The Working World

Lemonade Makers: Queens of Unemployment Bling

Stephanie Aucoin, 48, was laid off from an accounting firm in September. Barbara Bourn, 59, who works in interior design sales in Sarasota, Fla., has seen her income decline 60 percent thanks to the downturn. In March the longtime friends designed and started selling silicone arm bands embossed with the words “I Need a Job.” They have made back their initial investment and are turning a profit. Bourn talked with us about launching their first business.

Lance Armstrong has sold more than 70 million LiveStrong bands. How many have you sold?
We’re probably getting up around the 10,000 mark. We’re talking right now with a big drugstore chain to put them in their store. We can make a profit, they can make a profit and the unemployed can find them more easily.

How did you two come up with the idea?
We started out of desperation. It’s bad here in Sarasota, just really awful. Luckily I sold my house two years ago, because it would have taken me under. Stephanie was talking about how she was on the Internet sending out resumes and looking for a job 10 hours a day sometimes. She’s not a big networker, which in this market right now is really what you need. She felt like she was invisible and not getting noticed. She said, “I’m about ready to put on a tee shirt and go out on a corner and start advertising.” I said, “That’s not the best idea.” The next week she called me and told me her idea. The wrist band is just a way to market yourself and network everywhere you go as you go about your day. We told a few people, and got a good response. Then we decided we shouldn’t tell too many more and went ahead with it.

How much did you initially invest in the idea?
Probably about $500. But we did things cheap—Stephanie designed the website. We didn’t have any money in the budget, so she had to learn. We have the bands made by an American company, in Texas.

Neither of you had started a business before; what have you learned?
I don’t know what I’ve learned yet—we haven’t had time to really think. It’s just going that fast. Actually, I’ve learned that nobody’s going to help me but me. Even certain people that you thought you could count on to help you at a time like this. We just feel like it’s all us, Stephanie and me.

My partner works seven days a week at the business. I work on it on my days off, but it’s hard. Hopefully it’s going to afford me to leave that job and do this. It’s so rewarding to hear stories of people that want to help and are excited about this. It’s fulfilling to me. Not that I want to see anyone have to wear one of these bracelets. But the fact of the matter is, we feel like we’re helping.

Has anyone actually gotten a job from wearing the bracelet?
We need to put something on our website about that. There was a girl in Atlanta, she got noticed in a convenience store and got an office job. There is a local guy that got a job from wearing it—we had a hard time talking him into wearing it by the way; he’s kind of one of those macho guys, “I don’t wear jewelry” and what not. He’s in construction and wore one to the Bonefish Grill. He got noticed there by a contractor. The contractor asked him what the wristband was about, and said, “Whenever I have an opportunity in your line of work I’ll give you the chance to bid on it.” There was a guy in Fort Myers who got a job the same day working for a Dollar General store. I tell you, right now, you take what you can get.

UPDATE: After a reader posted the comment below, we contacted Bourn, who said that the accusations against her partner are “false and malicious” and that the business is in her name only. We’ll provide more information on the situation as we obtain it.

Tags: business, Lemonade Makers, Small, The Unemployed Life, The Working World