REAL LIFE ROSIE

http://www.scriptgiftco.com/

I am Malisa Haley and I own two small companies. One is a consulting firm, MLHaley Consulting, LLC and the second is Script Gift Company. Script is an online gift store offering wonderful gifting options for all occasions. I started Script Gift Company in 2012, along with my two sisters, Jamie Wood and Angie Wilkerson. We specialize in the art of gift giving – our collections are carefully put together to represent the heartfelt warmth that comes when sharing truly unique, special gifts. All of the products we offer are made in the USA.

Most of my career has been spent in the consulting industry. I graduated from The University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and several years later received an MBA from George Mason University.

What inspires you? My inspiration comes from people. Script is a family affair in every way. My tween daughter is amazing and helpful. Often when I can’t see the future for the steepness of the path ahead she will say – ‘Oh mommy, I can’t wait to take over Script!’ That is inspiration to keep on plugging even when building a business is HARD!

My friends are the most amazing women – successful, intelligent, talented and fun. They are entrepreneurs, dedicated moms, and members of non-profit association boards where they serve to help people who really need it. I’ve honestly sat at a dinner table with them on more than one occasion and looked around wondering how I possibly fit into their mix?!? When they offer encouragement and praise, I am inspired to work harder.

And lastly, my sisters. We have all learned so much about each other throughout this process. We each bring a unique set of talents to the company and it has been really fun to explore those together.

Do you have a favorite quote? “Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path… & leave a trail. “

I believe that is Ralph Waldo Emerson. A friend, a fellow successful business owner who has been somewhat of a mentor for me the last few months, forwarded it to me from another friend’s Facebook page. It really spoke to us.

What are the most pressing issues facing women today? I believe its confidence in themselves and a fear to take risks. We get stuck into our day jobs to make ends meet and yes, I understand how we all have to do that for our families, but it can become a rut because we can’t see a path to a better future. There are vast resources for women to take advantage of and gain knowledge, insight and backing from. We just have to seek it.

The second most pressing issue is that small business success comes hard because there are so many huge corporations that have the corner on almost every market. Add to that the availability of extremely inexpensive imported goods and frankly, it is a huge thing to overcome for small companies. If I did not believe we can still find our success, I would not be doing this, but it would be fruitless to pretend those challenges do not exist. The biggest thing we can do is to support small business whenever possible. It might cost a bit more but it also might not! Shop small and shop local!

What are the biggest keys to your success? Surrounding myself with good people and using them as resources. Listening and appreciating their advice even when it’s not what you want to hear. It is hard work, but KEEP ON GOING.

What are the biggest keys to the advancement or success of women? Each other and affordable, quality education. First and foremost, we all need to support each other. I think it’s important that we all measure our success as women not only on what we are able to achieve on our own but also on the success and opportunities of our sisters, daughters, friends and neighbors. Support each other – through our words, our actions and our pocket books.

Affordable, quality education is an extremely frightening concept these days. The key to advancement is making post high school education affordable, presenting educational opportunities that are in the area of skilled labor, and encouraging our daughters to consider the vast array of jobs and careers in which they can excel. Be it a CEO, a teacher, a scientist or a railroad engineer. Girls rock and are capable of so much – I love that Rosie Made is all about that!

Where did the inspiration for your business come from? Oddly, it came from the Occupy DC movement, sort of, and from sale of a florist/gift store in my hometown in Texas.

It was our answer to the protesters – you can’t just live in tents and trash a city block and expect things to change for the better – you have to DO something about it. As for the florist – it’s a place we have loved our entire lives and presented a unique opportunity. We didn’t buy the florist but through the discussions my sisters and I laid out a vision for Script.

Where is your product sold (if applicable)? Our store is online at www.scriptgiftco.com. We have also been blessed with the opportunity to put some of our products into a hotel in Dumfries, VA and a salon in De Leon, TX. We hope to continue to expand our gift boutiques in hotels in the mid-Atlantic as well as in central Texas.

What advice do you have for a woman who is considering starting a business? First and foremost take time to layout a complete plan and build your start up time to accommodate all aspects of the start up. Business planning can be painful but it is essential. The biggest challenges we have faced so far at Script are in those areas that we did not plan for.

Secondly – start small!! If you are like most start-ups time and cash are your most valuable, yet most limited, resources. There is a constant struggle between being able to deliver without having so much capacity or goods that you are in a cash flow crunch. Odds are your business will start slow – prepare for that.

What are the biggest hurdles you have faced in starting or growing your business? How did you overcome these? There are several hurdles we constantly face. Time is our biggest issue. We are all wives, mothers and have full time jobs in addition to Script. We get overwhelmed and do not always meet our self-imposed deadlines. That said, scheduling is a must.

Secondly, knowing when to hire help instead of doing it all yourself. A small business owner’s instinct is to do it all yourself but that is not always the most efficient way to go. We struggled with that in 2012 but our focus in 2013 is to use experts where experts make sense. We hire small businesses in our local areas whenever possible so we are contributing to our local economy.

Answers provided are copyright 2013 Script Gift Company and Malisa L. Haley. Shared with permission to www.rosiemade.com. All other uses strictly prohibited.