PRESS

5 Unique Ways Entrepreneurs Are Raising Money

June 4, 2009

By Diana Ransom

Launching a business on the side

Paula Conway only needed $3,000 to launch her Westport, Conn.-based travel information web site ConwayConfidential.com While she didn’t have enough cash on hand to pay for the site, she did happen to have plenty of sugar, flour and icing.

Rather than ask friends and family to hand her some cash, Conway sold them cupcakes — and the side business swiftly grew. “It just sort of happened,” she says. “Knowing that I needed money for the site, I started to wonder: Would they pay for them?” She says family, friends and neighbors were glad to hand over a
dollar or more per cupcake. She even managed to cater a few parties with her cupcake creations. Within six months, Conway met her financial goal.

Conway Confidential in the Media

forbes.com
April 8, 2009

By Melanie Lindner

In Pictures: Lessons From 10 Recession Start-Ups

Paula Conway, 38
Business: Conway Confidential, Westport, Conn.
Builds Web sites and provides online content for travel companies. Conway, who bootstrapped her business,
landed her first big contract with American Airlines in February 2008.

Obstacle: Getting employees to do double the work for half the pay. “I want high-quality
writers and editors who are willing to work hard for me, but at this point I’m on a shoestring budget,” says Conway.

Advice: If you’re not passionate about your business, don’t launch a start-up. “[It] has to be something you love because it will cost more and require more work than you could possibly imagine,” she says.

See the story here:
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/07/recession-startup-obstacles-entrepreneurs-management-startup_slide_9.html?partner=email

CONWAY CONFIDENTIAL MEDIA KIT

Welcome to Conway Confidential – Your Travel Gateway to Secret Spots and Hidden Gems!

SECRET SPOTS AND HIDDEN GEMS

Conway Confidential is a new online travel destination content provider that uncovers “confidentials”— secret spots and hidden gems — in featured properties and locations around the world.

PERKS and PRESENTS

Gifts, deals and discounts accompany many properties and locations. These are perks and presents offered complimentary by the venue, and are exclusively negotiated on behalf of the client.

DESTINATION VIDEO CONTENT

Paula Conway hosts as she and her family visit select “confidential cities” and take you on a tour of their favorite hidden gems in their video segment “Secret Spots and Hidden Gems”. Artfully edited by NY production company, City Lights, “Secret Spots and Hidden Gems” is being created for sale to a mainstream TV network.

CONTACT:
Denise Mc Iver
Tel: 323.229.9409
Email: [email protected]

Conway Confidential FAQ

WHO

Paula Conway, publisher and editor-in-chief of www.conwayconfidential.com, has been writing about travel for more than a decade for publications such as The New York Times, Boston Herald, The Robb Report and In Style magazine. She has hosted her own travel radio show on SiriusXM for over two years and continues to
be a regular guest on various SiriusXM radio shows. She is not only a two time published book author, but also runs and manages her own public relations firm. She oversees the team of more than 15 professional travel writers who report and provide the Conway Confidential destination content.

WHAT

SECRET SPOTS AND HIDDEN GEMS
Conway Confidential is a new online travel destination content provider that uncovers ?confidentials?—secret spots and hidden gems in featured properties and locations around the world.

PERKS and PRESENTS
Gifts, deals and discounts accompany many properties and locations. These are perks and presents offered complimentary by the venue, and are exclusively negotiated on behalf of the client.

DESTINATION VIDEO CONTENT
Paula Conway hosts as she and her family visit select “confidential cities” and take you on a tour of their favorite hidden gems in “Secret Spots and Hidden Gems”. Artfully edited by NY production company, City Lights, “Secret Spots and Hidden Gems” is being created for sale to a mainstream TV network.

WHERE

Featured on www.AA.com/women and hosted on the home website at www.conwayconfidential.com, we are currently featuring 12 cities and more than 455 destination ideas and locations:

  • New York
  • Chicago
  • Miami
  • Orlando
  • Washington, D.C.
  • San Francisco
  • Los Angeles
  • San Diego
  • Honolulu
  • London
  • Madrid
  • Austin

WHEN

Monthly refreshments
Confidential Cities are added monthly and we are constantly checking back with our featured establishments to ensure their gems are accurate, and perks are refreshed, if necessary. We try our best to keep our content up-to-date with the latest insider tips for our readers.

WHY

Uncover the Uniqueness and Provide Perks Our team of seasoned travel reporters reveal confidentials– something specific and unique– about a particular place within each city. For example, there are many great hotels in Miami, but within the greats there are specific unique gems that make it stand out. This could be a one-of-a-kind drink at a bar, or an absolutely fantastic bed at a hotel property. Additionally, the location itself could be the Confidential – it has to be somewhat unknown and special like the spring water-fed Venetian Pool in Miami that is open to the public seven days a week in the summer.

HOW

The gifts, deals and discounts are given complimentary by the properties and destinations on which we report. Coverage is not contingent upon giving a gift; After the articles are written, we approach the property or destination to give them the option of offering an incentive to our consumer – it is completely voluntary.