Me and my children on holiday in Barbados. Whilst Fabian (youngest) isn't much help with the magazine, the others all get involved in different ways making it a real family business!
Hi,
My name is Sue Botterill (that´s me, opposite, with my four children). You´ve probably never heard of me and that´s okay – I´m no guru, sales superstar, or corporate bigwig.
In fact, just the opposite. I´m just your average mum who loves her family and would rather spend time with them than anything else. I gave up work over ten years ago when my first child was born – I´ve now got four (aged 12, 11, 7 and 2) and ever since I´ve been a ´stay–at–home mum´.
In my ´previous life´ (before children!) I had a good job working for a major high street bank. Work was very important to me, I enjoyed it, earned good money and I saw myself very much as a career woman.
All that changed, however, when my son was born in 1996. Overnight, I discovered a maternal streak that I simply didn´t know existed! I adored every minute with my son and to everyone´s surprise, I didn´t miss work at all.
Exactly twelve months later, baby number two came along and I continued to enjoy the hard and challenging – but ever so rewarding – role as full–time mum to my two boys. I was lucky in that I didn´t have to go back to work. My husband was earning sufficient that, with a little belt–tightening, we could survive on his salary alone.
Just as my youngest son started school, my daughter was born (!) so my life as a full time mum continued, uninterrupted into its seventh year.
It's only 10 days since I ordered my Pack and I already have 12 confirmed advertisers, my August front cover booked, my first two editorials booked and total orders now worth in the region of £1,800! I can honestly say I've never done anything in my life where so many prospects said 'Yes' - and I've done sales for years!
Tania Houston
Then, in 2003, my husband decided to set up in business on his own – a tough decision to make when you have a young family to consider. I backed him all the way but losing his regular monthly salary whilst he got things started was a big financial blow to us and it persuaded me that I should try and contribute to the family income.
But with my 18 month old daughter permanently at my side and two boys at school, what could I do? I looked at loads of part–time jobs but none of them paid anything like decent money and, anyway, a job would mean having to pay for childcare for my daughter and after school care for the boys – it was too much to sacrifice. I had to find another way.
Being fiercely protective of my time with my children, I realized that I was probably looking for the impossible – a substantial income but without having to spend time out at work. As I wrestled with my situation I looked into several ´business opportunities´ but the earning potential was just a few hundred dollars and I just didn´t fancy (I still don´t!) selling cleaning products to my friends or hosting jewellery or make–up parties anyway.
There are a lot of "business opportunities" out there. I´ve seen my fair share of them and I´m sure you have too. Let´s face it... most of what´s out there is hyped–up junk.
My profits starting rocketing after three months and I was quickly making over £3,500 profit each month - amazing! I don't know how many hours I spend on my magazine each week, but it is a lot less than a full time job. We had our second baby at the end of May so now I'm at home with her enjoying this precious time, rather than contemplating a future of working nights and weekends. It is a lot of work at the beginning, but if you stay focused and motivated the rewards are enormous and it's definitely worth it.
Angela Croucher
So how did I come up with the solution everyone´s been looking for?
Well, I can´t tell you why no–one else has thought of this, but I can tell you how I did – and how it has already helped over 1,000 ´stay–at–home´ mums achieve financial independence whilst still being a great parent. It´s also won loads of awards, been featured in a best–selling book, and had tons of reports and features in major magazines...
It was breakfast time, one Monday morning in mid–2003. Amidst the usual chaos I had an idea! I dropped the boys at school and hurried home, full of excitement. With my daughter happily painting in the kitchen I began to scribble down my thoughts and map out what would need to be done. I felt sure this would work but even in the euphoria of that morning, I never imagined that it would be so successful, so quickly.
Within six weeks of that Monday morning I had generated over £1,750 of profit. Every month since I have earned more than £2,000 profit.
The money is great – and it has made a massive difference to our household finances – but the real beauty of my idea is that it fits in entirely with my family life AND provides a much needed service to my neighbourhood.
My daughter is at my side all day. We go to all her activities, have fun at the park, and spend hours playing play–dough, cooking, and painting together. I´m there for my boys to take them to school, pick them up, have their friends come over to play, take them swimming or to soccer practice etc and I still have time for myself and my husband.
On average I now spend less than 10 hours a week on my business and if I can fit it in then I´m sure you can too.
Instead of detracting from my family life, my new role fits in around it whilst contributing a substantial income each month (I´m earning more now than I was as a Loans Officer!).
It has also given me a massive confidence boost and a real sense of satisfaction that comes from success and a job well done.
I can't believe how my life has changed since I came to the Franchise Exhibition - and it's all thanks to Sue and MyMag.
I have just published the tenth issue of the Sprowston Village Directory, and the sixth issue of the Dussindale Directory. My son is working in partnership with me now and it's getting easier and easier each month, as our customers spread the word about us to other local businesses. We are making much more money than we ever did when we were employed and having much more fun. My Mag is brilliant - we couldn't have done this without you!
Dawn Ramsden
But my business flourishes in just one little suburb of one little town - and the truth is that the local magazine concept will work well in virtually any town in the world. That´s a huge potential market! So, with my husband´s help, in Spring 2004, I developed a system...
...and I mean a complete system step-by-step for starting, marketing, building, and running a successful local magazine business. It´s really really straightforward and everything has been thought of for you.
Is your postcode still available?
Click here to find out!
Now I´ll be honest with you, when we launched our ´system´ I thought that maybe a couple of people each month might give it a go. I never planned (or even dreamed) that more than one thousand (1000!!) people would set up and run their own magazines and replicate my success.
I never expected all the Awards that we have won, or the press and media attention that we have had, or that one of my ´My Maggers´ would be invited to 10 Downing Street to meet Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, because of her magazine.
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You can read what 'Red' - Britains biggest selling womens glossy magazine - said about My Mag in a recent article. |
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Former 'Oprah' producer Michelle Anton also wrote about My Mag in her best-selling book 'The Weekend Entrepreneur'. Read what she said here. |
Here´s some of the awards our business has won recently:
To read more about the awards that we have won click here.
So when I say ´phenomenal´, I really do mean it!!
I am very grateful for all your help and support - I couldn't have done it without you. I have taken just over £2,600 which is a really solid start. I have long dreamed of an escape from the routine of my office job, but it is not easy coming up with something which is low cost, low risk and enjoyable to do. My Mag is perfect
Martin Peters
I´m really proud of My Mag, and I know that it´s one of the best business opportunities out there. We're in six countries now and the Programme has been developed and improved over the past five years so that it's now better than ever.
If you´ve got any questions then please get in touch with us using the form below. We are happy to correspond via email or we can setup up a time when we can talk on the phone - I'm happy to call you.
