Name: Julie Rhoads
Kid’s names and ages: Lily 10, Liam 7.5
Where are you from and how long have you lived in Southwest Missouri? Originally from Paris, IL, moved to Springfield Dec. 1997
What is your favorite family activity in SWMO? We enjoy the Greenway Trails! Nathanial Green Park and Sequiota are our favorites
We understand you are the owner of Trading Hands Kids Sale in Springfield, Illinois and Missouri. Tell us about the sale! We are a 3 day kids consignment sale, which provides local families the opportunity to sell their kids outgrown toys/gear and shop great bargains on what their kids need next each Spring & Fall! We have items for babies-teens!
What inspired you to start your own business? I was looking for a way to be part-time at my regular job as a Chiropractor. When my kids were 2 & 4, the previous sale owner of Trading Hands MO, who lived out of state, was selling the business. As a long time shopper & consignor, it was the perfect fit!! 2 years later, I opened the IL location because there were no consignment sales in Central Illinois, near where I grew up.
Do you consign and/or shop at your own sale? Of course!! One of the best perks is seeing all the fun stuff as it’s being dropped off!
What is the first thing you do when the final thing is cleaned up after a big sale? The sales are typically 2-3 weeks apart, so sale time is very busy at our house. Once the last sale is over, we have post sale tradition of a family trip to the indoor Branson waterpark!
How do you balance being a business owner and a mom? I’m fortunate that my business allows me to work from home during the sale planning process, so I have the flexibility to work around the family/kid’s schedules.
What is your biggest challenge being a working mom? Not enough hours in the day! I think that’s something we all struggle with! The way I handle it is by breaking things down into manageable tasks and working on it between activities, after bedtime or whenever I can squeeze it in.
Describe your typical day. Get the kids off to school. I work 2 days per week at my Chiropratic office. Otherwise, I’m home working on sale planning, then running kids to activities after school, the usual stuff.
What’s something your friends might not know about you? I’m kind of an open book, so I doubt there are any surprises! One thing that people often find surprising is I grew up in a rural town on a farm, driving tractors, detassling corn, etc. I’m more of an indoor, city girl now!
One word to sum me up: Motivated. I’m thankful to have the wonderful opportunity to work from home and provide the community with a resource to stretch their family budget and provide for their growing kids! I enjoy the challenge of juggling the busy life of being a mom of two with the satisfaction of running a business and helping to support my family.
