Mom the Minipreneur

I checked out my fave PinoyTech Blog. I came across Miguel Paraz's article on Minipreneurs. The article shows how we get both freedom and control when we make a business out of doing what we love. Rapidly turn your hobby into a profit-making global venture, thanks to the free and accessible info technologies. The Net may seem to be common. But in the Philippines, using SMS to forward sales pitches has been a common practice to sell wares too.

How many of us have said we want to do something with our creative talents? The banana chip seller, the neighbor selling those Hong Kong bags, jewelry sideliners, and even those offering unique giftwrapping services like my friend Pia P. are potentially Generation C material once they take advantage of the market reach of selling over the Internet.

I'm no E-bay trader (yet), but I am definitely the quintessential bricks-and-mortar trader w/ some tech knowledge up my hem. I know the satisfaction of buying online--I've bought books, seminars, movie tickets and online courses through the Internet. I've saved time and money--for who ever said that when one shops for the item, you don't end up paying for other things like your meals or impulse purchase items you see on the way to the main shop?!? On the other end, when I lived in Singapore for almost four years I would sell export-quality Christmas linens, Filipino paintings, and items I personally picked out during my vacations to Manila. My marketing tool? A nicely designed e-newsletter and my database of friends and acquaintances. At that time I did it just for extra lunch money with the girls. But now. . .

If you have the desire to do what you love, a belief that you have a unique product or service to offer to the world, and some daring-do to experiment with the vast number of common collaboration and communication tools such as e-mail or SMS, you may be on your way to becoming a minipreneur. Moms are natural entrepreneurs--providing for the kids million-and-one needs as well as saving for a rainy day have always been prime motivators to earn a little cash.

Spotlight the Pinoy stay-at-home Moms (SAHM). Wherever she is in the world, you find her in some little business. Think of their tiny 'sideline' businesses of dried fish, generic powdered soap, yummy choco cakes, web designing, CD trading, Christmas gift items--the list is endless! With a little help from the Internet and some experimentation with her PC, the Mompreneur can expand her sales to markets beyond the referral network of her immediate neighbors. Trendwatching.com spots the explosive growth of Minipreneurs . And they've got the stats to prove it's on it's way to making you--and me--earn a tidy sum out of our little PCs.