Nicole Augenti - How to Start a Home-Based Online Retail Business

Jeremy Shepherd is the founder of the multimillion-dollar online empire PearlParadise.com. Since 1996 PearlParadise.com has become the leading online pearl wholesaler and retailer in the world. Jeremys inspirational story and the success of PearlParadise.com have been featured in numerous radio stories, magazines, and newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, In Style, and Modern Bride. The 78th Academy Awards selected PearlParadise.com as part of their Oscar Gift Basket for the second year in a row. Jeremy has also conducted interviews on various television shows such as Extra and Entertainment Tonight.

A vacation to China ignited Jeremys passion and interest in pearls. He realized that buying directly from the pearl farmers in China eliminated the middlemen, and he immediately saw the market potential. His expertise in pearls and his entrepreneurial instincts led him into the online wholesale/retail business, where his talent for discovering the profitability of a product through savvy marketing strategy launched PearlParadise.com.

Jeremy has a bachelors degree in business and marketing, he is a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) graduate with a certificate in pearls, and he speaks five languages. He became fluent in Spanish and Japanese while in his teens, and he speaks Chuuk, the obscure language of the South Pacific Micronesian Islanders. His Berlitz training in Mandarin became very useful during his numerous visits to China.

Jeremys intense desire for knowledge is an important factor in his success, along with the philosophy that credibility, honesty, and common sense are key ingredients in creating a profitable online business. His inspirational and motivational story proves that it is possible to grow a successful business by doing something you love.

Nicole L. Augenti was born and raised in New York City. The practice of law is what brought her to Connecticut. She is an attorney in Bridgeport Connecticut. She is a sole practitioner at her law firm, Law Offices of Nicole L. Augenti, LLC which she founded in 2009. In addition to operating her own law firm, Nicole continues to work as an independent contractor for Attorney James O. Gaston after serving as his legal assistant from 2000 through 2009. Nicole is a litigator who practices in the area of personal injury, representing clients who are victims of automobile collisions, premises defects, products liability, medical malpractice, and other forms of personal injury. Nicole is a passionate advocate of the civil justice system, and works tirelessly to secure justice for her clients.

She was the founding member and President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) now known as the Association for Justice (AAJ) Student Chapter and Member of the Probate Journal from 2004-2005 at Quinnipiac University School of Law, from where she received her Juris Doctor in 2008.

Now, as an attorney, she has been appointed as a Member to the Marketing and Client Services Committee of AAJ in 2011. Her knowledge of social media and background in e-commerce were factors in her appointment to this position with AAJ. Nicole did her Undergraduate work and graduated (Cum Laude) from Pace University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice in 2003. She is a current member of the Connecticut Bar and is admitted to practice in the U.S District Court, Connecticut. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Connecticut Bar Association and the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association.

I would like to dedicate this book to my son, Jordan, who will someday take the reigns of the pearl empire.

I would like to thank Vivian for her endless support and patience while I completed this project and as I have grown with PearlParadise.com. Without her none of this would have been possible.

I would also like to thank Cori Amoroso for her months of tireless research and editing.

I would like to dedicate this book to my mom, Helen LoCascio, for believing in mealways.

I would like to thank James O. Gaston, Esq. for his endless support and for selflessly helping me run my law firm while I took the time to complete this book. I must thank the many online sellers (whom I also call friends) for helping to educate me on the world of e-commerce and for their support, energy, and enthusiasm for me to complete this book.

I would also like to thank my editors, Katie Benoit and Tracee Williams, contracts manager, Jessica Simons, and all the folks at GPP for their months of tireless research and editing and most importantly for their patience.

The following schools offer bachelors and masters degrees in business with an emphasis on e-commerce.

American University

4400 Massachusetts Ave. Northwest

Washington, DC 20016

www.american.edu

Admissions e-mail: admissions@american.edu

Averett University

420 West Main St.

Danville, VA 24541

www.averett.edu

Admissions e-mail: admit@averett.edu

Bellevue University

1000 Galvin Rd. South

Bellevue, NE 68005

www.bellevue.edu

Admissions e-mail: info@bellevue.edu

Brenau University

500 Washington St. Southeast

Gainesville, GA 30501

www.brenau.edu

Admissions e-mail: wcadmissions@lib.brenau.edu

California State Polytechnic UniversityPomona

3801 West Temple Ave.

Pomona, CA 91768-2557

www.csupomona.edu

Admissions e-mail: generalinfo@csupomona.edu

Castleton State College

86 Seminary St.

Castleton, VT 05735

www.castleton.edu

Admissions e-mail: info@castleton.edu

Champlain College

163 South Willard St.

Burlington, VT 05401

www.champlain.edu

Admissions e-mail: admission@champlain.edu

City University

11900 Northeast First St.

Bellevue, WA 98005

www.cityu.edu

Admissions e-mail: info@cityu.edu

Clarkson University

Box 5605

Potsdam, NY 13699

www.clarkson.edu

Admissions e-mail: admission@clarkson.edu

Davenport University

415 East Fulton St.

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

www.davenport.edu

Admissions e-mail: Davenport.Admissions@davenport.edu

Ferris State University

1201 South State St. CSS201

Big Rapids, MI 49307

www.ferris.edu

Admissions e-mail: admissions@ferris.edu

Hawaii University at Hilo

200 West Kawili St.

Hilo, HI 92720-4091

www.hilo.hawaii.edu/academics/

Admissions e-mail: uhhadm@hawaii.edu

Holy Family University

9701 Frankford Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19114-2094

www.holyfamily.edu

Admissions e-mail: undergra@holyfamily.edu

King College

1350 King College Rd.