Book Review - Business Boutique

Many people talk about wishing they had more money to do the things they love.  In Christy Wright’s book, Business Boutique, you can learn to take the things you love and turn them into income.  

I was hesitant to read this book at first because I have no desire to go into business.  I have tried sales a few times and had no success.  However, if I had this book back then, I might have done better.  Also, I find that many of the strategies in the book apply to any career or life ministry a person is in.  I have personally applied this information to the growth of the Dream Catcher ministry with great success.

The book starts not with sales or marketing, but with what you love in life.  Christy’s premise is that your business should be based around your passion.  The ‘why’ behind your business is more important than the what or the how.  She want to help people make money doing what they love. 

The rest of the book is a well-laid out plan for starting and running a business.  The reader is instructed on how to develop a vision and set goals.  Christy addresses issues that hold people back such as common fears, misconceptions about sales, and how to find resources you need.  Only then does she get into the nuts and bolts of running a business. This includes production, pricing, marketing, and record-keeping. She also clearly explains the legal stuff like setting policies and paying taxes.  

If you follow the steps in the book and complete each assignment given, by the end of the book you will have a business plan written and be ready to jump into success.  

A Big Dream

“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s 1st Woman President

Well, I have a dream that scares me.  It is something that I could never accomplish on my own.  It feels completely out of reach and unrealistic, but I am beginning to think that God planted it in my heart.

So here is the vision:

You walk into a small storefront filled with art and handmade craft items.  There is everything from jewelry, to pottery, to clothes, to art.  Along one wall is a bakery counter where delicious snacks are on sale.  All of these items have been made by local artisans.  Most of them recently lived below the poverty line.  They have chosen to use their God-given skills to serve others and improve their finances.  

If you were to go behind the scenes you would find a commercial kitchen.  The local business people use this resource to make food to sell here as well as at the farmer’s market.  Some of the clients run a delivery service selling food to the community.  Two nights a week a local non-profit uses the kitchen and the attached dining room to serve a free community meal. Lastly, the kitchen is used for a cooking club that teaches people to cook healthy meals on a tight budget.

The dining room is also used for finance mentoring classes as well as a place for the business owners to meet and support each other.  

Farther down the hall there are several workrooms.  These are rented out to any artisan that needs a work space to create their products.  Some of the rooms have tools that are shared by the workers.  For example, one is set up for woodworking, another for creating jewelry. The artists can be sell their creations on their own or put them in the storefront.

The purpose of the whole building is to support people who are seeking to catch the dreams God has placed in their hearts.

I am asking for your prayers as we seek a suitable place to make this dream a reality.   May God bless you as you seek His dreams for your life.