Two Dargaville sisters who quit nine-to-five careers to have families have started an Internet business they can mind at home along with their babies.
And they're hopeful their video email venture could reap good rewards from a market they've been told is expected to expand from a present annual turnover worldwide
of $1 billion to $12 billion in the next two years.
The sisters, Julie Sloan and Nellwyn Smith, last month paid about $200 for affiliation to the Hellomail system, developed by a US company that pioneered cellphone pix.
Basically, they have to market Hellomail, receiving 20 percent of fees paid by customers they sign on for services they offer, which they believe are unavailable elsewhere in Northland.
The sisters said clients needed a computer with sound facilities and a webcam, and for $15.95 a month Hellomail gave them unlimited video emailing, instant messaging and live broadcasting.
The sisters said Hellomail transmissions were in real time without the delays and static which could plague earlier efforts in video streaming.
"A lot of people are scared of new technology, but this is easy to use - you click to record and again to send and that's it," Julie said.
Julie used to run the Verge beauty therapy salon in Dargaville, but sold it in 2004 before the birth of her daughter Neave.
She and her husband, Dargaville police Acting Sergeant Colin Sloan, are expecting another child in 11 weeks.
Nellwyn and her husband, Kyle Smith, are sharemilkers at Te Kopuru. In 2003 she left her job as manager of the Dargaville National Bank, where she had worked for five years, to have their son, Riley, and she has since produced a daughter, Willow, aged 11 weeks.
Both women had found the work they had to do to launch their new business worked in well with their families.
"It's great. I do my Hellomail work at night instead of watching television," Julie said.
For more information call Nellwyn on 09 439 8988 or email onlinevideomessage@helloworld.com.
