Name of your website?Casting Keepsakes
Your name?
Sheila Daraitis
Your Location (city, etc)
Minneapolis, MN
Please give us a short summary of your website?
We sell 3D hand and foot casting kits. We have products that create full size replicas and those that create handprint & footprint imprints in clay. We also carry belly cast kits and baby-safe nontoxic ink for adding baby prints to cards, letters, etc.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
I wanted to find a way to stay at home with my kids as well as provide financial support to the family.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This site was launched in 2004 and was the first site I ever created.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
The name we chose reflects the type of product line we carry.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
At this point, we are plan to keep the site for income but in the future may consider selling it.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
After about 2 yrs, the time invested is a little less than a regular 40n hour work week and the income is at least the same if not more than I would want or expect.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
We have a couple of people on standby that could jump in at any time, so yes, I think we could keep up with demand.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
We haven't really ran into anything unexpected, but the biggest headache has been keeping our internet connection and/or speed optimizd.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has been trying to find that delicate balance between family time and work time.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Customers that post about the product in forums seems to have the greatest overall effect.
What is your website address?
Casting Keepsakes
