Sharon ran a web design firm with over 100 clients, that she later sold after having her first child. Afterward, Sharon freelanced for a bit, and then co-founded MeebleMail.com. We sat down with Sharon to pick her brain on running a service-based business before she had children, her honest answers on why she sold her business when she became pregnant, and now on her launch of a totally new product-based business (two kids later), MeebleMail.com, the designer email stationery company.
What was the first business you started?
I started freelancing under the name of Moondance Web Design in 1997 (yes, I’ve been doing web work that long!) and that business later became net images, Inc.
When did you start your website business that you eventually sold?
I started net images, inc. in 1999 from the freelance clients I had been working with under Moondance Web Design. In 2001, I moved to NYC, traveling back and forth between NY and Nashville to work with clients.
Why did you sell your website business? Was it emotional for you?
I sold net images, inc. in 2006 to launch another business (LetsMeetOut.com) which ultimately failed. It was a group dating site that incorporated social networking aspects and meeting in person at bars around the New York City area. My husband and I had the idea when we were dating and had worked on it part-time and we decided I would work on it full-time. I also became pregnant with my son around the same time and wanted to be less client and deadline focused.
It was an emotional experience for me to sell the business – I was selling something I had built myself and which had allowed me to support myself for seven years – I also felt I was losing a little bit of my independence because I wouldn’t be generating my own income anymore. It was also hard to leave my clients – some of whom had been with me for almost 10 years – and had become friends. I wanted to make sure I was leaving them in good hands. I was very client focused and often looked more at the relationship than the bottom line and wasn’t sure that whoever I sold to would take the same approach. As it turns out she didn’t and the clients who valued the relationship aspect ended up moving on to other designers.
What did you do before starting MeebleMail?
I did web and graphic design on a freelance basis here and there since we closed LetsMeetOut.com in 2007 and starting the planning and development phase for MeebleMail in late 2009. I was also a stay at home Mom during that time, which I enjoyed, but also really need stimulation from the working world – I am a doer, I need to keep busy!
How did the idea for MeebleMail happen, and what was the catalyst for actually starting it?
The initial idea for MeebleMail came to me on a plane when I had the first bit of alone time I had had in quite some time. My husband is very entrepreneurial and wanted me to come up with an idea for a product rather than being a service business where I was dependent on retaining clients. I have always had a passion for design (I majored in Interior Design) and love paper stationery. The reality of my life was that all of my communicating was done via email and thought that I could bring the style of paper stationery to email. While I initially was focused on more occasion based stationery, my husband encouraged me to focus on the application of stationery to everyday email.
Did you find that you had to say no to other things, in order to launch MeebleMail? To give it a fair and strong shot?
Absolutely! I had to make the decision to stop freelancing and refer any new business and a lot of existing business to other people. My husband is very supportive and is an integral part of the business – he is great at looking at future possibilities and showed me that the success of this business could mean much more than the small projects I was working on in financial terms. This is also a passion project for me and that makes it easier to say no to things because I really enjoy what I am doing.
I also have to sacrifice time with my children – enter Mommy Guilt! I have a four month old and feel like I am missing some moments. My 4 year old son is in school or camp most days, but he still craves Mommy time. I try to take time out here and there, but working on a start-up is crazy. I am very fortunate that I can work from home – even if I am not one on one with the kids, they know I am there and will be there if they need me.
Has working on a product vs. a service been a different experience? If so, how? Do you find it refreshing? Or just different?
I am much more concerned about marketing now and getting traffic to the site – we have a really exciting product, but we have to get people in the “doors”. As a web designer, I really relied on word of mouth to get new clients and had a laid back attitude regarding client acquisition. It’s refreshing from the standpoint that I am learning so much about marketing and all the new avenues that are out there because of the insurgence of social media – but also daunting with making sure the smallest details are covered – like a customer service system/support desk – that was always just me and my inbox before.
What are some differences in your day-to-day now, vs. when you ran your website company?
I am much less "reactionary" at this stage. I have a list of things I am working on and that need to get done, but I am not stopping in the middle of projects to respond to a client’s need. I work with a team now as well, so I am not solely responsible for everything. My husband, Ed Gaffney, is taking care of the business end of things and my business partner, Shana Clarke, is handling partner acquisition along with Ed; we have a team of developers who I manage, so I am not “coding” and designing as much as managing and putting systems in place.
Tell us everything about MeebleMail! The highlights, the designers, the perks it puts into everyday emailing...
Now the fun and exciting part! MeebleMail transforms your everyday email into stylish personalized stationery. You can choose from over 400 stationery “templates” and just like the paper stationery I love, you can personalize it with your name, monogram, motif or any combination! MeebleMail integrates with your browser (IE, Firefox, Chrome or Safari) and allows you to insert your stationery directly into your email – MeebleMail currently works with Gmail, Windows Live/Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. We will be rolling out applications for Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 in the near future.
The stationery designs come from our 30 design and cause partners. Our design partners come from the fashion, home & lifestyle and paper stationery world and include exclusive designs from Trina Turk, Dabney Lee, Boatman Geller, Lela Rose, Jack & Lulu, thomaspaul and more!
Our Cause Partners receive 50% of the sales price of their stationery as a cash donation and many of our design partners have donated designs. Bonnie Marcus donated some designs for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Hammocks & High Tea donated designs for AmeriCares and Khristian Howell, a surface designer, donated a design for the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. The Wildlife Conservation Society (The Bronx Zoo) and Arts to Grow are also cause partners. It was Important for us to have a charitable component to our business – both Shana and I have long been volunteers for various organizations and believe in the importance of giving back.
The stationery sells for only $4.99 for one year of unlimited usage and editing –change your name? No problem – just log in and make the change to your stationery and it’s all updated in just a few keystrokes. Enter code: PRENEUR for 20% off through July 15. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, you can reach me at sharon@meeblemail.com.
Thank you, Sharon!
Click here to browse MeebleMail's stylish and personalized stationery!
