Work-at-Home Success Story

PF: What prompted you to start a home-based business?
Karen: My husband and were looking for a way to supplement our income. We are both entrepreneurs at heart. We had looked at quite a few multi-level marketing products, but were turned off by their "get-quick-rich" talks. We found Shaklee while searching for natural supplements and vitamins for our family. Little did we know that Shaklee also offers natural laundry products, home cleaning, and personal care products.

PF: What products and services do you provide?
Karen: We are independent distributors for Shaklee. Shaklee offers scientifically proven products based on natural ingredients with the highest standards for ingredient quality, purity, and efficacy. Also, if you don't experience the desired results from a Shaklee nutritional, personal care, or household product, you may return the unused portion for a 100% refund.

PF: How do you sell your products?
Karen: We sell our products via personal recommendations, through catalog sales and also through our website: www.shaklee.net/beacon.

PF: Do you actually own your own business, or are you a Shaklee employee?
Karen: We are actually considered an "Independent Distributor". Shaklee Independent Distributors are eligible to earn bonus payments and other incentives.

PF: You seem to genuinely love the products you sell, especially the GetClean line. How do those products differ from traditional store-bought cleaners?
Karen: All of Shaklee's cleaning products, including the GetClean line, are non-toxic plus they out-perform many of the leading brand cleaners. Many of the products are highly concentrated, so you are getting so much more for your money while still getting the cleaning power. For example, the Get Clean starter kit replaces approximately 830 bottles or boxes of conventional ready-to-use products. The products are not heavily scented, many are unscented, but all smell clean and fresh. Plus they are delivered to my door.

PF: Do you advertise?
Karen: Yes, we advertise in several local newspapers, "The Budget" (national Amish-Mennonite newspaper), as well as having displays occasionally at local fairs.

PF: What has been the most surprising aspect of having a home-based business?
Karen: The people that we meet! We have met so many wonderful people. Not just customers, but having a home business is often a conversation starter.

PF: What is the most fun?
Karen: The most fun to me is to be representing products that our family uses. Truly we use them daily, they are in our home and sharing the products comes easily and naturally.

PF: What has been the most difficult?
Karen:  Staying on track, not becoming complacent about the business. Setting goals and continuing to strive for them.

PF: How do you balance family life with business responsibilities?
Karen:  I devote 1-2 hours a day, Monday through Friday at a set time, to our business. This is, of course, very flexible. We do not do any business on the Sabbath.

What do you wish you would have known when first starting the business?
Karen:  I wish we'd gotten our website up and going at the beginning. Otherwise, we started out slowly and steadily.

PF: Do you have any tips for women who are hoping to start their own business?
Karen:  Always, always, always give your husband and children and home the attention, love and support they need first. Only then can you possibly entertain the thought of starting your own business. And of course, your faith and relationship with the Lord is of the utmost importance.

PF: How have you seen God's guidance in the business endeavor?
Karen:  I believe my husband and I have been guided by the Lord's loving hands in all aspects of our lives... so naturally the Lord's guidance led us to starting our business venture also. Of course, we're humans and we often want to do things our way.... [We are] always learning and seeking wisdom to see God's loving guidance.

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.