Home business a family affair

For many people, the nine-to-five job requires warming the car in the morning, driving to work and then often spending countless hours away from home. But that’s most people.

For the last 15 years, Jacy Stolem has worked from the comfort of her own house where her family and she run a number of home-based businesses. On Monday, November 14, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. she will be putting one of her newest business ventures on display in conjunction with the Malta Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours program.

“This is my first year selling Alison’s Pantry as a representative,” Jacy said. “(Alison’s Pantry) sells restaurant quality products and other bulk foods to the public through representatives."

The Stolems talked to former local Alison’s Pantry distributor Alicia Waters when Waters decided she was giving up her distribution. Jacy and Shane discussed the possibility of taking over, decided to proceed and then with the help of her father, Rod Enos, tricked-out the garage on their property with five freezers to accommodate the monthly deliveries for customers.

“We get a full-sized semi that comes to deliver the orders and then a bunch of kids come and help and unload the shipment,” Jacy said. “On a big order, we will have about 1,000 pounds of food delivered.”

Jacy and her husband of 15 years, Shane, have three children – Chayana, 15, Hunter, 11 and Trace who is five. The Stolem family has sampled over a 100 items from Alison’s Pantry (the family favs range from chicken stuffed products to fried pickles and many in between) and Jacy enjoys both the dishe's taste and the simplicity in preparation.

“Not only does the food taste really good, but it is easy and fast when you are in a rush for a meal,” Jacy said.

Aside from Alison’s Pantry, Jacy has been an Avon rep since 2001, Chayana runs a jewelry and accessory store from the home through Paparazzi (she’s in her fourth year), and Jacy also has an online boutique through Sass-n-Frass (Shane has worked for Malta Ready Mix for two years and actually has to leave the home for work…poor guy.) The Stolems will have Avon items on display with the Alison's Pantry and are tentatively thinking they will have Paparazzi items out as well. Jacy knows working from home isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but she likes it just fine.

“After about two years of selling Avon during my lunch hour and after work, Shane and I decided that it was time for me to stay home and raise our children and run my Avon,” Jacy said. “I get to set my own hours and that allows me to be a part of local organizations like the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Phillips County CattleWomen. Working from home isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.”

The night of her Business After Hours Event, there will be two sign-ups for giveaways, for people who visit the Stolems – the first a beef stew meal, the second a cooler bag – and Jacy has started accepting Christmas Scrip for orders this year. Jacy will also have Alison’s Pantry food samples and catalogs for those who attend the event on Monday night.

Visit the Stolems at t their After Hours Event at their home located at 502 S. 7th Ave W. in Malta on Monday, November 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.