The Community for Catholic Moms

What is the motivation behind you business?

There are many reasons people start businesses, and I find different people's motivation can be very interesting.

Personally, I need something productive to call my own. Homemaking is a job which I work very hard at and take pride in. However, I need to do something outside the home that does not conflict with the needs of my family. My business making crochet items fits the bill.

Also, I try to avoid buying goods that are made under unethical conditions, not an easy task on a budget in our society. In my store, I only make items from goods that are manufactured in countries with fair labor laws. In this way, my conscience is clear when I am working, and my customers can buy with a clear conscience.

Finally, a portion of my profit is donated to charities I would not otherwise be able to afford to support.

That's pretty much it for me. How about you?

Tags: business, motivation, shop, wham

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Karen @ TheJuneBride on September 12, 2009 at 1:58pm

Wow... pretty much exactly the same here! Well said :)

Aside from the ability to donate more to charities, fund the tools of the trade and meet other crafty people, my Etsy shop is a creative outlet for me as well. It's also an area that creates an unbiased influx of words of affirmation. This makes me feel good about myself, my abilities, and makes me more confident in all other areas of my life. It's been positive reinforcement all the way, and I'm so glad that I can make it work in a way that leaves me completely free to do whatever I need and want to do with my kids and husband.

Great topic! Looking forward to reading others' responses!

Permalink Reply by Jenny on September 14, 2009 at 1:14pm

Ahhh the affirmation...

This has been a totally unexpected but important part of my business. I received one email from a customer who said that her rainbow hat "saved her life." An exaggeration to be sure, but it put me on cloud nine for the rest of the day. It didn't just make me a happy worker, it made me a happy mother and a happy wife. This is definitely a benefit not only to me but to my whole family.

Permalink Reply by Riz Marsella on September 14, 2009 at 12:24am

What motivated me to found my business is to give moms, like me, a source of inspirational
Sacred Scripture, and writings of great saints and popes in their cell phones. Moms can then forward these inspirational text messages to their teens and young adult children, esp. those who have moved away from home. They can help inspire their children without having to use their own "voice"— sometimes a relief for our teens and young adult children!

I think it's important to remind our children that a) we love them, b) we pray for them and c) life is about following the light of Jesus Christ and making it to heaven.

We have a spot on our website where folks can indicate which non-profit organization they'd like us to donate 10% of their total purchase to.

Thank you.
Maria

Permalink Reply by Jenny on September 14, 2009 at 1:15pm

I can see this being particularly useful for a young person who is struggling. A simple reminder with an emotional confrontation. Very good.

Permalink Reply by Jenny on November 7, 2009 at 10:00pm

Ooops....I meant "without."

"with and emotional confrontation" wouldn't actually be good at all.

Permalink Reply by Paula Rutherford on November 7, 2009 at 12:23am

I started my business almost a year ago for a few reasons.

One is so that I can come out of my shell. I have always been shy, and I really liked the idea of extending hospitality to others as a way of training myself to give of myself. My shyness was a form of selfishness.

Another was the hope that I could supplement our family income enough to afford the basic need of a growing family (clothing & food, primarily).

A third reason was wanting to have enough to help others. I give 10% of my profits to pro-life causes.

One more reason: I love these teas and want everyone to try them!

Permalink Reply by Jenny on January 27, 2010 at 11:53am

Your work is really lovely. I know quite a few people who would love to see your site. We have quite a few friends who are Catholic nerds and a fair number of young priests among them:) Perhaps a link on my husbands facebook page...

Permalink Reply by Lucy Sheahan on January 27, 2010 at 1:46am

Hi,
My daughters, Molly and Caroline and I started our business, Mystical Rose Design for several reasons.

I wanted my daughters, who are homeschooled with our three sons, to learn the domestic arts so that they would be better prepared as homemakers than I was.

But what would motivate us?

That's when I came up with the idea of selling items in the hopes of making a pilgrimmage to the shrines of France. Lourdes or Bust!!!

In the process, they are learning a lot of great skills in sewing, embroidery, rosary making, etc., as well as business skills. My 16 year old, Molly, just filed our tax return and set up an online accounting system.

Thanks for setting up this great group where we can support one another!
In Christ,
Lucy
www.mysticalrosedesign.com

Permalink Reply by Jenny on January 27, 2010 at 12:24pm

This a fantastic endeavor. I was homeschooled and found that my domestic responsibilities did help prepare me for maintaining a house of my own. The idea of using the proceeds for traveling is wonderful. Before getting married I visited Rome and other places in Europe and it deeply enriched my faith to be where so many other Catholics had been and to know that saints had walked there!

I hope that the extra income from my work can allow my family to travel too. Perhaps we'll end up in Lourdes together. Do your girls babysit? ;)

Permalink Reply by Lucy Sheahan on February 4, 2010 at 10:09pm

Sure they do, Jenny! Lourdes or Bust!

Lucy

Permalink Reply by D on April 28, 2010 at 10:40pm

I have a couple of reasons for starting a small shop, the main one is to raise funds to support charity & good works for Life; serve as a reminder of our faith through messages on the pieces available and rekindle the art of crafting along with meeting other crafty folks.

Permalink Reply by Sue Webster on September 2, 2010 at 10:52am

The inspiration for On This Day Designs came one Christmas while sitting at my fathers house with my siblings and their spouses. For years all us "girls" had discussed going into business together but doing what?...We all agreed (1) the business had to be rooted in our Catholic faith, (2) had to combine our unique talents, (3) we needed to be able to work out of our homes and (4) most of all the business had to give Glory and Honor to God!

While pondering our specific talents, one of my sisters showed us a beaded key chain with a Catholic medal she had made. That prompted a discussion about wearing our Catholic medals and various ways we could wear and share them with others. We all got excited and On This Day Designs was born!

The added (unforeseen) gift God has blessed us with, in starting our business together, is a deeper closeness and joy we have among ourselves. We have such genuine delight with each other as emails are zinging back in forth discussing a business, or family, topic. There has been many a time where I am sitting at my computer with tears, from laughter, streaming down my face reading an email from my sister-in-law Laurie (we are all in agreement her emails are the most humorous).

We have also used our business as a way to give to charities. We give 100% of profits from our Pro-Life zipper pulls to Elizabeth's New Life Center, a pro-life crisis pregnancy center. Also 100% of profits from our American Flag and American Pride zipper pulls goes to http://www.sewmuchcomfort.org/, where they provide adaptive clothing, at no cost, to support the unique needs of our injured service members from all branches of the military and national guard.

Peace and Joy,
Sue