About three years ago I did the stay-at-home thing because I was laid off- replaced by someone who had less experience and who took less pay for the job. Although I enjoyed the kids, after a year the novelty wore off and I seriously felt the need to go back to work and earn an income to support my family. At the time we were living in Orlando, FL in a home we had purchased to flip. This was November 2006, when the real estate market was starting to bomb. But, four months later, against all odds, we sold our home, gave away furniture and bought a 36 foot motorhome. Our plan was to travel the US in search for a better opportunity.
While my wife worked as a travel nurse, I did some freelance graphic design work, remodeling and helped homeschool our four children. We came to Charlotte in February 2008 after 10 months of being on the road. With over 17 years of experience in the graphic design/prepress industry I immediately started looking for a job; but after a few weeks the jobs I had found didn't pay enough to support my family.
A neighbor and friend mentioned to me how hard it is to advertise - the expense being too great for him to maintain. That's when I came up with the idea for Our Neighborhood Magazine. Despite warnings from a national business developer . . . " to start a magazine business takes considerable financial backing ; also there are just too many details involved for one person to handle..."
My faith in GOD kept me moving forward, even though the economy was continuing to take a nose dive. I started out with a brochure, business card and a prayer. I went door to door to businesses in the Weddington and Waxhaw area and offered them personalized attention and my business idea. With affordable pricing and concentrated mailing within the area, business owners saw the potential. It's been barely a year and the magazine has grown in size serving the Ballantyne area, and just this month expanding to the Dilworth/Myers Park area.
These are the different features that are separating ONM magazine from other magazines:
a. The Our Neighborhood Guy is a cartoon character that is hidden in each magazine. Readers search and email their findings, the correct answers are placed in a $100 dollar gas card drawing.
b. The neighborhood tips section is where local businesses can give advice to their readers. I feel there is enough negative out there a little bit of positive can go a long way.
c. ONM donates a free ad spot to a local charity or good cause. In the future ONM will give ten percent of its profits back to that community.
d. ONM offers a free listing on the website to the advertisers. Their ad is placed on the website for readers to view, link to their website and print coupons. (www.ourneighborhoodus.com)
e. We choose to print the magazine at The Hickory Printing Group in Conover NC, because it is local and they practice forestry protection.
My desire is to take the coupon magazine to the next level. I believe as I continue to allow GOD to use my hands and feet, and keep producing a magazine that is high quality, family friendly, fun, informative and most of all affordable for businesses to advertise . . . the sky is the limit!
Raising women of honor to be the mothers and leaders of the future, through life skills, leadership, character building, teamwork and service to others.
