Your Name: MaryBeth Reeves
Business Name: Scrapbook Mamma, a service that turns photos into scrapbooks and personal digital photo books
Type of Business: Arts & Entertainment/Children’s Goods & Services/Home & Housewares/Gifts
Business Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Website www.scrapbookmamma.com
Twitter @Quadmamma
Facebook www.facebook.com/scrapbookmamma
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/scrapbookmamma/
Reason for starting
I wanted to have my own business so I could control my world a little better. In December 2008 my position as a Corporate Trainer for Starwood Hotels and Resorts was eliminated and I found myself without a job after 11 years with the same company. I started my own business out of necessity. My company is called Scrapbook Mamma and I make custom photo books for those who want to do something wonderful with their pictures, but don’t have the time or the inclination to do it themselves. This was something I did for myself often with the millions of pictures I had of my daughters and gave as gifts to family and friends. It was my creative outlet, and a hobby I could do while having 4 babies to care for. I have quadruplet daughters who are now 6 ½ years old. I had so many other people tell me they wish they could have someone make something like that for themselves with their pictures and an idea was sparked. I thought it might make a nice little business and when I found myself without a job, I decided to jump in with both feet.
How do you define success?
The fact that I am able to have my own business is itself a huge success to me. It sounds like a cliché, but it is true. Following my passion and doing a job a love while still being able to be where I need to be for my family is the perfect situation for me.
Biggest Success
So far my biggest successes are that there are copies of my books featured in the lobby of the W Atlanta Buckhead and getting my first yearbook client that ordered 200 copies of the same book.
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Time and money are my top challenges to growing my business. I am self funded and all of the revenue I make goes back into the business. I barter for help and services to find people who have strength in areas that are not my own. This allows me to focus on things I am strong in saving me both time and money.
Who is your most important role model?
The Mom and Women Entrepreneurs that have come before me like Kim Levine, Angela Stalcup, Laura West, Joyce Bone, Victoria Colligan, Adrienne Graham, Heather Allard and many more. Reading the stories of how these moms started, grew and continue to improve their businesses gave me the courage to start. Being able to meet some of them in person has been inspirational to me. I continue to strive to improve my business, and follow their lead!