Blog
When did you join Mom to Mom? June 2007
What do you sell? Award-winning games and puzzles that help families learn and connect through play. All of our games focus on the concept that play is critical to children and families as it teaches academic, social and developmental skills in a fun, creative way. Probably what I love most about our products are that they are easy to learn & don’t require a huge time commitment. They are designed to be played in approximately 30 minutes or less. This is great for busy families who want to play games, but don’t always have time to sit down for an hour+ game.
How/where do you sell? I sell through home parties, catalogs, and my website. For parties & events I cover all of Southern Maine. I'm trilled to be the first person representing SimplyFun in Maine. It is a great opportunity and a company that I'm proud to promote!
Do you offer a discount to Mom to Mom members or other special services? I have a Facebook page that I will use to promote specials or disocunts. You can search for me using Lisa Pelton, Independent Consultant for SimplyFun in Maine. Right now I'm offering a bonus hostess gift to anyone who books a party for February 2012.
How did you get started in this business? I wanted to find a way to earn some extra money for our family while remaining a SAHM until our son enters Kindergarten. I don't consider myself a sales person so I knew I had to find something that I was passionate about. I ran across an internet article last summer that mentioned SimplyFun as a great direct sales company. I began my research (hours & hours of research) and I was impressed by everything I read about the company. I finally signed a contract to represent them in early December and when I got my first games & puzzles I was 100% convinced - high quality, fun, and the kids love them!
What's your favorite product/service that you sell and why? Right now my favorites are probably Picky Sticks and the What If Chat Ring. Picky Sticks is one that our whole family has fun playing - 3.5-year-old Jake up to Grandma (who's age will remain a secret). I love that it challenges everyone! It is also a new tool I can use to work on an important skill with Jake. He's a pretty typical 3.5-year-old boy & slowing down and taking his time isn't always his strength. This is a good way to practice the skill and also helps both of the kids learn how to handle frustration. Great for teaching kids how to think before they act. The Chat Rings are fabulous, too. The "point" of the rings is to improve social interaction - either one on one or in a group gathering. There are three chat rings: Family Stories, Let's Chat, and What If (plus a fourth that has great road trip game ideas). The reason I like What If so much is that it is a perfect way to start important conversations with my daughter when we are both in a positive mood (not waiting for trouble). The categories cover Safety, Emotions, and Social Interactions. We've had some really nice conversations about how she thinks and feels - that's never a bad thing!
I'll be at the Gorham Co-Op Preschool's Frozen Family Fun Fest on February 18th - stop by and say hi if you are at the event! You can check out some of the games, get a catalog or just say howdy!
Contact Information:
Lisa Pelton, www.lisapelton.simplyfun.com, lisapelton@gmail.com, 207-730-3080
When did you join Mom to Mom?
I have been a member for a total of 7 years.
What do you sell?
I sell handmade.950 silver jewelry from Peru.
How/where do you sell?
I do home parties - anyone willing to host one will receive 20% off show sales towards jewelry. I am also very fortunate that my jewelry is being sold exclusively at Jill McGowan’s store in 56 Main Street in Freeport. She is a famous designer whose collection was featured in Martha Stewart. I also sell on my website, www.khalimbo.com.
Do you offer a discount to Mom to Mom members or other special services?
Mom to Mom members receive 10% off any item.
How did you get started in this business?
I am originally from Peru. I had jewelry made all the time, and I was complimented on the pieces when I wore them here. So I decided to bring some back and started with a small amount. I am a stay at home mom, so this is a business that I have started from home with a goal of getting my name and my jewelry well known.
What's your favorite product/service that you sell and why?
My main concern is that people who buy my jewelry love it. I am a woman who loves fashion and art, so it’s very important that I sell items that are unique, and that my clients are 100% satisfied with.
My Story
I offer a unique collection of handcrafted quality silver jewelry from Peru. Khalimbo was my grandfather's nickname; he was someone who taught me that traditions and culture are everything. Each of the stones, shells and seeds in our handcrafted jewelry collection has a symbolic significance.
I love what I do. I get to meet great people who appreciate art and beauty. And I am very thankful to everyone who has supported my business. I only expect to keep growing and learn as I grow, and make of it not only a business but a way of transmitting art to the wonderful and beautiful people of the state of Maine.
Contact Information:
Website: www.khalimbo.com | Phone: (207) 409-3581 | Facebook: Khalimbo
When did you join Mom to Mom?
I joined in March, 2011.
What is your business?
I am a licensed Massage Therapist. I offer Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pre-natal and Hot Stone massage. I also offer some specialty treatments for the feet and back, as well as a body exfoliating treatment.
Where is your business located?
I have a shared office in Gorham located at Gorham Massage & Wellness, 20 Mechanic Street. I can also make house calls and will travel in the greater Portland area as well as many other towns located within 30 minutes of Gorham.
Do you offer a discount to Mom to Mom members or other special services?
I will offer M2M members what I call my “Mommy Discount”: 60 minutes for $55 (normal rate $65) and 90 minutes for $80 (normal rate $95). I also have a gift certificate special through Christmas: $45 for a one-hour massage.
How did you get started in this business?
I went to Downeast School of Massage in 2004 and I’ve been practicing part-time since January of 2005. I worked at a salon right out of school and then began working at a spa in 2007. At the end of 2008 I opened my own practice in Buxton but closed that after the birth of my daughter in December 2009. I continued to see some of my clients in their homes and now they come to my new office in Gorham.
What’s your favorite product/service that you sell and why?
I do a lot of deep tissue work on my clients and specialized focus on their specific areas of stress, tension, or pain. I love to see clients on a regular basis because I like to being able to help them and see the improvements being made with massage.
My Story:
I love being a massage therapist because it gives me the flexibility to stay home with my children, and also get out of the house a few days a week to interact with adults. I enjoy working with people and massage therapy is a great way to do that. I enjoy helping people with any issues they may have in their body or just for a nice relaxation time. My practice is slowly growing and now that I have an office space I hope to grow it even more.
Contact Information:
Erin Webber, LMT
Gorham Massage & Wellness | 20 Mechanic Street, Gorham, ME 04038
Phone: (207) 749-7097 | Email: csclax17@hotmail.com
When did you join Mom to Mom?
Not sure of the exact date…sometime after my little one was born in 2009.
What do you sell?
Little Hands Consignment is a semi-annual consignment sale of high quality children’s clothing, toys, newborn items, books and maternity clothes. Consignors sign up and sell their items, receiving a percentage of the sale price. Unreturned items are donated to local charities.
How/where do you sell?
Our Spring/Summer sale will take place on April 28 and 29, 2012 in Scarborough on Route 1.
Areas covered?
We have consignors and shoppers from Augusta to Kittery!
Do you offer a discount to Mom to Mom members or other special services?
At this time we don’t, but we are looking into various partnerships.
How did you get started in this business?
I have a little boy that outgrew his clothes overnight. Being a mom, I know how to make a dollar stretch—I think we learn it the minute we start buying diapers, clothes, toys, etc.! I realized the best way to survive during these economic times was to consign his clothes and toys while gettng great deals on his clothes and toys for the next season. I tried consignment stores, but didn’t meet with great success. Offering this great opportunity to other moms seemed like a logical step as I had not heard of any other semi-annual seasonal sales in Maine.
What’s your favorite product/service that you sell and why?
Everything that has to do with children…books, toys, clothes, jumpy and noisy things that make funny sounds and keep them laughing!
My Story:
As we all know, being a mom or dad is a juggling act—especially when you are trying to make ends meet in this tough economy. Having a little one in my life is the most joyous adventure ever and like any parent I want him to have stylish clothes and exciting toys…I just don’t want to pay full price for them! That’s why this business is so wonderful for everyone. Consignors win by making money from their items that sell and shoppers win by gettng great deals. Our Fall/Winter sale was such a huge success that we are holding our Spring/Summer sale for two days, beginning April 28th. Consignors are able to shop the day before the sale is open to the public—even more of a win/win opportunity! I welcome Mom to Mom members to sign up for our newsletter at www.LittleHandsConsignment.com. This is the best way to learn more about the sale, how to consign and the great experience of shopping these outstanding deals!
Contact Information:
Ruth Summers, Little Hands Consignment
www.littlehandsconsignment.com | littlehandsconsignment@gmail.com
When did you join Mom to Mom?
October 2010
What do you sell?
We are an event consulting company that specializes in events with many moving pieces.
Areas covered?
We cover all of New England, and willing to travel beyond.
Do you offer a discount to Mom to Mom members or other special services?
Absolutely, we offer Mom to Mom members our friends and family discount of 10% off our cost.
How did you get started in this business?
My background is in event planning and fundraising. I have been planning fundraising, political and nonprofit events for the past ten years. After the Obama campaign, I had been traveling abroad to handle logistics for the White House. After I had my daughter I realized that traveling abroad for three weeks at a time was not feasible anymore, but I still wanted to do something for me. So my business partner, Meg, and I joined together in October 2010.
What’s your favorite product/service that you sell and why?
The majority of our clients have been island and coastal Maine weddings. It has been wonderful to work with the brides and their families and so fulfilling to make sure that their day is as perfect as possible.
My story:
As we approach our one year anniversary, I am in awe. When Meg and I started hatching the idea of Cairn Events we had two simple goals: 1) To have a business that we could maintain while we raised our children. So it had to be flexible and something that wouldn’t take us away every day, because we wanted to stay home with our kiddos. 2) Our second goal when we started was to book three large events. We ended up contracting fourteen!
The most amazing part was that it was all word-of-mouth. I was connected to each of the brides and the nonprofits in a personal way, whether is was through a friend or a friend of a friend which led me to have an emotional tie to each event. This tie drove me to perfect each design idea and clarify each logistical piece.
October will certainly be a month for planning the future, which includes a new website and a few updates to our business plan. My goal as Maegan’s mom is to keep the business the size that it is, so that I can continue with the level of service that sets Cairn apart while enjoying watching my daughter grow.
Contact Information:
Heather Quinn Cuzzi, Cairn Event Consulting
www.cairnevents.com | heather@cairnevents.com | (207) 650-8486
