I had been a stay-at-home mom for over seven years -- caring for my two daughters, Melissa, 7 [8 on Sep 25, 1997], and Ashley, 3 [4 on Dec 19, 1997]. With Ashley almost being ready to attend pre-school part-time, I had been considering pursuing some avenue of work, as long as I could get something to conform to my children's schedules, preferably out of my home.

My background is a college degree in computer science and I had worked for four years as a systems programmer and analyst for a national mail-order company after I graduated from college. Then it was on to baby-making, and being a homemaker. In the fall of 1996, I knew I was terribly rusty where computer science was concerned -- it's a field that changes almost daily, and the Internet wasn't even heard of among the masses when I quit work almost 8 years ago!

I did own a computer, but had been using it mostly for word processing and desk-top publishing volunteer projects for my daughter's school. I hadn't been programming, and had never even logged on to the Internet. However, with the encouragement of my brother, who works in the computer field, I did finally enter the vast unknown of the Internet.

Those first few weeks, I was on the phone with my brother, Greg, several times a day -- from figuring out how to even get Internet access, to why we always have to put "http://" in front of the location name, to what the broken key means (in Netscape), to where to go to find anything, and trying to figure out why my computer was so slow!! He patiently helped me through each of my frustrations, helping learn even the basics, and some of the more behind-the-scenes factors including various setup values, and so on (that's why my computer was so slow!). I think that without his personal attention and constant support I may have given up in frustration before I really began. However, perseverance prevailed and soon I was moving around the Internet and finding info like a pro!

Believing that I could find some sort of niche on the Internet, with my computer science background, and desire to work from home, my mother and I were brainstorming and concluded that there should be a way that individual people could have access to the marketing resources of the Internet, even if they don't own a computer! Individuals like her neighbor, who is exceptionally talented with costume design, and creates her own home decorating accessories, but who doesn't have the experience or resources to use the Internet to market her creations. Or individuals like my friend's father, who carves the most exquisite life-like reproductions of wildlife. One of those hobbyists who would love the option to exchange their nine-to-five life for working with the hobby he loves, or at least get a little extra income for his efforts!

Through this brainstorming was born The Creativity Zone. I decided to take the chance that there might be many artisans or craftsmen out there that would love the opportunity for the type of marketing that the Internet provides, but who were without the necessary resources. What if I created a company that would take on the Internet, get the ISP account, set up the web pages, accept MasterCard or Visa, process the orders, and send the artisans the invoices to fill? And what's more, what if I didn't charge these artisans anything for this service? Surely there would be craftsmen willing to try it out -- it wouldn't cost them a dime.

I decided that I would take the risk of setting up new artisans in the hope of making a profit from the mark-up of the items. The Creativity Zone pays the artisans wholesale, but charges the customers retail. Therefore, I don't need to charge the artisans a fee, since my profits are built into the product price. I had not seen any other service like this on the Web. Similar craft malls or art galleries typically charge the artisans a monthly fee, or a commission amount.

With my computer background I believed I could tackle the web page portion of the proposition, and with my mail-order background, I believed I could manage the overall business design and manage the day-to-day operations. My weaknesses were having never started my own business before, and marketing. I have had to learn every step of the way.

I began by making phone calls to the zoning commissioners office to determine if I could even legally operate this type of business from my home. I could. But I had to have an occupational license, and I also needed to get a Florida state sales tax ID number so that I can collect sales tax from customers who reside in Florida. Each of these steps takes a few days to a few weeks to accomplish, with several phone calls asking for forms, asking questions, and so on.

While beginning the steps necessary to become a legal business in the state of Florida and the county of Brevard, I was tinkering on the computer, trying to learn how to make the web pages do what they do. This is a process that continues to this day. I am still learning.

After getting all the necessary licenses, then came time to apply to get merchant status to accept MasterCard or Visa credit cards (a must for a mail-order company). This was a very time-consuming undertaking. After shopping around at local banks, I finally decided to go with a company in California where I received better rates. However, we went back and forth having to explain the type of business I was setting up -- the Internet is still new -- before I got final approval. That also involved opening bank accounts so that the money had someplace to be deposited, and leasing, installing, and learning software that will process the credit cards.

About the same time that we received our merchant approval with a Visa/MasterCard company I had a web site that could be called "functional". I had two artisans willing to step out into the unknown with me, and on March 1, 1997, about four months after starting the process, The Creativity Zone was online. No one knew it was there, but it was there.

Then the marketing. Internet marketing was a totally new entity for me. I assumed that Internet marketing would be instant: you submit a site, it's there. Wrong. The lead time can be horrendous. With the volume of submissions each search engine or directory receives, it can be weeks, even months, before your listing is included.

Learning WHERE to register my site, and HOW to register my site, has proven to be a continual learning process. I don't think that process will ever end. There will be constant motion riding the Internet wave, and entrepreneurs have to be ready for whatever new situations arise. New technology, new methodologies; the Internet is a dynamic entity, ever changing, ever growing. The minute I think I have found all the best places to register my site; the minute I think I've done everything I can possibly do to get the word out -- that is the minute my business will fail.

It is now July 1, 1997, about 8 months since I started, and I continue to search for new ways and new places to submit my site. I now have six artisans online, and I consider my site "meaty" enough to begin to submit it for reviews and for award considerations. Prior to having the six artisans, I did not consider the site deep enough for submissions, not enough content.

I received word yesterday that we received our first award. The All-Internet Shopping Directory awarded the site its Best of the Web award! We are on our way!

We still do not have the traffic count to provide volume sales, but with perseverance we will. Magazine articles referencing our site, additional awards, and perhaps even some paid advertising, will now combine with the free registrations online, the banner exchanges, and the reciprocal links, to help build The Creativity Zone into an online retailing giant. I hope! :-)
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http://www.creativityzone.com
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