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Keystone: Online shop nears first birthday
By JANE BOKUN KEYSTONE -- In an era where dot.com businesses have become as risky as land deals in the Sahara, Julia Escobar's Web site, www.ILoveYouKid.com has managed to beat the odds. Since the 36-year-old Twin Branch Acres resident decided on a home-based business of novelties and cards for children through the Web last January, orders have been piling up. Escobar has branched out and provides birthday packages, Christmas cards, and teacher and student recognition motivators. "I recently sent a package to a student who was away at Oxford University in England," said Escobar, who is married to a motivational speaker. "It was after the World Trade Center bombing, and her mother had me send a comforting and patriotic package with items like flags and treats and items to remind her of home." ILoveYouKid.com has had about 13,000 hits since it began. Escobar also has added a newsletter that can be accessed from the site, which goes to about 300 customers. For her 40 clients, she provides services like KidMail, a monthly themed, personalized mailing service for children where they receive a craft to do. But she says that what has really taken off is her line of materials for school achievement programs. "I just finished volunteer recognition materials for a program in Torrance, Calif.," she said. "She's been wonderful to all the teachers," said Sue Mikolajczyk of Westchase Elementary School, which the older Escobar children attend. "She has made memories for my own children upon their graduations in beautiful frames with words that touched them to their core. She helps people say the things that are sometimes hard to say." A mother of three who wanted to work from her home, the harried Escobar said she found the Web site was a natural progression from her previous work writing greetings for the Blue Mountain card company. She says she still creates the packages on her home computer and sends them out personally. ILoveYouKid.com's 40 subscribers pay between $10 and $12 a month. She sells teacher bookmarks for $2 and motivational notecards at eight for $5.50. She said it isn't easy running a business while caring for 1-year-old Emily, 7-year-old Katie and 9-year-old Hailey. "There's no rest for the weary," she said, "but I love it."
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From the Times |
