Mom Owned Home Based Business Thriving in Unsteady Economy

Me: Can you give my readers a brief description of what your company name is and what you do?

Janene: My company is Trending Solutions, LLC. Our company provides customer service and order fulfillment for small business. We become an extension of their business by handling the day-to-day activities which allow the business owners time to focus on growing their businesses.

Me: The economy is hurting, but some industries are thriving. Are you thirsty or thriving?

Janene: Our business is definitely thriving. During tough economic times, marketing is key and in order for small businesses to have time to market their businesses, they need to get some of the daily functions off their plate. That is where we step in.

Me: In 2008 did you make money or lose money? How are you doing in 2009?

Janene: We made money last year. In 2009, we are on track to seeing our business increases by 4 times over last year.

Me: Why did you decide to start your own company and leave the corporate world?

Janene: I was completely burnt out in the corporate world. I worked a tremendous amount of hours and traveled quite a bit, which took me away from family. I wanted to take my skills and experiences and create a business that I could start from home to be with my son. But my business has also become a family business where we are all involved and work together to help it grow.

Me: What are your favorite sites/forums for gaining information to assist you in your business?

Janene: The main site I used when I started my business was www.Mompreneursonline.com . The members provided very candid feedback when I bounced ideas off of them and openly offered suggestions. I still actively participate and many of the participants on the site have actually become my customers.
I feel it is important to find a site that works for you and not only provides support but is also a place that provides a lot of business insight, such as new networking sites, introduction of new technologies, etc.

Me: If you could give one piece of business advice, what would it be?

Janene: Be realistic in setting income expectations. Very few people start a business and become an overnight success. It takes a tremendous amount of work, long hours and very little income (if any) for the first year or two. Depending on your business type, overhead and start-up costs, it could take 3-5 years before you generate a profit and a steady income. As they say, if it was easy, everyone would do it.

Me: Do you have a favorite book that has helped you in making business decisions or helped in answering important business questions?

Janene: It may sound silly, but the books I read were mostly for motivational purposes. “Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul” is one of my favorites. It helps keep all of the hard work and hard knocks in perspective.

Me: What is your favorite social media site? How long would you say you spend "socializing"?

Janene: The first part of the question I think I answered above. I spend about ½ - 1 hour a day.

Me: What is your twitter id?

Janene: TrendingSol

Me: Why should someone follow you on Twitter?

Janene: (This question made me laugh. I haven’t had much time to be on Twitter lately, so people wouldn’t benefit much from following me J)