Bethany Jobb

I have owned a brick and mortar business for the past ten years. It is a very niche market.  I fulfill orders for a business client who markets to other businesses.  I send their existing and potential clients product samples, brochures and other related technical data.  I am proud of the online catalogue that a previous owner and I created for clients to view their current inventory levels.  We also collate and assemble materials for trade shows and training seminars.  A smaller part of our business is direct mail advertising.  It has been a good learning experience but revenue has not been strong enough for a good living.  My husand and I started to look to the internet in January 2009 to expand the business.  There is a lot of competition in the internet marketplace so we  have been on a tremendous learning curve. 

My twin daughters have special needs so I am concerned about their welfare once my husband and I are gone.  Our business offers them an opportunity to work at projects that require basic assembly. They are both very gifted at organizing themselves to complete a task.  Often I think that they are blessed because they look at the world in a simplistic way.  They are not caught up in having to keep up with the neighbours.  They don't expect to be given everything but rather say when things are good they will have what they need.  I am blessed to have been given these two girls to raise.

My husband has Parkinson's which is a very challenging disease.  I am proud of what he accomplishes in a day.  Most of us would give up if they had to struggle in the simple task of getting dressed; getting in and out of bed and eating a meal.  He is a true hero to myself and the girls.  His desire is to take care of the financial matters so that if one day it is his time to go we are set.

We are learning how to work together which has its ups and downs.  We owned a fast food business together which we had to close due to poor revenue.  We are still in a lot of debt but are goal is to pay back our creditors.  I know that we will overcome our challenges and win through our persistence.  The key is to never give up and never quit.