It takes a clever mom to generate a very clever idea.  Work-at-home mom Kim McLapp (35) of  Missouri, is one clever gal who has created her own business called The Clever Apple
( http://www.cleverapple.com ).

Prior to starting her own business, Kim earned a degree in education and taught sixth grade.  Although she enjoyed teaching, she had started a family (son Jordan is nine;  daughter Mariel is almost 4) and wanted to stay at home with her children.  Taking her teaching experience into consideration, Kim decided that the best avenue for her to pursue would be to tutor students at home to earn extra money.

With idea in hand, she forged ahead to bookstores and libraries in pursuit of any materials that would give her insight and information about starting up a tutoring service.  To her surprise, she could not find anything of value, short of some very outdated manuals on the topic.  So, through much trial and error, Kim paved her own path in this area and placed some ads in local publications announcing her tutoring services.

Soon, she landed some tutoring jobs and began her business.  During the course of her first year of tutoring, she had compiled many notes and ideas regarding her business and then decided perhaps others would benefit from her own resources.  

"I thought it would be a great idea to compile all of the data and
information I collected over that first year and put them into a book that
would be of use to others," explained Kim.  "It took me about a month to write it.  I then looked for a publisher, but, surprisingly, no one was
interested in the concept.."

Kim then decided to take matters into her own hands.  "I decided to hold workshops on tutoring in my home and sell my books in conjunction with that.   The only problem was, hardly anyone came to these workshops," Kim sadly noted.

Up until that point, Kim did not have a web site nor did she attempt to
market her book through the Internet.  Her brother-in-law finally convinced her to get on the Web.  "He helped me to buy a computer and build a web site," said Kim.

From there, things began to bloom for Kim and Clever Apple was set in motion.  She recognized an increase in orders and decided to complement her book with a homemade videotape of the workshop she offered.

Kim knew she had hit on a solid idea when a friend of hers told her she saw Clever Apple listed in a book by Paul and Sarah Edwards called "101 Best Home-Based Businesses."

"I had absolutely no idea my business was listed in their book," Kim laughed.  "I rushed to the nearest bookstore, grabbed a copy of the book, and saw my business listed there.  I was thrilled!"

Due to the increased demands for her awesome book, Kim stopped tutoring a year ago to pursue the sales of her book and to generate specialized books in tutoring.

"You don't need an education degree to tutor," Kim explained.  "My husband is a chemist, and he tutors students in chemistry.  Anyone can learn how to be a tutor, and that is what my book helps people learn to do."

Kim also noted that her book is a great supplement for those who home school children and has researched home school fairs to sell her book and videotape.

Kim truly enjoys being able to utilize her education and still stay home with her children.  "I like setting my own hours and being my own boss.  My son even helps me package the orders.  As a matter of fact, he is learning his states by marking on a map we have where all the orders are being shipped.   It is a great learning tool for him!"  Kim smiled.

The only downside Kim sees to working from home is the lack of adult contact, but she maintains connections with some on-line networking groups and has found a great resource in Creative Enterprises
( http://www.creativethought.com ).  "Carol Daly, owner of the site, has been a great resource for me and many of the members of the group are moms like me, trying to sell an idea or product while staying home with our children."

Kim's sixty-five-page manual and two-hour videotape on tutoring sell for $39.95 and can be viewed at http://www.cleverapple.com .  Go ahead!  Take a bite out of this apple!


For more information on this "WAHM of a MOM!", visit her web site at http://www.cleverapple.com/home4.htm 

This article written by Ann Butenas...

Ann E. Butenas
Founder and Author
ANZ Publications

Medical & 
Dental Record Tool

For more information on this Ann Butenas visit her web site at http://www.anzpublications.com . She would love to hear from you!