From Stay-at-Home Mom to Business Owner How She Built a Business and a New Chapter for Herself
For many stay-at-home moms, returning to the workforce can mean updating a résumé, searching job listings, and trying to figure out how to restart a career after years devoted to family.
Towanna chose a different path.
Instead of simply going back to work for someone else, she decided to build something of her own.
Today, Towanna is the owner of Bryant Mail and Print Center, an independent business that has now passed an important milestone: two years in operation. Her journey from stay-at-home mom to entrepreneur wasn't built around a lifelong dream of owning a mail and print center. It started with something much more practical research. Towanna was looking for a business that made sense for her family, her community, and her future.
Looking for the Right OpportunityAs Towanna considered getting back into the workforce, she began researching different types of businesses she could potentially own. At one point, she considered opening a tea shop. But businesses involving food can bring additional health-department regulations and requirements. Towanna wanted to explore opportunities that could be simpler to operate while still providing services people in her community actually needed.
She began looking for a business that could meet two important criteria: something needed in the area and something with the potential to be profitable. That search eventually led her to the mail, print, and business-services industry. It wasn't necessarily the business she had imagined when she first began looking but the more she researched, the more it made sense.
Towanna chose a different path.
Instead of simply going back to work for someone else, she decided to build something of her own.
Today, Towanna is the owner of Bryant Mail and Print Center, an independent business that has now passed an important milestone: two years in operation. Her journey from stay-at-home mom to entrepreneur wasn't built around a lifelong dream of owning a mail and print center. It started with something much more practical research. Towanna was looking for a business that made sense for her family, her community, and her future.
Looking for the Right OpportunityAs Towanna considered getting back into the workforce, she began researching different types of businesses she could potentially own. At one point, she considered opening a tea shop. But businesses involving food can bring additional health-department regulations and requirements. Towanna wanted to explore opportunities that could be simpler to operate while still providing services people in her community actually needed.
She began looking for a business that could meet two important criteria: something needed in the area and something with the potential to be profitable. That search eventually led her to the mail, print, and business-services industry. It wasn't necessarily the business she had imagined when she first began looking but the more she researched, the more it made sense.
Inspiration Close to Home
Making the jump from stay-at-home mom to business owner takes confidence, and Towanna had an important source of encouragement: her brother.
He had gone into business for himself only a few months before Towanna opened her store. During his own search, he discovered Mega Store Builders and encouraged his sister to give the company a call.
That call helped turn an idea into a plan.
Towanna remembers her initial conversation with the Mega Store Builders team as an important part of the process. Rather than being left to figure out every step herself, she says the process was explained as they moved forward what they were waiting for, what came next, and what she needed to do.
That guidance helped make something unfamiliar feel manageable.
Creating a Business That Belonged to the CommunityTowanna wasn't interested in creating a generic store. She wanted her business to feel connected to the community it served.
Even the store's identity reflects that connection.
The name Bryant Mail and Print Center came directly from the area, while the store's blue-and-white color scheme drew inspiration from the local school's colors and hornet mascot.
Mega Store Builders helped develop the logo and bring those elements together into a cohesive identity.
The community connection carried through to the store's grand opening. A neighborhood baker used Towanna's logo as inspiration for custom cupcakes, while friends and family helped make the opening a celebration.
Mega Store Builders' Leslie also attended the grand opening, sent Towanna flowers, and even offered to come the night before to help with decorating.
For Towanna, the business was beginning to feel like something that was truly hers.
He had gone into business for himself only a few months before Towanna opened her store. During his own search, he discovered Mega Store Builders and encouraged his sister to give the company a call.
That call helped turn an idea into a plan.
Towanna remembers her initial conversation with the Mega Store Builders team as an important part of the process. Rather than being left to figure out every step herself, she says the process was explained as they moved forward what they were waiting for, what came next, and what she needed to do.
That guidance helped make something unfamiliar feel manageable.
Creating a Business That Belonged to the CommunityTowanna wasn't interested in creating a generic store. She wanted her business to feel connected to the community it served.
Even the store's identity reflects that connection.
The name Bryant Mail and Print Center came directly from the area, while the store's blue-and-white color scheme drew inspiration from the local school's colors and hornet mascot.
Mega Store Builders helped develop the logo and bring those elements together into a cohesive identity.
The community connection carried through to the store's grand opening. A neighborhood baker used Towanna's logo as inspiration for custom cupcakes, while friends and family helped make the opening a celebration.
Mega Store Builders' Leslie also attended the grand opening, sent Towanna flowers, and even offered to come the night before to help with decorating.
For Towanna, the business was beginning to feel like something that was truly hers.
Getting the Doors Open
Finding the right location was another major step. Towanna worked with the Mega Store Builders team while evaluating potential sites. One location she initially considered wasn't recommended, so she ultimately moved forward with another. The biggest delays in opening came from getting the suite itself ready and dealing with inspection-related issues outside Mega Store Builders' direct control. Once those obstacles were cleared, however, Towanna remembers the actual store build-out moving surprisingly quickly. In fact, when asked about Mega Store Builders' portion of the process, Towanna described the build-out as smooth and said the work itself was completed fast.
Then came the moment when all the research, planning, decisions, and construction finally became real. The doors opened.
Towanna was officially a business owner.
Then came the moment when all the research, planning, decisions, and construction finally became real. The doors opened.
Towanna was officially a business owner.
Learning by Doing
Opening a business doesn't mean immediately knowing everything about running one. For Towanna, part of the first two years has been learning what her customers want and gradually expanding what the store can provide. One area has become particularly important: printing.
Towanna says printing has developed into one of the stronger parts of the business. The store has continued adding capabilities as demand grows, including recently adding a second workstation. At the same time, Towanna has been cautious about expanding too quickly. For example, she has wanted to offer additional services such as canvas printing but initially hesitated because she didn't want to purchase materials before she felt confident she could consistently produce a quality product. Rather than spending money simply because a service was available to offer, she wanted to learn it properly first.
That cautious approach reveals something important about her transition into entrepreneurship: Towanna wasn't just opening a store.
She was learning how to think like an owner.
Towanna says printing has developed into one of the stronger parts of the business. The store has continued adding capabilities as demand grows, including recently adding a second workstation. At the same time, Towanna has been cautious about expanding too quickly. For example, she has wanted to offer additional services such as canvas printing but initially hesitated because she didn't want to purchase materials before she felt confident she could consistently produce a quality product. Rather than spending money simply because a service was available to offer, she wanted to learn it properly first.
That cautious approach reveals something important about her transition into entrepreneurship: Towanna wasn't just opening a store.
She was learning how to think like an owner.
The Lessons That Come With Ownership
Towanna is also candid about the challenges.
She would have liked more hands-on training in some of the specialized printing services. She also believes future store owners could benefit from advance reminders when included software or service subscriptions are approaching the point when the owner becomes responsible for paying them.
Location is another lesson she would carry into a future venture. Frank in Real Estate was a real value who made sure things were the way I needed them.
And like many new entrepreneurs, she has had to carefully manage the financial side of getting a new business established.
But none of the minor challenges changed her overall assessment of the experience.
When asked whether she would recommend Mega Store Builders to someone considering entering the mail and print business, her response was simple: "Absolutely."
She would have liked more hands-on training in some of the specialized printing services. She also believes future store owners could benefit from advance reminders when included software or service subscriptions are approaching the point when the owner becomes responsible for paying them.
Location is another lesson she would carry into a future venture. Frank in Real Estate was a real value who made sure things were the way I needed them.
And like many new entrepreneurs, she has had to carefully manage the financial side of getting a new business established.
But none of the minor challenges changed her overall assessment of the experience.
When asked whether she would recommend Mega Store Builders to someone considering entering the mail and print business, her response was simple: "Absolutely."
From Doing It Alone to Becoming an Employer
Perhaps one of the clearest signs of how far Towanna has come is the way her role has changed.
During much of her first year, she handled the business largely by herself.
Eventually, her husband was able to step in and help. Her niece assisted during the busy holiday season.
Then another milestone arrived.
Towanna was able to hire employees.
During the past summer, she hired two high school students to work in the store. After they returned to school, she began training another person.
Think about what that represents.
A woman who had been a stay-at-home mom wondering how she would return to the workforce didn't simply find herself a job.
She created jobs for other people.
During much of her first year, she handled the business largely by herself.
Eventually, her husband was able to step in and help. Her niece assisted during the busy holiday season.
Then another milestone arrived.
Towanna was able to hire employees.
During the past summer, she hired two high school students to work in the store. After they returned to school, she began training another person.
Think about what that represents.
A woman who had been a stay-at-home mom wondering how she would return to the workforce didn't simply find herself a job.
She created jobs for other people.
Two Years Later
The first day of a new business is exciting.
The grand opening brings photographs, family, friends, decorations, cupcakes, and the thrill of finally seeing the doors open.
But perhaps the more meaningful photograph is the one taken years later when the decorations are gone and the business is still there.
For Towanna Rhymes, that milestone has arrived.
Bryant Mail and Print Center has now been operating for two years.
Customers are coming through the doors. Printing has become an important part of the business. Equipment and workstations have been added. Family members have stepped in to help. Employees have been hired and trained.
And the woman who once wondered what kind of business she might start is now an experienced business owner thinking about what she can improve next.
Her story is a reminder that returning to the workforce doesn't always mean returning to where you were before.
Sometimes it means creating an entirely new place for yourself.
For Towanna Rhymes, that place has her name behind it, customers walking through it, employees working inside it, and more than two years of experience behind it.
She didn't just go back to work.
She went into business.
The grand opening brings photographs, family, friends, decorations, cupcakes, and the thrill of finally seeing the doors open.
But perhaps the more meaningful photograph is the one taken years later when the decorations are gone and the business is still there.
For Towanna Rhymes, that milestone has arrived.
Bryant Mail and Print Center has now been operating for two years.
Customers are coming through the doors. Printing has become an important part of the business. Equipment and workstations have been added. Family members have stepped in to help. Employees have been hired and trained.
And the woman who once wondered what kind of business she might start is now an experienced business owner thinking about what she can improve next.
Her story is a reminder that returning to the workforce doesn't always mean returning to where you were before.
Sometimes it means creating an entirely new place for yourself.
For Towanna Rhymes, that place has her name behind it, customers walking through it, employees working inside it, and more than two years of experience behind it.
She didn't just go back to work.
She went into business.
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Mega Pack & Ship provides the experience, tools, and support to help entrepreneurs turn the dream of business ownership into a fully operational business they can truly call their own.
Mega Pack & Ship is the Pack & Ship division of Mega Store Builders, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build and own their own independent shipping, printing, mailbox, and business service centers. Unlike a traditional franchise, Mega Pack & Ship provides a complete turnkey business solution without franchise fees, royalties, or corporate control, giving owners 100% ownership of their business. From helping select the right location and negotiate the lease to store design, build-out, equipment, merchandising, training, and ongoing support, Mega is there every step of the way. Our Pack & Ship stores are designed to become valuable community business centers, offering customers convenient access to major shipping carriers, printing and copying, mailbox services, package receiving, and a wide range of other essential business services.
Mega Pack & Ship is the Pack & Ship division of Mega Store Builders, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build and own their own independent shipping, printing, mailbox, and business service centers. Unlike a traditional franchise, Mega Pack & Ship provides a complete turnkey business solution without franchise fees, royalties, or corporate control, giving owners 100% ownership of their business. From helping select the right location and negotiate the lease to store design, build-out, equipment, merchandising, training, and ongoing support, Mega is there every step of the way. Our Pack & Ship stores are designed to become valuable community business centers, offering customers convenient access to major shipping carriers, printing and copying, mailbox services, package receiving, and a wide range of other essential business services.