What do you do when you’re women of a certain age looking for a new business opportunity in a bad economy, one where you can do something near and dear to your heart? If you’re Barb Wilkov and Laurie Newkirk, both of Greenwich, you start a unique, new website – Motherrr.com.
Many adult daughters struggle with issues with their mothers and want to build a better relationship. After one particularly difficult day with her mother, Laurie visited Barb, and over a glass of wine, they went online to look for any resources that would help. To their surprise, they didn’t find much. So, on that day in 2009, an idea was born and by December, they launched Motherrr.com, a full-fledged site with articles, discussion forums, tips and more. (See funny video below).
They had no experience building a website from scratch, and later a Facebook page, and learned everything as they went. Starting with a catchy and descriptive name, Motherrr.com, (which was suggested by Barb’s mother because that’s what every daughter calls her mother at one time or another), lots of time and a little capital, they started building the website. Laurie’s professional experience is in marketing and website development while Barb is an entrepreneur who has worked in the publishing industry. Key to any partnership is the roles each person takes in handling the work. They have complementary skills so overall Laurie guides the direction of the site and edits, while Barb researches new ideas and writes. They both do the hands-on work of building and managing the website and Facebook page.
Less than a year after launching the site, some of the goals for the business have been met: repairing the relationships with their own mothers, and helping other mothers & daughters forge better relationships. Progress is being made on the business goals of increasing ad revenue and building the brand into books and more. Less than a year after launching the website, their Facebook page has over 6,300 fans and the website gets over 500 visitors a week. They have even won two awards from the CT Press Club.
With the theme of “Rebuilding relationships one mother-daughter at a time – vent, get strategies & tips, and maybe even laugh,” women all over the country have found the site helpful. One reader in Florida wrote to say that she had to move in with her mother due to her job situation and her mother’s health. Although the physical aspects of caretaking were going OK, they were always fighting. The daughter stumbled upon Motherrr.com ,and now she and her mother read it together, and this has helped improve the relationship.
Embracing new technology, finding a unique service, using the public’s interest in social media, and tapping into their own passions has enabled Laurie Newkirk and Barb Wilkov to build a growing business in this tough economy. Like many people, the economy played a role in their need to create their own source of income and wanting to go ‘back to basics’ and do something meaningful.
Have you or a friend been forced into thinking outside the box and finding work doing something you had never envisioned even 5 years ago? If so, please share your story.
