Women and Working from Home

According to a 2007 Pew survey, full-time work outside the home was less appealing to moms. At the same time, a Gallup survey that same year, showed that 58 percent of women with children would rather work outside the home.

Confusing? Yes , but we women (as we already know) are a complex bunch… still defining, redefining and finding what works best for our family and ourselves.

Since resigning from my full-time position to be at home, I’ve talked to a lot of moms who tell me the flexibility of working from home was what worked best for their family and themselves.

One of those women is Jennifer Kennedy, a former World Herald advertising account executive. After her first child, she decided to stay at home and says she feels lucky to have had that option.

Jennifer said she doesn’t regret her decision but says there did come at time when she needed a “creative outlet.”

“My mother was always making something at our house when I was young,” she says. “I started making designer kids clothing and sold them to a local kids clothing store. I’d buy white dresses, t-shirts, leggings and dye them in my washing machine; paint on designs; sew on fringe and wholesale them to local boutiques.”

Kennedy says her sales experience and ad design work at OWH came in handy in promoting her products.

Now, she also uses her artistic ability to create one-of-a-kind artwork that’s also sold at some local Omaha stores. ( Dundee Gallery at 50th & Underwood and The Niche in the Old Market)

Kennedy says she, ”loves the idea of taking a blank canvas and making it into something bright and fun.”

Kennedy’s products are also sold on the internet at jenkennedydesigns.etsy.com and edgyapparel.etsy.com.

Jennifer Kennedy says working from home can be tough . She puts in about one to three hours a day updating web listings, packaging sold items to be shipped, and creating new art.

Her advice to those of you who are thinking of starting a business from home? “Think long and hard about your product. Is there a demand for it? Is it easy to make and affordable to manufacture?”

She also says, “You need to be a good photographer to put your items on the Internet. Bright, light photos make your product looking inviting.”

Kennedy also says don’t expect to get rich with this! The toughest part of it all? “Keeping my house tidy!”

But, for Jennifer Kennedy it’s what works best for her and her family. And really, isn’t that what we all want?