Kimberly Mann: How to Start a Virtual Assistant Business

Administrative assistants, secretaries and executive assistants are seeing new opportunities on the Web with the rise of the virtual assistants. Virtual assistants provide the same services administrative assistants may do – except that everything is done over the Web. Virtual assistants provide services such as word-processing, event planning, and handling other office chores over the Net – often without seeing their clients. The bulk of their work are done by E-mail, electronic file transfers, password-protected Web sites, and Web-based software. While the business is still in its infancy, virtual assistance has become one of the fastest growing home-based businesses today.

Kimberly Mann of Hatfield, PA, a founding member of Women’s Business Forum, is one of those who saw the growth potential of the virtual assistance business. Previously employed as an administrative assistant and executive assistant, she decided to use her considerable skills and experiences to become a virtual assistant, and move on from being an employee to self-employed.

Read Kimberly's story and learn about becoming a virtual assistant

Milton Hershey: Rich Life of a Chocolate Tycoon

The great industrialists of yesteryears are some of the most interesting entrepreneurs. They mostly come from a rags-to-riches story, and the creator of Hershey's chocolates is one of them. SFGate.com has a short review of the new biography by Michael D'Antonio entitled "Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire and Utopian Dreams." Part of the review goes

As with so many business success stories, Hershey's self-made empire of chocolate was built upon that greatest of all lessons: failure. Though his mother's family did provide him with seed money to start his first candy store, Hershey suffered several grand setbacks before returning to the Lancaster, Pa., area and opening a successful caramel business. Of course, it was the eventual discovery of "the holy grail pursued by everyone in the industry -- a workable recipe for smooth, creamier-tasting milk chocolate" that was to make his fortune, and the pursuit of this difficult-to-master recipe becomes one of the book's most interesting passages.

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Artelatinoh.com: Finding their Niche in the Hispanic Market

The Hispanic market is booming, and opportunities abound for entrepreneurs willing to serve this market. Two sisters who immigrated from Dominican Republic saw the potential of the Hispanic market, and decided to create a business focusing on this market.

Amelia Martinez-Holt and her sister Pilar launched ArteLatinoh.com, a scrapbooking supplies company offering Hispanic-themed products. Their company sells to wholesalers scrapbooking supplies such as Hispanic-themed paper kits, rubber stamps, stickers, fonts and other products. Some of the themes include 15th birthday celebration, parents, maps -- all with distinct Spanish text and design.

Scrapbooking is a growing industry with passionate consumers. According to the Craft & Hobby Association, it is the third most popular craft in the United States. A Scrapbooking in America (SIA) survey conducted by Creating Keepsakes magazine estimates annual industry sales at $2.551 billion in 2004 with over 26 million households and 32.1 million scrapbookers. On average, scrapbook enthusiasts own scrapbooking supplies valued at approximately $1,853. With the increasing Hispanic population in the United States, it is safe to surmise that Hispanic households are also engaging in this activity. And ArteLatinoh.com is smartly establishing their name in this niche segment.