Victoria Magazine

August 09, 2000

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Max: Did you have support from your family and friends when you came up with this idea? Did some people tell you you were crazy and that it would never work?

Cheryl Karpen: I had a tremendous amount of support from family and friends. And today my mother, who is 79, still continues to be a vital part of our organization and she actually works at the store 2 to 3 days a week and I also have an entire team of cheerleaders, which are entirely made up of my family and friends.

BusyBrat: I love the personal touch you add to your gift baskets, something for everyone. Did you create these ideas yourself? What inspired you?

Cheryl Karpen: Yes, I did create the gift baskets myself. I am continually inspired by the needs of my customers at my retail stores, Pure Bliss, and Something Different. My customers continually challenge me to develop amazing gifts and sometimes the only way I can do that is by combining a series of gifts to relate a message of affirmation, of love, or of hope to the person receiving the gift.

Silysally: How did you figure out what your dream was? I am plagued by good ideas but really don't know how to gain direction in pursuing them?

Cheryl Karpen: I think you need to follow your heart and I think if you feel something so deeply, so passionately, then that's what you should go with. I am not saying it is going to be easy, I am not saying you are not going to have to make sacrifices, and I'm not saying that every idea is going to be a winner. But the difference between a dreamer and a doer is that the doers are doing their dreams, are living their dream. And what a beautiful gift she has been given to have many ideas. That is such a gift. I'm a dreamer and I have so many ideas. For so long I used to beat myself up because of them, and now I realize that each of those ideas is a gift to have a mind filled with imagination. Also, make a list and write down all of your dreams and then maybe even make up a file for each one as each idea develops. Continue to add thoughts and ideas to that file. It is amazing that sometimes something will happen where an idea will begin to develop more fully and that is the one you should pursue. And I have one more suggestion - many times we do not follow through because we are not experts in all areas of developing this idea. I strongly suggest that you develop a team of people who have more experience or talent in an area that will compliment and enhance your idea. For example, when I want to write a book, I have the idea and the words for the book but I need an artist that can draw the images, I need an editor that will fix all of my broken words and so outsourcing is very important.

Roger: What is the hardest part about being self-employed?

Cheryl Karpen: Cash flow.and the time demands. When you own a small business especially retailing, you live, breath, eat and sleep your business, especially in the formative years.

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