#WomenWednesdays | January - February 2020 Recap

Erin Trybulec • Mar 19, 2020

During January and February, we had the opportunity to collaborate with artists and to introduce one of our newest team members!

Be Sure to Support Our #WomenWednesdays Collaborators with their social media links ⬇️

Jennifer | Artist/Owner of BloomHeirLoom Company | Cedar Falls, IA

She creates embroidery/beaded art for your home and gifts.

Instagram: @bloomheirloomcompany

Facebook: Artist - Jennifer Jones

Shop: BloomHeirLoomCompany

USWHPRO: Is there a woman that inspires you?

Jennifer: My mom. She has been an interior designer with her own company for over 40 years. She works so hard and is so talented. Growing up by her example taught me I could do anything I set my sights to. She is always there for her clients and it has given me perspective when I interact with my own customers.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Bloom Heirloom Company?

Jennifer: I was living in NYC and working as an evening dress designer but I was hoping to leave and move closer to home. I knew that leaving my career track that I was on wasn’t easy and there would be some starting over. I had been following a few embroidery people on Instagram and I thought maybe I could try this too. It would allow me to make the things I wanted to make and make money for myself, while I was figuring out what my next steps were. It’s been so fulfilling and rewarding.

USWHPRO: Have you faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Jennifer: Not so much in my business now. I feel working in NYC there was more adversity. I always overcame those moments by keeping my cool. I never let anyone get me frazzled. I was the calm one and I feel people became calmer because I was. Nothing is the end of the world.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women interested in starting their own businesses or interested in the art of embroidery?

Jennifer: Start with one item or piece at a time. The big picture can be so overwhelming… where to start, have tons of products, etc. You really don’t need a lot. A good thing about embroidery is that overall costs are low to make something. Pricing your time is the hardest. There aren’t a lot of barriers if you don’t have a lot of money and I think that it is great. People from all walks of life and economic status can really enjoy this hobby and really show different perspectives with their art.

Kim Hamilton | Owner of Waxing the City Oakbrook Terrace | Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Waxing the City Oakbrook Terrace is a body and facial waxing studio for men and women, which is currently #6 in the country!

Instagram: @waxingoakbrookterrace

Facebook: Waxing the City Oakbrook Terrace

Website: Waxing The City - Oakbrook Terrace

USWHPRO: Is there a woman that inspires you?

Kim: I have two actually. I am so inspired by Ellen DeGeneres. Even though I have never watched her show, I follow her on IG just because it gives me a snippet of inspiration daily. Her charitable focus and love of others is so uplifting. She laughs and cries leaving her so vulnerable, which is incredibly empowering. She lives life. And then there is my grandmother. A woman who was given up for adoption as a baby in the early 1930’s, who was the only female welder on the ships at port in Boston during the war, who raised a daughter as a single mother in the 40’s to 50’s, who took me on trips around the world because she saved every penny she could to do so, and who taught me so much about values, saving, living, unconditional love and to never giving up. I miss her every day.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start Waxing The City?

Kim: Waxing The City came about at age 50 when I decided that I wanted to build and own a business of my own after working for others and after building a successful national tax consulting business with my husband over the span of 15 years. Waxing The City afforded me the opportunity to pay it forward in many ways. I got to own my own business; build it on my core values; use my business background; grow and nurture women to become something bigger themselves (I love my team!), and never give up! It started as investment, for my retirement. I own my own destiny and no one else controls that but me.

USWHPRO: Have you faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Kim: Adversity happens every day in business. You need to maintain focus, delegate, be always learning and excelling, listen, and put your people first. By investing in my team on a regular basis and keeping in touch with them emotionally, it transfers to our clients. They feel it. Appreciation is a wonderful thing.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women interested in starting their own businesses?

Kim: Look, business is hard. More so when you don’t have resources to help you, when you’re the jack of all trades, when you can’t trust others, and when you have no support emotionally or otherwise. Ask yourself first, what will it look like at the end? Why did I want to be in this business to begin with? What do I hope to get out of it? Financially it must make sense, or you will have exhausted all your resources (financial, emotional, physical, relationships) for nothing. Do all your homework and leave plenty of margin for error. I have yet to see any business owner make zero mistakes. Have other resources to support you through the early stages and have excellent people around you to lean on for advice. I always tell others, hang out with people that are smarter than you. It is amazing how much we don’t know.

Sofia | Home of the Sparrow | McHenry, IL

Home of the Sparrow seeks to reduce homelessness among women and children through creative strategies and community partnerships, resulting in lasting self-sufficiency. This post about Sofia is part of Home of the Sparrow's Faces of Homelessness Series.

Instagram: @homeofthesparrowinc

Facebook: @homeofthesparrowillinois

Website: Home of the Sparrow

"Like so many women, Sofia found herself and her baby prisoners of an abusive husband and father. During their first few years of marriage, Sofia was happy and their marriage seemed great. But life deteriorated soon after the birth of her son. Sofia’s husband had changed, and he became very controlling and abusive. No longer able to take it, Sofia and her baby fled their apartment to an emergency domestic violence shelter. After a short stay there, they were referred to Home of the Sparrow, and went through our intake process.

Once settled into our transitional shelter, our case managers helped Sofia set goals, provided job coaching and connected her with resources in the community. Sofia also met with our counselors, who helped her improve her confidence and self esteem. By participating in our budgeting and parenting classes, Sofia learned valuable new life skills.

Sofia now has a job she likes, her son is doing great in daycare, and they recently moved into one of our affordable housing properties. They are happy and feeling hopeful. Sofia is so grateful to Home of the Sparrow for helping her through a tough time in her life, and for providing a safe shelter, programs and services that helped her get back on her feet."

Sam | Cancer Survivor | Berwyn, IL

Sam is an intelligent, talented, beautiful, funny, and positive minded woman. She is also 22 years old and a 3 time cancer survivor. Over the last eight months, she has been recovering from her last major surgery and continues to remain positive, despite the struggles she has faced. • Her mom, Jennifer, started a GoFundMe Campaign to help Sam cover costs and to share updates on Sam. • Please consider donating to her campaign and sharing the link.

Website: Sam's GoFundMe

Jennifer | uswhpro

Jennifer is one of our newest team members. She is an Accounting Specialist who helps us stay on track with our billing.

USWHPRO: What is your favorite thing about working at USWHPRO?

Jennifer: The people — everyone is so warm and there is such a welcoming atmosphere.

USWHPRO: Do you feel you have faced adversity as a woman in business? How did you overcome it?

Jennifer: No

USWHPRO: Do you have advice for other women in the business world or women interested in the accounting field?

Jennifer: In my previous job, I worked in the Accounting Department and fell in love with the accounting field. I recommend that if you like the field and have some experience, just go for it. At the time I applied for the position here, I only had about a year’s worth of experience but I went for it. If you’re not currently happy in the field of work you’re in, you’re likely not going to be happy if you stay there. Working here has given me a feeling I’ve never had in the past: usually employees spend all week looking forward to Friday and the weekend. I actually look forward to the weekend ending so that I can go back to work. I am truly happy to have this position!

Elena Kowalkowski | February Studio | Clintonville, WI

February Studio is a little shop on Etsy that makes cute little products to make people happy from jewelry to flowers that you put in your hair.

Instagram: @februarystudio

Facebook: @FebruaryStudio

Shop: February Studio

USWHPRO: Is there a woman who inspires you?

Elena: Yes! Her name is Christy Wright and she is with the Business Boutique movement. She empowers women to make money doing what they love and she is such a inspiration to stay positive, focused, and to look at the big picture of my goals. The other influential woman in my life is Sharon Day who owns Ginger and Waldo which is a small business that sells handmade vegan lip balms and body care. Sharon mentored me when I first started getting serious about my business and she taught me so much about marketing my product, product development, and time management.

USWHPRO: What inspired you to start February Studio?

Elena: I started February studio because I wanted to be my own boss and have the freedom of a self-employed worker. What really drew me in to running my own business was that there is no limit to the rewards you can read. The harder you work and the more sweat you put into your business the more you get out of it.

USWHPRO: Have you faced adversity as a woman in any of your work experiences how are you able to overcome it?

Elena: This isn’t something I’ve had to deal with a whole lot. I would say on a couple of occasions when I was making sales in person I have had a couple of people kind of look at me like I was cute and doing this just for fun. For me, that is not a big deal and I don’t like that bother me but instead I choose to focus on the joy I see in people who purchase my products. That is so fulfilling.

USWHPRO: Do you have any advice for other women interested in starting their own business?

Elena: My advice to other women would be to map out a very clear plan with very specific steps to reaching your goals and dreams. You do not need the most detailed business plan or a business degree, but a little bit of research and pre-planning will help you so much in the long run. • Branding consistently throughout your journey is also very important as it helps customers grow a better relationship with your brand and your products or services. People like consistency. The last bit of advice is about money: If you are thinking about starting a business look at ways to start making money right off the bat instead of going into debt to purchase a bunch of equipment or supplies. This is not possible in every case, but it is something that could seriously hinder or help you as you grow. Above all have a passion for what you are doing. Your passion for whatever business you are going in to is going to contribute so much to your success. Acknowledge your passion, define a plan, and get after your dream.