I started a new journey and a new business! In all honesty, I can’t believe I’m starting a new business, me of all people. That isn’t something I ever thought I would do. On the other hand I also never thought I would be a self-published author, a blogger, and have my own podcast, and yet I’ve done all that too. So why not start my own business? Although technically I am taking over another business. And this new business I’ve decided to call “Bears With Apps”.
We need to step way back in time to explain my new business. And when I say step back in time I mean to when my kids were little. So when they were little my husband had a normal 9-5 computer programming job. He would go to work. He would come home and on nights he liked to play around on his computer and he liked to write apps for the phone or iPad. It was a nice little side job or hobby if you will. His inspiration came from our kids. He would always ask them “what apps would you play with or what apps would like me to make”? They would come up with ideas and my husband would make the apps. It was fun for everyone and it was nice having a little extra money for special things like a date night or the family would go out to eat or something. My husband would even give our kids a buck or two for the sales their ideas got.
Okay, now we need to step forward to our current day situation. So my husband’s current job is very highly focused. He is very focused on the success of his current employer and puts all of his work time into that. Because of this, the “side” apps he had in the app store have not been touched for a number of years. Many of them are still in the app store, just out of date and slowly being taken off by Apple as they are not updated for the latest version of the iPad or iPhone. A couple of months ago due to some of my husband’s health issues, we decided it was in our best interest to revamp his apps and put everything into my name and my company. We agreed this was best for us and our family, just in case. No, he isn’t on his death bed thankfully, but at the same time, It’s always a good idea to prep. No, I can’t write an app to save my life, but I do know app developers, thanks to my husband, who I can contract with to do the actual app writing. I also know what I want, and what changes need to be made to the apps.
My husband and I did a lot of talking about this new business and what it should be called. I reminded him that since it will be under my name and my business that it needed to reflect my personality and attitude that’s when I came up with the name “Bears With Apps”. I love bears and I do like using apps. I came up with my logo by taking different pictures of my teddy bears with my iPad and we found a picture that we both liked. Then we worked with a designer to get a logo made. It’s simple, it’s cute and I think it gets the point across. I also told my husband that as long as this company is under my name I want it to be the best and most satisfying it can be for us and for the users. If there are any problems or comments from people I will do my best to make it right. I want “Bears With Apps” to be fun for everyone of all ages and at the same time, I hope and pray it will become a prosperous business. I have the original apps he made years ago and I am slowly working with some app developers to update them and publish them. I was able to publish the first one (Writing Pad-Kids) recently and it already has users. I do hope you enjoy our apps as we slowly continue to make them.
Kathleen Smith is an indie author, blogger and she has her own podcast Kathleen’s Korner. You can read or listen about her life in Brooklyn and Upstate NY. You can also either read or listen to her personal story of how she and her husband kept their marriage together through 3 miscarriages in Miscarriages My Story