Business Opportunities Weblog

July 29, 2008 by Angela Shupe | 5 Comments

Getting married is only the first part of what will become a long lasting relationship. Husband Hero is an email subscription website which helps reminds husbands of some of the important things that can help keep a marriage going smoothly.

April and Eric Perry are the proud couple behind this service which was launched on July 23rd, just 6 days ago! April was kind enough to share with us some of that journey which has taken them to where they are now.

What is Husband Hero? What does your website offer?

HusbandHero (www.husbandhero.com) is an email service that reminds husbands how to be romantic. Each month, subscribed husbands receive simple, fun, romantic ideas (one no-cost, one low-cost, one medium, one high) to help them sweep their wives off their feet.

The Better-Half Haven, a feature for the wives, is pitched as an alternative to mind-reading or hint-dropping. The wives are invited to list their favorite gift ideas, some ideal dates and getaways, advice to their husbands on how to handle their feminine moods, and reasons why they fell in love with their husbands in the first place. When listing the occasions they want their husbands to remember, they can specify why that occasion was important to them, what they would like to do to celebrate, and how many days in advance the reminder should be sent.

Samples of the emails and the Better-Half Haven are available on the website.

What sort of information do you include within your emails? How much does it cost for a subscription?

The emails include links relative to the ideas to make shopping or planning easier, so husbands don’t have to search all over the web for a good idea. They also include a couple of lines that remind the husbands how important their wives are to them. We try to keep the emails very brief so busy husbands can read them quickly, choose an idea that will work, and get on with their other responsibilities.

A subscription is $17.95 for a whole year–regular price, but we have promo codes out right now (and on the website) to get the service for $11.95. It comes out to be about a dollar a month–something anyone can afford.

What was your inspiration?

My husband, Eric, has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and after completing his MBA at Harvard, he was on the lookout for a meaningful business he could start and run from home. One year, he wanted to “go all out” to celebrate my birthday. He started asking family and friends about romantic things he could do for me, went online for some ideas, and finally ended up with a great day planned for the two of us. However, it took much more time and effort than is practical for a busy husband and father. After talking to other husbands, he concluded that other men would value a resource that could help them be romantic without having to invest all their time and energy.

About a year ago, I started a non-profit website for moms called The Power of Moms (www.powerofmoms.com) which gives moms the opportunity to teach and learn from each other regarding principles of motherhood (not details like shopping or potty-training, but how to think in a healthy way and enjoy your children). I have been sending out monthly emails with articles, a monthly value, a monthly challenge, and some other features each month, and it has been a great experience. We started thinking about how we could apply the same type of idea to husbands–making it easy for them to romance the women they love. And now we have HusbandHero!

How long did it take you to go from idea to running business?

We’ve had the idea for a couple of years, but we have spent the last four months seriously getting it ready to launch.

What are some of the things you’ve learned since the launch of Husband Hero that has had an affect on your business?

We’re still new at this, so the learning curve is pretty steep right now, but so far we are learning that it takes dedication and perseverance to get a business up and running. There are always more details than you anticipate, but since my husband and I are working on this together, we support each other and act as each other’s cheerleader.

Are there any long term hopes/goals that you have for your service?

Obviously when you start a business, you want it to be profitable, so that is one of our main goals. But the bigger goal behind all this is that we want marriages to be happier. My husband has worked full-time and/or been a student for all ten years of our marriage, and I have been able to be a full-time mother. He is a talented guy and can work anywhere he wants, but when we started talking about HusbandHero, we realized we could earn an income and make a real difference in people’s lives at the same time. We are madly in love–even after ten year–and we want other people to have that same experience with their spouses. We believe a great marriage is the foundation for a great life.

How much time on average do you spend on your business?

In the formation stages, we spent a few hours each day working on it, but during this launch time, it’s more like “every chance we get.” Things will settle into a routine soon, and then I can spend as much or as little time as I want on it. The more I do to promote and build the business, the better the business will do, but my family comes first, and they know that.

As a mother, how have you been able to manage your time around your website and family? Do you have any special tricks that could help other parents manage their own days working from home?

First, I have time set aside every day that is just for my children. We eat breakfast together, talk, read scriptures, and pray together each morning, and then after school I’m all theirs. I make sure they can talk about their day, get help with their homework, and just hang out with me. We make dinner together, dance in the kitchen, laugh with the baby, and just have a great time together. We also do story time and prayers each night, and I talk to each child as I tuck them into bed. My husband is involved in all these activities, too.

Second, we make sure our children have lots to do around the house to keep them happy: markers, crayons, paper, books, games, backyard toys, tea party sets, etc. Our home is organized and arranged so the children can have fun with their imaginations.

Third, we have a great nap and bedtime schedule. Everyone is in bed by seven, and the baby takes two naps a day. My schedule is also flexible because I have my husband as my cute co-worker. He’ll take the children to school while I do some work, and then I’ll take care of them while he works. It’s been great!

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?

Actually, it’s been a great experience. I wish I knew everything that I need to know already, but that will come… I love this!

What advice do you have for someone interested in starting their own email service?

I would counsel them to make sure they are excited about their idea enough that they won’t mind dedicating a substantial amount of time and energy to it, and I would suggest they create a service that can really help others. When I feel like I am doing a valuable service, as well as earning an income, I don’t feel any stress about my responsibilities.

In Advice, Interviews, Women, Work at Home | 5 Comments