FloridaToday.com:
Amy Wagner has heard the stories: Stay-at-home mom starts home-based business, makes it big.
“I’m not expecting that, but we all have dreams,” the mother of a 2-year-old son said.
Her dream is Songbird Cotton Co., which sells the purses, diaper bags and baby quilts that Wagner makes.
She started reading the success stories after she was laid off her job as a kitchen and bath designer in June and thought, ‘Why not?’. It didn’t hurt that strangers would often ask her where she bought her purse.
The 34-year-old Cocoa resident is part of a growing trend of people — some recently laid off or unable to find work — who are attempting to start home-based businesses.
Wagner started Songbird because she was stressed about relying only on her husband’s construction wages. Since she already had a large stash of materials, most of her start-up costs were for legal fees. She spent some money ordering business cards and is putting the finishing touches on a Web site that features her creations, where a purse averages $25 and baby bags average $80.
“Starting my own business and selling the things I like to make lets me stay home with my son, be creative and do something I like to do,” Wagner said.
Screenshot from Songbird Cotton Co.