Welfare Check Fuels Woman's Business Start By SHANDRA HILL SMITH 2/10/2005 For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When hard times hit, April Simpson turned to a passion to create. Today, the Jonesboro business woman is still doing what she loves - and inspiring others to follow suit. Simpson opened What A Basket and More inside the Premier Plaza in Jonesboro. Mrs. Simpsons sell all-occasion customized gift baskets and candy bouquets. April Simpson also teaches courses ..ing a home-based gift basket business.
At Simpson's shop, the motto is "gift-giving made simple." Prepackaged and customized gifts are available - for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Valentine's Day. There also are spiritual gift baskets, sugar-free candy baskets and divorce gift baskets - "for those getting back into the dating scene," Simpson said. The latter is filled with a self-help book - either on personal happiness or dating - a mug with tea, or gourmet coffee and a journal.
What A Basket And More began as an online business in 2000 while Simpson was living in Los Angeles. Simpson had lost a job in accounting, then her three- bedroom apartment. She was faced with raising three children, then between the ages of 3 and 7, alone. The four ended up in an emergency shelter.
"I didn't know what to do, so I prayed," she said, "and the idea came. I took $50 from my welfare check and started my business venture." The Fayetteville resident says she used the money to buy her first inventory, including baskets and some Easter candy. "I made baskets and some neighbors came around and said, 'Who made those baskets?' I made baskets for the whole neighborhood that year." She would advance to selling to the day care and schools where her children were enrolled. In less than two months, Simpson landed another job, where she says her breakthrough as an entrepreneur came. At the new workplace, "I made $275 from four baskets in one day," she said, "so I knew I had something."
Simpson packed up her car with her children and computer and drove to metro Atlanta in October 2003 with $300 in her pocket. Since moving here, the 29-year-old has had one job - for all of three months. She enjoys being her own boss and encouraging others, especially single mothers, to identify their passion and pursue it.
I see so many single women in the same predicament I was in - raising children, not having enough money," she said. "When you make that first dollar off something you've created, you're excited about it. It makes you feel there is a tomorrow. You have to find something you have a passion for and learn how to make a living from it." ******** Sense the publishing of the above article What A Basket And More has grown and is currently relocating into a larger retail space.*******
