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Published: May, 2009

KIM SHANAHAN • CORONA
Mother of a 12-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter

Business: Book Bouquet Gift Baskets

Product or service:
Book Bouquet combines all kinds of books with gift items and gourmet foods to create “novel” gift baskets for every occasion. There are over 100 different Book Bouquet gift baskets with a choice of books, including mystery, romance, history and politics.

How did you come up with the idea?
Ten years ago I created the first book bouquet for a friend in the hospital. I called it the “Boredom Buster,” because I included books and puzzles. I named my company Book Bouquet, because I wanted giving books to be just as pretty as a bouquet of flowers.

What did it take to get your business launched?
I began my business with $2,500 from a 401(k) account to build a Web site. I was able to secure a line of credit through my local chamber of commerce for inventory and a small SBA loan from a bank for additional start-up costs. The free resources from the chamber of commerce and SCORE office were invaluable in helping me write a business plan, make financial projections, secure the SBA loan and get a handle on all the aspects required to start a business.

What is the size of your business?
Annual sales for 2008 were $184,000. The economy has hit our industry pretty hard, but I am working very hard to grow the business and take advantage of the fact that I now have less competition.