I have never paid for any advertising on the web, even until now. Everything I've done is just to submit to the search engines, exchange links with similar sites, and network with other moms. In February 1999, I was listed in Yahoo. And since the day I got listed in Yahoo, I always get an order. It was incredible. That really helped the site take off. Plus, the more links you have, the more you start showing up in the search engines and the more popular you get.

I am involved in a couple of mom's sites. One of which is MyBabyShops.com, and we help each other network. We can't compete with the big guys so we pull resources to market our sites collectively both on and off the Web. For example, I will be the rep for the whole group carrying everyone's products for the big baby show here in Denver next month.

I also belong to another group of moms called LittleDidIknow.com, which also operates their own gift shop and moms consign their goods.

All I've done are craft fairs, where I pass out my literature. I participate in baby shows, like the upcoming merchandise mart in Denver. I also trade business cards with other businesses that I go to or frequent. I help promote them in my store and they help get the word out for my business.

I haven't done any advertising although I may have to start looking for parenting newspapers and magazines in town now that I have a place where they can go and shop. I might be able to push the local market a little more now.

Yes, a lot of wannabes. I saw one other gal doing it when I started. Yeah, there's been a lot of people -- copycats - trying to do the same kind of thing. Unfortunately the one other gal who was doing it at that time - I don't think she is still out there anymore - she ended up getting a domain similar to mine to try to get my traffic. Just one letter off! And there's also one without the dash "babycakes.com." And there's one without the "s" or "babycake.com."

I did buy a few of them, but mostly it was for words that I want people to search for me with. And that has worked out for my benefit.

My site has grown so much that now I have decided to take it to the retail store. By the end of July (editor's note: interview was done in July 2001), we're going to have a store. It has gotten too big for the house and I get too many orders everyday.

Our house is only 1600 sq. feet and we looked at either rebuilding it or getting a new one but we decided against both options. I didn't want to change the kids' schools; there wasn't anything available in our area that was bigger. So, as of August, I will be working 5 minutes from home and I will be in an actual store. My very own store.

Yes, a brick and mortar. Isn't it neat? I am so excited. It is 900 sq. feet. While there, I can still operate my online store; take orders and answer emails. We have arranged for UPS to pick up deliveries. They are already picking up at the house. I print all the shipping off the computer anyway. And I will do the assembly there.

I will only be gone while they are in school. I'll be able to hire some people to help in operating the store. I don't think it will affect them negatively at all because we are so overwhelmed with too much stuff in the house.

Plus, I think I'll be able to get away from work now. I won't have to be there working at the house all the time. So maybe this will give me a little more time for them because it won't be like 24 hours work. I might be able to leave it a little more than I can now because it will be at a retail place.

Also my 9 year old is pretty excited because she will be able to use one of the rooms that I was using downstairs as her bedroom. She's very excited to have her own room.

I have. I have three part timers who help get things together. I know I'll keep them for sure. And I will have to hire at least one more full time person.

I have to say just do it. That's what I did. I had my mind set that I was going to do this; that I was not going to work for a boss again. You know I've just been through so much with my kids - I remember that one of my kids had an incident at school and my boss wouldn't let me leave because no one would answer the phone. To be told I cannot do that, particularly when it comes to my kids. Especially moms - they do not stay in a situation like that. The kids are more important; your family is much more important. You can always find another job. It pushes you to find an alternative and discover the things that you've always wanted to do.

I never imagined that I could have my own store. Yeah, it's neat.