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In this monthly column, you will meet ladies who generate income from
the comfort of their own homes.
Share Your Story
Do you earn extra money through a home-based business or activity? If so,
tell us about it, and
your story may appear in future editions of this column.
Work-at-Home Success Story
Home Bakery
Featuring Kara Hochstetler
Despite a busy schedule, this stay-at-home mother finds time to bake and sell delicious, melt-in-your mouth apple dumplings. She and her husband, Wes, have been married seven years and live in Holmes County, Ohio with their two small children. During a recent interview with Positively Feminine, Kara described her work-at-home experience.PF: What product or service do you provide?
Kara: I bake and sell apple dumplings that are made from scratch. I repeatedly experimented with different dumpling variations before coming up with my very own secret recipe.
PF: How long have you been in business?
Kara: About two and a half years.
PF: Why and how did you get started?
Kara: It's crazy how I got the idea; it came to me one night when I was up late with my baby. I was thinking how nice it would be to have a little spending money, and after some brain storming, came up with the idea of baking and selling apple dumplings. After discussing it with friends, who thought it was a fine idea, I decided to go ahead with it.
PF: Where do you bake the apple dumplings?
Kara: All of the dumplings are made in my own kitchen. At this point, that works for me. I feel that as long as I am selling a fully baked product, my own kitchen serves the purpose. If I decide to expand the business in the future, I may need to make other arrangements.
PF: Where do you sell them?
Kara: I sell the dumplings at local pizza shops and ice cream parlors. Each dumpling is packaged in its own microwavable container. The seller simply needs to pop it into the microwave for a minute or two, then serve it in the original container with a scoop of ice cream.
Kara: It's crazy how I got the idea; it came to me one night when I was up late with my baby. I was thinking how nice it would be to have a little spending money, and after some brain storming, came up with the idea of baking and selling apple dumplings. After discussing it with friends, who thought it was a fine idea, I decided to go ahead with it.
PF: Where do you bake the apple dumplings?
Kara: All of the dumplings are made in my own kitchen. At this point, that works for me. I feel that as long as I am selling a fully baked product, my own kitchen serves the purpose. If I decide to expand the business in the future, I may need to make other arrangements.
PF: Where do you sell them?
Kara: I sell the dumplings at local pizza shops and ice cream parlors. Each dumpling is packaged in its own microwavable container. The seller simply needs to pop it into the microwave for a minute or two, then serve it in the original container with a scoop of ice cream.
PF: What is your busiest season?
Kara: Although business during wintertime is steady, summer is definitely my busiest time. Customers love eating the dumplings on hot days with ice cream.
Kara: Although business during wintertime is steady, summer is definitely my busiest time. Customers love eating the dumplings on hot days with ice cream.
PF: How much of your time does the business require?Kara: From start to finish, one case (27 dumplings) takes approximately three hours. That includes preparation, baking, cleanup, and interruptions from the kids.
PF: What do you most enjoy about having your own business?
Kara: I enjoy baking, and like the fact that I can make money from my own kitchen. Best of all, I can still be with my children all day.
Share Your Story
Do you earn extra money through a home-based business or activity? If
so, please tell us about it, and
your story may appear in future editions of this column.
About the Author:
Brenda
King is the director of
PositivelyFeminine.org. She and
her husband Mike live in Ohio
and have one son. In her
spare time she enjoys reading,
writing, hiking, and working on
the computer.