because I’ll have my own freelance company as an online professional. If you’re thinking of opening an online or brick and mortar store, make sure you sell things that youfeel your customers need. Offer products that are in high demand, unique, and ones that you trust in putting your name behind.

So, have you ever thought about opening your own online store? Do you have questions for me on how to go about starting your store? I’d love to help!

By replying or commenting in the BlogFrog conversation widget, you will be entered to win an iPad 2!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Intuit’s Love A Local Business competition. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest runs July 6 to August 9, 2011. A random winner will be announced by August 11, 2011. Official Contest Rules

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© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Because I’m all about the funny, I’m slipping one of these Parenting Flashcards by KnockKnock in each one of the Christmas cards I’m sending out.

Seriously, funny.

While we were going through the pack of cards, Sir and I picked out two for ourselves to keep. We’re hoarders like that.

The one I kept – Momtrepreneur:

Patrick kept the one about Poo Finger. Obviously.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Good for the Kids, knock knock, momtrepreneur, parenting cards

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It’s times like these when the world seems to stand still.

It’s swirling all around outside, while inside, it’s stagnant.

The times when the parents of the house are sick.

The poor children are ripe and ready to play. They make plans to go here and there and everywhere, but the parents can’t even muster the energy to transfer the dishes to the dishwasher and repeat.

This is one of those times here at Messy House.

Things are getting even messier as the achiness and tiredness continue.

Note to the world: Mono sucks.

It’s confirmed that the husband is infirmed with it. It’s pretty much a given that I am as well. (I’ll be taking my 2nd blood test on Monday to confirm.)

These are times when things like “cereal for dinner” and “bedtime at 7″ and “3-hour-long Spongebob marathons” happen.

THIS is the exact time when I wish to the heavens that my mama lived closer to take care of the children.

Damn. Now I shouldn’t have even thought that because I’mma start to cry about it.

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Totally unrelated (but kind of related because we needs monies), my store is having a sale where you can take up to 25% off anything you buy until the end of September. It’s appropriately named the Super Sweet September Sale and you should totally tell all your friends. Pretty please?

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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I’m not trying to get all *sad panda* up in this joint.

But I do want to be authentic and honest and I need to ask for your help.

I wrote a novel-&-a-half over at my Good for the Kids blog about the struggles I’m having with my business. It was really hard to write and even harder now to share.

I know you’re thinking, “Why, prey tell, Angie, sweetums, hotness, are you sharing your novel-&-a-half of Awesome nuggets?”

“Because, honey pie, sugar tits, Awesome reader o’mine, I need your help.”

Basically, this is me down on my knees… *ahem* …asking you to help me.

Plus, to get your attention, I’m doing a giveaway.

Please… go read. I need you. Every one of YOU.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blog, Giveaways, Good for the Kids, money sucks

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Something pretty cool was offered to me today. I was interviewed for a piece on ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer.

Pretty Awesome, right?

Thanks to the internet, Dawn, and Heather, I was interviewed as a part of a week-long story on the downturn in the US economy and its affect on the Middle Class.

Seeing as I live in the Middle Class and the economy has affected me and my family negatively fuck you George Bush, my “story” was chosen to be a part of the ABC broadcast.

Dudes, I was nervous. And excited. And thrilled. And nervous.

I gussied myself up (the top-half, at least) and cleared away the crap around me (just out of camera shot), and I was interviewed via Skype by Sharyn Alfonsi, an ABC reporter.

She asked me questions about how my family has been affected by the downturn in the economy, whether we are struggling, and what specifically has been a financial issue for us. I answered in my nicest, sweetest, no-fear professional voice, and I thought I did a great job being honest, yet not giving too many specifics away about my financials.

Then, she asked the kicker.

“When you lay your head down on your pillow at night, what really bothers you about your situation.”

Ohhhh shits.

That’s the one that got me crying. Crying in a national TV news interview. National TV news with the news goddess, Diane Sawyer.

(I’m about 2:30 in if you want to skip ahead of the couple who lives in the shadows.)

And, of course, the 3 second clip of me that they show? Is of me crying and whining about not “being about to recover” from the downturn in our economy.

Yeah. Crying. On the national news.

But I did look cute and skinny, so there’s that.

That, however, was not the embarrassing part of being in the news piece.

The embarrassing part? The story was about “Living in Secret and Hiding Your Struggles from Your Neighbors.”

I don’t live in secret. I don’t hide my struggles.

At least I thought I didn’t until I thought about writing this post and I thought about my authenticity. And I also thought about the droves of kind words people extended me on Twitter, and IM, and Skype, and texts.

THANK YOU. From the bottom of my snarky, black heart. Thank you.

_______________________________________________________________

I don’t really have a reason to come here online to talk about all of our monetary struggles.

No one wants to really hear about how we don’t have enough money to pay our bills.

No one wants to really hear about how Patrick still has a job, but last year he had to take a significant cut in pay to keep his job.

No one wants to really hear about how I spent endless hours and charged up thousands of dollars on credit cards to build my business.

That business that was doing really well until the economy ended up in the shitter.
That business that we depended on doing really well for us to afford to pay our bills and credit cards.

That business that is now struggling to make IRS payments and thousands of dollars in credit card bills.
That business that has tremendous potential in a strong economy.
That business that started in a strong economy that is now close to failing in the depressed economy.

And that? Is embarrassing.

Yes, I created the mess we are currently living within.
Yes, it was my decisions that put is in the situation of deciding whether or not to pay the IRS or the credit cards or the power bill.
Yes, it was my apparently careless decisions to grow the business faster than the economy could handle.

But when my business was doing well, the economy was doing well. People were spending money. People were spending money in MY store.og
(Updated: many of you have asked to put my store’s badge on your blog. YES, PLEASE if you want to put it on your site, I’d love it. The code is over —–> there. Thank you!)

Then, George Bush the shitter happened.

I’m now out of the closet.

Now, my business is not making money.
It receives a fraction of the traffic it was receiving 18 months ago.
Sales are down over 20% from 18 months ago.

Sales and traffic were steadily rising during the first 2 good years of the business.

I had confidence in what I was doing. I knew what I had created was something I could be proud of putting my name on.

Now, because of my bad decisions, and the bad decisions of George Bush bankers and economists, my once-promising business is failing.

I guess I’ve kept that a secret from everyone. So I guess that’s why my little quip on ABC’s World News was put into the story about neighbors living secret lives.

I am living a secret life of failure.

And I need help.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 98 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: ABC, economy, money, news

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I’m gonna try my hardest to not make this post an advertisement for my store. But really, it kind of is.

NO! DON’T LEAVE!

If you’re new around here or if you happened to land here from one of the many combinations of the Google search terms FAT ASS GIRLS STAND PEE THREE ONE CUP JEANS RUBY TUESDAY CROUTONS, you may not know that I own, run, and pimp out an online store for kids stuffs.

Good for the Kids: Your store for Melissa & Doug toys, gifts for kids, arts & crafts, and Nuby cups & all Nuby replacement parts.

Some people like the store. You know, the awesome people.

I try to use my powers store for good, and now is one of those times.

Now through Sunday, January 24th, 10% of sales using coupon code jan15blog will be donated to the Red Cross and Friends of Maddie (5% to each charity). You will also receive 10% off your order, really, it’s a win/win. More details are available on the GFTK blog.

Some of the awesometastic kids toys and arts & crafts you must have for your kids:

Did YOU know I had a store that was so awesome?

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: arts crafts, charity, coupon, discount, donation, dress up, independent, kids, mom-owned, play food, store, toys, woman-owned, wooden toys

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In case you’ve been living offline for the last week (and dude, get a life. online.), you know about Cyber Monday. What the heck is Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday is the Monday (duh) after Black Friday when people go back to work, kids go back to school, and us shopping adults spend our day recuperating from the turkey & the family & the football & the pie (OH, THE PIE) by spending their life savings shopping in stores online.

I encourage you to spend the bulk of your life savings, aka Cyber Monday funds, at my store, Good for the Kids. It’s a good store. It’s for kids.

Here’s my businessy information:

The response to last week’s Black Friday sale was TREMENDOUS.
So tremendous that we SOLD OUT of most of our Melissa & Doug gifts in just 3 days!

Today, we’re stocking up with our customer’s favorites, but once many of the toys sell out, we won’t be re-stocking until after the first of the year. Now is your chance to take advantage of the…

30% off Cyber Monday SALE!

Take 30% off all in-stock toys and gifts with the coupon code below. I already reduce the price of Melissa & Doug toys, so with the extra 30% off, you’ve got a major deal.

With our Melissa & Doug toys in stock, it’s hard NOT to find the perfect gift for the kids in your life. Plus, with their high quality standards, you know the toy will outlast the packaging it came in. (You can’t say that for most toys out there…)

Visit our Specials page for up-to-date sales and coupons including Free Shipping on toys for the holidays.

FREE SHIPPING

Free Shipping for all US-shipped orders of $75+.
Discount is taken automatically and does not require a coupon code.

Start following @goodforthekids on Twitter for updates on new items & Twitter-only discounts.

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I’m up on Aiming Low today! It’s totally and completely HIGHlarious. Or so I tell myself.

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© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: aiming low, cyber monday, discount, Good for the Kids, toys

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Don’t hate me because this is awesome.
Yes, this is a post where I hawk my wares. Get over it; it’s a short post.

Good for the Kids – Melissa and Doug Toys, Gifts for Kids, and Nuby Cups for Children

30% off PLUS free shipping on US-shipped orders of $75+

Use code holiday2009 for 30% off your orders placed through Monday, November 30th.

Awesome.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: black friday, children, cyber monday, free shipping, gifts, kids, presents, sale, toys

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You can’t run.

You can’t hide.

It’s coming no matter what you think you can do with your Jedi Mind Tricks.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON
IS
HERE

My store, Good for the Kids, is here to help. You’re welcome.

I’ve put together a quick & easy Holiday Shopping Guide to make it super duper simple to find the best toys and gifts for your kids and the kids in your life. Again, you’re welcome.

For kids from newborns to toddlers to preschoolers to young elementary kids, I have the perfect presents ready to ship for free. Yup. Free Shipping for the holidays. You’re totally welcome. And awesome. You’re completely awesome. And that shirt is super cute on you!

Newborn-1 Year Brand New Baby	1-2 Year Olds Toddlers	3-4 Year Olds Preschoolers	4-8 Year Olds Young Elementary

Now for the super-cool stuff.

GIVEAWAY!

I’m giving away a $50 gift certificate to Good for the Kids. Use it however you wish.

Bonus: Free Shipping. That means you can buy more.
Double Bonus: Use a coupon like this one for 20% off through Nov 16th: nov4blog. (Anyone can use it. Even you.) That means you can buy even MORE and buy NOW. If you buy now and you’re the big wiener winner, I’ll totally refund your payment. Triple. Bonus.

How to enter:

Leave a comment below with the name of your favorite item from Good for the Kids. Leave up to 3 comments per day for the duration of the giveaway using the methods below.

YOU MUST LEAVE THE LINK to your TWEET/BLOG POST/STUMBLE in the comments below. Use only one link per comment or you’ll be cast out as spam. No soup for you.

Increase your chances by

• •Twittering about the discount and/or giveaway from your own Twitter account.
• •Following @goodforthekids on Twitter.
• •Blogging about this discount and/or giveaway with a link back to here on your own blog.
• •Stumbling this post.
• •Sharing this giveaway using any of the social media icons at the bottom of the post (those down there).

The giveaway will be open through Tuesday, November 10th, at 11:59pm EST. The lucky duck winner will be notified via email, on this post, and on Prizey.net.

Good luck!

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Congratulations to Cindi for winning the $50 gift certificate! Check your email.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 155 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: contest, gift, Giveaways, Good for the Kids, holiday, toys

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Hey.

How’s it going?

Me? I’m good. Tired, but good. (Thanks for asking!)

Just got back from a trip. More on that later in the week.

The kids are fine. Too smart for Patrick me. Growing like weeds. Eating like anorexic birds. Acting like monkeys.

Business is slow. Like, dumb slow. Like, I-may-need-to-sell-pictures-of-my-boobies, slow. And trust me, that ain’t pretty.
(If you wanna help out in any way, ie. tell your friends, buy stuff yourself, etc., I would totally hump your leg. For serious. Send me your leg, and I’ll video myself humping it. What? I can’t afford to come to YOU to hump your leg. Didn’t you just see where I said business is slow? Dumb slow? Anyway, send your leg, I’ll hump it.)

Weather here is stupid. High of “85″ today. I quote the “85″ because when we got in the car today, the thermometer said 95. That’s stupid. It’s effing November. Highs were in the 50s in Boston & NY. Can someone please contact Mother Nature and slap her for me? She needs to wake the eff up and turn the thermostat to “cool.” That, or call Al Gore and tell him he’s right.

We went trick-or-treating last night. I’m shocked by the number of houses that DON’T have their light on for candy beggars. Really, is it too hard to give my kids some sugary sweetness? We had to walk past 5 houses at a time to find one willing to contribute to the growing diabetes population. It’s not like we really pray to the dead and believe the haunts are coming after us. We’re not really pagans. Just a group of kids dressed as imaginary-ish characters straight from a Disney movie knocking on your door begging for free stuff. GIVE IT UP, ASSHOLES.

I’m a little miffed.

Other than that, we’re all still alive, telling fart jokes, congratulating each other’s belches, and catching up on 15+ hours of DVR recordings.

How are you doing?

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: general stuffs, store, weather

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