Articles - Fall 2007 - return to index
Mama Rose’s Naturals grows
to national distribution
-By Shirl Meads
The Business Development Center at Lane Community College played an integral role in the development of Mama Rose's Naturals.
Owner Rosetta Thuresson received her diploma in herbal medicine and developed all natural, high grade skin care products as an answer to her daughter’s sensitivity to commercial baby products. More people started using her products and soon she set up a booth at Saturday Market. She sold her products at the market for about a year when she approached the Lane BDC for information on how to grow her business.
Lane helped her turn her vision into a mission statement, develop a business plan and work out cash flow processes. Her advisor assisted her with creating a marketing plan, edited her marketing materials, and was a source of encouragement when Rosetta needed it. Rosetta increased her business knowledge by attending Going into Business, Next Steps in Business, and Building the Foundations of Your Business classes. The classes gave her an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs. She worked with Juliana Cichy, owner of Mirage Digital Art, another Lane BDC entrepreneur, to develop and print her marketing materials.
Rosetta worked on creating a good foundation for her business. She developed an advisory board and personally called on stores and distributors selling her product. Her products are now sold in more than 100 stores throughout the United States.
In 2006, after working with Lane's BDC for a little over two years, Rosetta's entrepreneurial spirit was recognized with the Business of the Year award. She also received an iParenting Media Award for offering exceptional products.
Today, Mama Rose's Naturals herbal boutique can be experienced on the corner of 3rd and Lawrence in Eugene. Rosetta held a grand opening celebration in May. Mayor Kitty Piercy began the festivities with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"The LCC Business Development Center was a critical part of making my business what it is today," says Rosetta. "By utilizing classes, programs and private counseling sessions, I was able to receive incredible support, learn everything that I needed to know about owning a business and becoming successful."
"The LCC Business Development Center was a critical part of making my business what it is today."
-Rosetta Thuresson
