How Two Grad Students Turned Their Hobby Into A Business

“Since we started our site we’ve moved country once, moved house three times, changed jobs, quit those jobs, and had two kids! The great thing about having a web business is that it’s flexible enough to fit around all these kind of changes.” – Stephanie and Tobias Locsei

For this first day of Christmas, we’re visiting with Stephanie and Tobias Locsei of homemade-gifts-made-easy.com, back in 2008 when this happy couple were still in grad school, and looking forward to their careers. They were both university research scientists, and preparing hard for their final months in college.

They got an email out of the blue that led them to SiteSell, and they were immediately impressed with the process for building an online business that SBI! offered. They said to themselves, “This is it. We can totally do this! It’s just following a system, and that’s something we know we can do.”

They went ahead and ordered SBI!, but then, nothing happened. Months went by, while Stephanie and Tobias worked to finish their degrees, and their website was left untouched, upstarted.

But they never stopped thinking about that idea, that dream of owning their own web business, one where they’d be able to have fun traveling and working together.

Nine months passed, and with school behind them, they finally had the time to get started, and the motivation to make it happen!

And this is where SBI! made all the difference.

Stephanie and Tobias explain:

As we went through the SBI! process we considered all sorts of ideas for sites. We narrowed it down to our top three ideas: homemade gifts, strength-training, or science for kids. Using the SBI! process we evaluated the business potential of all three ideas and homemade gifts emerged as the clear winner.

It was hard to say no to the other ideas but looking back we’re glad we did, because building a site about homemade gifts has been lots of fun and really profitable. We both love making homemade things and it’s been fantastic to turn that hobby into a business.

It started with the rock-solid process that SBI! outlined. It guided them through building a business when, without it, they might have spent years struggling to find a path. And at a critical point, they were able to rely on SBI! to help them winnow their business choices and, ultimately, decide on a profitable direction.

Stephanie and Tobias are now enjoying their full time, successful online business thanks to SBI!, and you can too!

As we’re whisked away by the Ghost of Christmas Past, back to present-day, overlooking the streets crowded with busy people hustling through the Christmas Season, we’re reminded of how important things like Family really are.

Just like Ebenezer Scrooge, even we sometimes need to be confronted by such stories in order to truly recognize what’s important to us, and what we need to do to change.

Do not let another Christmas pass by while your dreams of owning a business fester in your belly like a bit of undigested cheese. Throw open the curtains and renew your lease on life! It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, now is the time to get started. With SiteSell’s Holiday Special in full swing, there’s never been a better time.

Start a Business and Spend MORE Time at Home? Here's How They Did it.

We work on our own terms and have not had to answer to anyone. We have both been available for our families and can vacation whenever we choose. None of which could have been possible for two women with ZERO knowledge of the Internet or having an online business.-Laura Gawne and Susan Bain

Welcome to A Christmas Carol – Sitesell-style! Each day we’re going to re-introduce one of our successful SBI and their amazing stories. Like the Ghost of Christmas Past, we’ll revisit these tales of old and see what lessons we can glean.

For this fourth day of Christmas, we’re visiting with Laura Gawne and Susan Bain, of Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com, sisters who were looking to change the direction of their lives and income.

Laura was working a job she hated, for a phone company, and having to put in so much time she couldn’t be with her family. She hated the fact that she had no choice but to put her son in daycare.

Her sister, Susan, was feeling the same thing, and really wanted to be able to spend more time at home with her teenage boys.

The two of them put their heads together and came up with the idea of starting their own business, and even had their mother, Roxie, express a willingness to be involved.

But they had no idea what they would do. And no idea where to begin.

As they looked back at the things they’d done in the past that they enjoyed, the one thing that stood out was weddings. They’d both planned their own weddings and loved it. And they’d been good at it too! One of the catering restaurants tried to hire them, after being blown away by the planning and gorgeous decor.

So that was the idea, but still they needed a real plan for turning that idea into an income.

After searching online, they discovered SiteSell and the SBI! process for building up entrepreneurs, and they knew they’d found their way.

Laura said that, “With the help of SBI’s guidance, we came up with our website concept combining all of our strengths and experience in planning our own weddings, working in business, catering, and organizing events and parties.”

It took patience and hard work to get going, but by the time Laura’s son was in pre-K, she had quit her job and was working from home full time.

Laura Gawne and Susan Bain recognized what was most important to them, family, and changed their lives with a successful online business thanks to SBI!, and you can too!

As we’re whisked away by the Ghost of Christmas Past, back to present-day, overlooking the streets crowded with busy people hustling through the Christmas Season, we’re reminded of how important things like Family really are.

Just like Ebenezer Scrooge, even we sometimes need to be confronted by such stories in order to truly recognize what’s important to us, and what we need to do to change.

Do not let another Christmas pass by while your dreams of owning a business fester in your belly like a bit of undigested cheese. Throw open the curtains and renew your lease on life! It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, now is the time to get started. With SiteSell’s Holiday Special in full swing, there’s never been a better time.

START MY SBI! SUBSCRIPTION TODAY AT 33% OFF!

P.S. When the clock strikes noon on the 29th of December, this sale, too, will be a Ghost of Christmas Past, so don’t wait too long. Your new business awaits.

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New members will receive a unique MyUS address to use as their shipping address when shopping at their favorite US retailers (ex: Amazon, viglink.com/?vgref=1826230). We will inform them when their items arrive to our facility and consolidate all of their packages into one shipment saving them up to 80% on shipping costs. Not to mention, their package will arrive to their door in 2-4 days worldwide!

Here are the benefits of partnering with MyUS:

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Join our program today and start earning huge checks. We look forward to your partnership : http://goo.gl/2eXx7d

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at affiliates@myus.com.

This end of year, give your family the gift that keeps on giving. Create long lasting income!

l have just discovered a Money making platform that will bring and create a long lasting income for you and your family, it has been tested and proved that you must make money. 

The first of its kind all packaged in ONE, you can not miss this opportunity.
Its called SBI.

Since 1999, SiteSell has helped hundreds of thousands of "everyday folks" become entrepreneurs through the use of SBI!, a complete online business building system.

SBI! takes you from the niche discovery stage via keyword brainstorming and research, through building and monetizing a website. SBI! for WP is SBI!'s sister offering for those who prefer the WordPress blog building platform.

Our Affiliate Program complements affiliate sites and blogs that reach people in a wide variety of demographics, niche audiences and online experience levels. Click Here : 
http://affiliatemarketing.sitesell.com/Affiliatechampions.html

Some of the most popular reasons (great keywords too) folks use SBI! and SBI! for WP to build successful businesses are the desire for more flexibility, freedom, independence and mobility.

Thomas Edison once said, "The value of an idea lies in the using of it." And that perfectly explains why we at SiteSell are so passionate about helping you get started in your new business. We know you have an idea - it’s time to use it and get value from it!

So with the next few emails, we’re going to start by looking to the past, and getting inspiration from some pretty famous and successful entrepreneurs. People like Edison, a man who was actually just like you and me.

Maybe you have a product that changes lives or inspires others or just helps make life a little easier. Whatever that is, whatever your idea is, there’s value in it.

 In so long as you use that idea, that is. http://tools.sitesell.com/Affiliatechampions.html

And that’s where these emails can help you. Over the next few days, we’re going to share some stories of entrepreneurs and successful business people just like Thomas Edison, in the hope that by looking to the past and learning about these iconic figures, we can learn more about ourselves and see our ideas truly come to light.
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Food-related items are the perfect present for friends and family members who seem to have everything.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday behind us, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief, right? Well, it depends on how you look at it: One of the craziest weekends of the season is over, but there's only three weekends left to finish your holiday shopping here and here

For some, this represents plenty of time to wrap things up, yet we often save the hardest gifts for last. Everyone has at least one person in their family or network of friends who seems to have everything.When they want something, they buy it, making it impossible to surprise them with something they'd enjoy.

What do you give these lucky people who seem to have it all? Food. Everyone loves food, especially delicious, indulgent gourmet food that comes beautifully packaged in a festive basket or holiday tin. Unlike other gifts, you can be sure tasty treats will be consumed, making it the ideal gift for people who'd rather not accumulate more stuff.

For more guidance on what yummy gifts to give this holiday season, check out the following recommendations and savings tips. Keep in mind that many gourmet food providers offer gifts for specific dietary needs including paleo, vegan, diabetic, kosher or gluten-free.

Sweets: Even the healthiest people splurge a little during the holidays, especially when it comes to sweets. While a gift from Godiva, Ghirardelli or See's Candies is always a hit, you can also think outside the box of chocolates with such gifts as macarons, almond toffee, baked goods and even honey or fruit preserves. Favorites for under $50 include a trio of preserves (you choose the flavors) from Sarabeth's for $35; a Gluten Free Christmas Tree Treats gift from Tate's Bake Shop; and a one-pound box of Enstrom's Almond Toffee for $24.99. To save even more on these treats, sign up for the stores' e-newsletter to receive a new-subscriber discount of 10 to 20-percent off.

Savories: For loved ones who lack a sweet tooth, opt for something savory instead. Gouermt cheeses and charcuterie were made famous by Hickory Farms, but some products are more processed than piquant. For salt lovers who also eat meat, look no further than the Bacon Sampler from The Loveless Cafe. This hefty gift features four one-pound packages of the famous Nashville cafe's signature flavors for $50. Take a bite out of this price with the restaurant's coupon code for 20-percent off. For the recipient who's a bit less carnivorous, consider the Garrett Mix of sweet-and-savory popcorn from Garrett's Popcorn Shops in Chicago. For $33, your loved one receives a festive tin of finger-lickin' goodness from The Windy City.

Teas and Coffee: There are few things more calming than curling up with a hot cup of coffee or tea on a blustery winter day. If food is too much of a challenge, a gift set featuring your loved one's favorite dark roast or tea blend will hit the spot. This gift can often be accompanied by festive accessories including mugs, treat mixes and more. For example, Peet's Coffee & Tea has a Holiday Blend & Peppermint Bark gift set for less than $15, featuring a half-pound of their bold holiday roast paired with sweet peppermint bark. Another fun option is to create custom tea blends and packaging for your loved ones through Adagio Teas, an online provider of loose teas and gifts. With custom blends starting at $10 for a 3-ounce pouch, the site offers recommendations for teas that complement the ones you've selected and also provides the option of uploading custom images for packaging.

Gift baskets. If you're unsure of your recipient's specific tastes, a gift basket containing both sweet and savory options is a good choice. To save money, buy a large gift basket from places like Costco or Sam's Club, then break it apart into several gifts. For example, Costco is currently offering $20 off select gift baskets through Dec. 6, including a Little Drummer Boy Holiday Gift Tower which can easily be divided into six separate gifts. If you're ordering these gifts online, it's best to wait until closer to the holiday to ensure freshness. During Free Shipping Day on Dec. 18, gourmet food basket providers like Harry & David, Omaha Steaks, Fannie May and Cheryl's will waive delivery costs, representing savings of up to $20 in some cases.

DIY. Prepackaged food gifts, tins and baskets are easy and fast, but sometimes creating one yourself provides more personalization for both the recipient and your budget. A classic holiday gift that won't set you back is a layered cocoa, brownie or cookie mix in a jar. Simply add dry ingredients layer by layer and affix with instructions highlighting the wet ingredients the recipient needs to add, as well as additional cooking instructions. By purchasing jars from the dollar store and printing recipe cards from the Internet for free, these gifts can easily cost you less than a few dollars to create.

As this list of ideas illustrates, options for food gifts are limitless, ranging from elaborate gift towers to diet-specific treats to homemade platters of holiday goodies. Versatile, affordable and universally loved, food gifts should be your go-to present for the hard-to-shop-for this season.

Kendal Perez is a spokeswoman for CouponSherpa.com, a popular source for online, in-store and mobile coupons. She also blogs at Hassle-Free Savings and enjoys yoga, decluttering, craft brew and obsessing over her dogs.

The Best Things to Buy in December

December is clearly a popular holiday for shopping given the holiday season, but what about the other money-smart purchases you could make this month? Step away from your holiday shopping list and think about a few opportunities for deep discounts in December. The list below might even give you some new ideas to help flesh out your gift-giving plans.

Gift cards:

Okay, so this one still falls solidly in the gifting category, or does it? Gift cards can often be found at a discount this month, especially when you buy them in bulk online. Restaurants and service providers will add incentives to get bonus gift cards when you order a certain amount, and retailers will add gift cards to holiday purchases as an added perk. You might want to pick up a few for easy gift ideas, or you can take advantage of the deal and buy gift cards to use yourself all year long and save money in the long run.

Thanksgiving leftovers:

After you've eaten the delicious leftovers after Thanksgiving, keep in mind the leftovers that will on sale, too. Thanksgiving decorations, paper goods and themed items will all drop low in price to clear the shelves and make way for more holiday merchandise. Stock up now and put away for next year and you'll thank yourself later.

Cookware and kitchen goods:

During the month of December, retailers will compete for the lowest prices on cookware and kitchen items, given the busy entertaining season and many shoppers buying new supplies. Stock up now to save money, or take advantage of the prices for gift ideas. If you're going to be hosting dinners and parties this season, then these items could really help you out.

Christmas decorations:

Yes, Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and paper goods will all go on sale in December, but not until the last week after Christmas is over. If you can bear the thought of shopping after the holiday, the discounts will pay off in a big way. Plus, you can just put away your purchases with this year's crop of decorations. If you don't want to hit the stores, log online and check out the sales there instead.

Tools:

Winter's arrival means its home improvement's off-season, and that means that tools will go on sale. Not only will prices drop, you can also try combining store sales with manufacturer coupons for double savings. Keep this in mind for any supplies you need to winterize your home or make indoor repairs over the winter. You can also find good buys for the tool lover on your holiday shopping list.

Toys:

Hopefully you waited until now to buy any toys on your list, because the weeks right before Christmas are notorious for the lowest prices and best toy sales. Of course, there are exceptions to waiting until late in the holiday shopping season – if you want a popular item, you should look for it much earlier to ensure you get it before supplies run out.

Seasonal produce:

Take advantage of in-season fruits and vegetables this month, such as citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and clementines as well as hearty greens like kale and chard, which are great in soups. Root vegetables will be in-season all winter long as well. Not only is this produce fresh and delicious, it's less expensive, too. All that nutrition can also help stave off winter illnesses.

Free shipping day:

On December 18, many businesses large and small will waive your shipping cost for Free Shipping Day. This encourages holiday shoppers to get orders in with enough time for shipping by Christmas. Plan your December online shopping around the holiday, especially if you have something heavy or large to buy. Just check the terms and conditions, or if a retailer has a minimum purchases in order to qualify for free shipping. You could save $5, $10 or even more!

With these tips in mind, see if your monthly budget can handle a few more purchases that will save you money for next year. Looks like your New Year's resolution is already off to a great start!

Jon Lal is the founder and CEO of coupons and cash back website BeFrugal.com, which saves shoppers an average of $27 per order thanks to coupons plus an average of 7 percent cash back at more than 4,000 stores.

How to Stick With Minimalism During the Holiday Shopping Season

One of the busiest shopping holidays is nearly upon us, with near-constant speculation about who has the best deals on this year's hottest gifts. While the average person isn't among the hoards of Black Friday shoppers receiving their five minutes of fame battling over XBox bundles and HDTVs, witnessing this spectacle can zap the holiday spirit from even the most festive person. After all, the holidays are intended to be a season of gratitude and giving; images of crazed consumers trampling one another for trinkets tend to dilute these sentiments.

"To me, the meaning of the holidays is to be thankful for what we have and be close to family," says Dan Nainan, a former Intel engineer and current comedian and actor in New York City. "I used to be so stressed out like everyone else, fighting over parking spaces, worried about getting trampled to death on Black Friday," he says. One year, Nainan and his family decided not to buy gifts for one another. "It reduced so much stress," he says, and since then he hasn't purchased anything for anyone.

This response to the holiday season may seem extreme to some, but to those leaning toward a more minimalistic lifestyle, it offers a deep sigh of relief during a season where stress and anxiety can be suffocating. Minimalism represents a budding movement that, while meaning different things to different people, often results in fewer possessions and more time to focus on what the individual deems most important. While some embrace Nainan's approach of opting out of gift exchanges altogether, others choose instead to take a more mindful approach to holiday spending.

"The benefit of conscious gift giving is that the gift becomes more thoughtful, useful and less wasteful," says Emmy Trinh, designer for Emmy Trinh Jewelry. Trinh embraced minimalism after moving from a 3,100 square foot home to an 800 square foot apartment. "I realized how much superfluous crap I acquired over the years and was disgusted with myself," she admits.

Cait Flanders, blogger at BlondeOnABudget.ca, has been exploring minimalism over the past several years, whittling down her possessions and even launching a budgeting planner influenced by the lifestyle, called Mindful Budgeting. When it comes to the holidays, Flanders says she loves giving gifts but wants to be sure the product will be used and valued before purchasing. "I'll typically buy my niece and nephew books, games or puzzles we can do together," she says. "Or I'll ask their mom what they actually need and get them that."

Still, the holidays can influence even the strongest minimalists to buy more than they would during other times of the year. William Irwin, a professor of philosophy and author of "The Free Market Existentialist: Capitalism Without Consumerism," says he doesn't feel right about imposing his beliefs onto his children during the holidays. "My minimalism takes a bit of a holiday during the holiday season," he admits. "My wife and I are pretty minimalist in our gift exchange, but my wife tends to spend quite a bit on toys for the kids, and I'm complicit in my silence about it."

Gail Leicht, author of "The Skinny on…" series of travel guides, agrees. "I end up spending a lot of money on other people because, what can you do, it's what they want," she says. "I can't expect others to be minimalists just because I am one."

Philanthropic gifting can serve as a gateway to help family and friends understand minimalism, especially during the holiday season. Ramon Khan, blogger at LiveSimplyNatural.com, pleaded with his family to stop buying him gifts. "It was hard for them to break the tradition," he says, "but then I got the idea of giving our dedicated gift funds to families in need." Khan says this idea was key to getting his family to quit buying unnecessary items for each other and use their money toward a greater cause.

Dana Claudat, feng shui master and founder of the Tao of Dana, favors philanthropic gifting as well. "Gift certificates, especially for Kiva, give friends and family a chance to help people directly and feel empowered in the process." Kiva is a non-profit organization that connects independent lenders with people in need of loans to attend school, start businesses, build infrastructure and more.

Gifts that offer experiences are also growing in popularity among minimalists and average shoppers alike. "There's a ton of research that shows that the long-term gratification of experiences trumps material goods in a huge way," Claudat continues. "I've given people tickets to concerts and events, home organizing sessions, digital books and courses they've expressed interest in."

After eschewing over 20 years-worth of belongings for four suitcases of essentials, Cindy McCain says minimalism has allowed her to pursue her passion for travel and share this passion with her children during the holidays. "Last December I flew my children to London where we spent Christmas Eve in Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland sipping mulled wine, and Christmas at Westminster Abbey singing at the morning service," says McCain, an educator and blogger at A MoveToMorocco.com. "They said it was a Christmas they will never forget."

McCain's gift is indeed unforgettable, though its magnitude is not necessary for loved ones to cherish the moment. "Last year was the first year my whole family embraced a minimalist Christmas," Flanders says. "We woke up, cooked a big breakfast together, then spent a couple hours at the beach with our dogs." Flanders acknowledges this as a big departure from previous years, when it was all about spending money on stuff and unwrapping presents. "It was so refreshing to not have our day focused around gifts, and instead just spend time together."

Indeed, time may represent the best of both words this holiday season: it's likely at the top of wish lists for family and friends, and it's free. As Joshua Fields Millburn of the popular blog minimalists.com says, "The best present is presence."

Kendal Perez is a spokeswoman for CouponSherpa.com, a popular source for online, in-store and mobile coupons. She also blogs at Hassle-Free Savings and enjoys yoga, decluttering, craft brew and obsessing over her dogs.