Hi, I'm Janis ~
Throughout time, there have been cottage industries that fulfill people’s needs.
In the 1850s, pioneer women faced the same challenges that women face today of making ends meet and raising children: Finding things to sell. Some enterprising women worked together and farmed silkworms. Silkworms eat mulberry leaves, so they planted mulberry trees and for 50 years operated a very successful silk industry out of their basements.
Now these cottage industries have a new name: Micro-Enterprises.
We have a big family. Over the years, when our family budget needed more income, I got to work and made some.
I did all kinds of things. Our home became a mini-factory for mini-johns, which are two pair of men’s crew socks sewn together to look like mini long-johns with a cute poem that tells the story. I pulled together a group of Moms that made thousands of mini johns that were sold at Federated department stores, like ZCMI and Lazarus. One Christmas our mini-johns were featured on the evening news as the most unique Christmas gift of the season, and they sold great. I entered the fashion industry with hand-made scrunchies and hair bows, selling them to accessory stores. I did licensed day care and preschool.
I have learned a lot about small business. A big lesson is that it is much better to make something than provide a service. When you make something it can be sold when you are not working and most of the time you can work when you want to.
The SmoothClay Company lets you add value and make your own unique products. The building blocks are available to you. The wholesale catalog includes porcelain items that can be your three-dimensional canvas and adorable, exclusive decals and much more. You can make your products special for your customers by making the items personalized using our transfer paper, and even adding special sentiments in addition to a name. You can add charms and special ribbon. You are a manufacturer who is only limited by your imagination.
SmoothClay can show you how to bring in extra income by owning your own Micro-Enterprise. The adage, "Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime" is true. Smooth Clay can teach you how to fish.
Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a woman and that, is YOU!
Janis Brodegard
SmoothClay Company LLC
