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The Party Works makes putting on a party
easy and the site a treasure trove of good ideas.
 Meet:
Mary Ann Ross and Kimberly Lainson Mother/Daughter Team
Market Their Site Serves: Women
Unique Angle:
Offering loads of free and valuable help for parties - with an emphasis
on kid's birthday parties, baby showers and cake decorating. They market
from two websites: www.thepartyworks.com
www.cakeworkscentral.com
Favorite Quote: ""Lead, Follow or Get Out Of My
Way!"
- MacArthur
Mary Ann Ross and Kimberly Lainson are a mother and daughter that teamed up as business partners in 1998 for different reasons. Mom had
taken an early retirement and was bored, Kimberly wanted to stay home with her
four children. So they did what they knew best... having fun with kids...
and started an at-home business that expanded from one room in Mom's house
to a converted outbuilding on her rural property in Washington and to their
new larger office/warehouse facility in the same general area.
Real Story...
After Mary Ann (Mom with Dad) settled in their dream house in a rural
community after having lived in the big city all their lives, her
boredom resulted in her labeling everything in the bathroom, kitchen, pantry,
cabinets and refrigerator. When she was giving serious consideration to
"alphabetizing" everything in the pantry and refrigerator, everyone knew
she needed a life! Kimberly came to the rescue with her creative and technical
genius and the rest is history!
Serious Side...
We truly thought an e/commerce business and party informational
(library) website would be easy, fun, a hobby... but soon the business began
growing from a couple of orders a week to 25 orders a week, then to hundreds of
orders per week and we found out that the hobby became work - hours, hours,
days, days, weeks and months of non-stop work. Even if we were not an e/commerce business and totally information oriented, a person must be
dedicated and addicted!!
Side Note...
We are considered small potatoes in the retail party industry since the
majority of online competitors own stores or chains - we'll survive out
of perseverance, personal customer service, and great free information. As
corny as this may sound, we love helping others with their parties
recognizing that each person thinks there party is the most important
thing in the world and we think it is, too!!!). We pride ourselves on making
each of our customers and visitors feel like they are a member of our family!
Who Does What...
Kimberly (daughter) is the technical guru, we've nicknamed her Ms.
KIM-Puter; she is responsible for web design and computers/equipment,
new
products, purchasing, and oversees order processing and warehouse
inventory.
When the business first started 2-1/2 years ago, she implemented the
accounting systems, ordering process systems, etc.
Mary Ann (mom) oversees office administration and packing/shipping of
orders
as well. Her favorite part is writing party plans, articles and
promotion
of the website.
We are totally women owned - Kimberly and Mary Ann are
co-owners/partners - however, Earl Ross (husband and father) was forced into giving up his
early retirement to join the company fulltime last October as the CEO, CFO,
President, Janitor and Go-Fer (and doing a darn fine job!!! - we've decided
to keep him...)
The End...
If you would like to be featured in TECHdivas WomenOwned, send
us a note.
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