Name: Barbara Gabogrecan
Business Name: Home Based Business Australia
Address: 20 Greenland Dr  Drouin Vic         
PC: 3818
Phone: 03 5625 5195
Mobile: 0418 106 133
Fax: 03 5625 5194
Email: barbara@hbba.biz
Web Address: www.cooperthesuperdog.com

SELF
Q. Tell us something about you – your philosophy, your lifestyle, your ethics, your hobbies etc.
A. I am a former secondary teacher of Art. I also taught at the National Gallery of Victoria for 13 years. When I came to Victoria (from NSW), one of my year 12 student in Art got 100%, won a scholarship to Italy, returned to the fashion industry and finally became assistant curator to the National Gallery in Canberra – that is why you want to be a teacher – when you can see the difference you make!

I was a bush kid – doing my primary school, and Art for my secondary schooling, by Correspondence (I was the first person to get an 'A' in Art by Correspondence). This taught me to be a self starter and self motivated – something that I tried to instil in the youth I taught. I have been married twice. I have two sons from my first marriage and two grandsons. I have 'won the lottery' with Peter, my current husband of 19 years, and have never been happier.

BUSINESS DETAILS
Q. What is it that your business does?
A. I have a number of businesses:-
1. Painting and Crafts: - I am an artist and paint on silk. My product can be framed as a painting, used for scarves and fabric; used in craft items e.g. covering a ceramic oil pot; inserted in jewellery etc. I won 7 of the Australian Gift of the Year awards in the second year of commencing this business
2. I am an author and have had a huge success with the book ‘How to Run a Business From Your Kitchen Table’. A second edition was reprinted after 18 months. I have also written a number of e-books.
3. Dog Training Ecademy is being developed as an outcome of the business ‘Cooper the Super Dog’ where I have trained, photographed and developed a series of cards based on my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Rag Doll cat.
4. Home Based Business Australia is an association I created and developed as an online support for the HBB sector.
5. Money Marketing & Me is a training program I developed with my husband Peter, to train businesses in article marketing, demonstrating how easy it is to search engine optimise a website via keywords to improve search engine rankings and increase traffic to a website.

Q. Do you work from home? How many do you employ?
A. Yes – I have four people volunteer their services on a regular basis.

Q. How long have you been in business?
A. 15 years

Q. What makes your business unique?
A. Being able to combine my creative skills with my entrepreneurial ‘bent’; being able to refine my teaching skills to enable me to present and speak with passion and authority; and having a passion for assisting people, makes me and my business ‘stand out in the crowd’.

MARKETING
Q. What is the most important Marketing/Networking tool/strategy your business has had success with?
A. There are a number: Winning awards and using the win to promote and market my business; to produce a newsletter on a regular basis; ongoing media coverage; being seen at trade Fairs and Expos; having up to date and dynamic web sites; targeted networking at the VIP level as well as like minded businesses; being prepared to 'follow up', and constantly thinking in terms of marketing.

AWARDS
Q. Has your business been nominated for, was a finalist in, or won any awards or other commendations?
A. I won seven of the Australian Gift of the Year Awards.

ADVICE
Q. What is the most helpful piece of advice you could give to other businesses?
A. To be opportunistic – never say ‘no’ and then be prepared to take action.

SUPPORT
Q. What is it you are looking for as a member of HBBA?
A. An International network and access to people of a ‘like mind’ who are caring and prepared to create alliances.

Q. What is it you can offer to HBBA members?
A. A huge mass of skills, commitment, energy and enthusiasm.

Q. How do you envisage demonstrating your support and loyalty to the association of HBBA?
A. By being President; constantly thinking of ways to assist members; and putting in more than what would be expected – I guess I will only be able to keep up this high energy workload if members let me know that what I am doing is of benefit to them.

MILESTONES
October 2007: Having instigated and ran the MCEI Marketing Awards was a huge effort and resulted in an excellent entry for the Inaugural Awards.
October 2008: Instigating a written report for all entrants of the Marketing Awards with the overall winner winning a trip for two to Italy.
October 2009: Getting two new websites to number one on page one on Google
June 2010: Having another 2 websites ranked on page 1 in Google; running full day workshops on search engine optimisation; completing regular training webinars each fortnight.

PRODUCT FOR SALE