Glen Ellyn Moms Village loves to highlight women who make a difference in Glen Ellyn. Who because of them, your life as a Mom is easier and better. It is our pleasure to introduce you to Margaret Immink, the Founder of DirectorySpot. If you have a school-aged child, then chances are you have the DirectorySpot App on your phone. And you may not have even known that this app that you use all the time was started by a Glen Ellyn Mom. We can’t wait for you to learn more about her.
1. What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture?
I worked 20+ years primarily in technology consulting and after moving to the Midwest decided to take a break and spend more time at home. In 2010, I was co-President of the Ben Franklin PTA and we were working on the directory. I thought there must be a better way to do this as it was time-consuming, expensive and outdated as soon as it was published. I wanted to save paper, use technology, and somehow get the directory onto my smartphone. I couldn’t find an app available, so I went to a tennis friend who introduced me to Eric Danielson and John Julien of Taydan Enterprises, and they developed an app for the Ben Franklin directory.
The first version was very basic, and I had to email usernames and passwords to each parent and teacher, but it worked. They loved it and the next year I got another six schools to try it and they all responded positively. I was asked to present at the Illinois PTA Convention, and Ben Franklin won the PTA award for best use of Technology. We also had a booth at the convention and generated a lot of excitement for the idea, and from there, DirectorySpot was born!
2. What is your favorite aspect of your business?
That is easy –when a customer tells me how much they use DirectorySpot or when they tell me a story about how DirectorySpot saved their day! I also love talking to new customers and having them explain their problem and then figuring out how DirectorySpot can solve it for them.
3. How has being a business owner affected your life?
I had always worked for large companies and didn’t think I was the entrepreneurial type, but I have learned a ton along the way and discovered how much fun it can be. Instead of going to an office and travelling to clients, I now work from home and have minimal travel. We have grown at our own pace (slowly) and always kept risk to a minimum, which has kept it exciting but fairly manageable. We started with schools and then expanded with other solutions for homeowners’ associations, churches, companies and really and type of organization that wants a secure directory. There is always more to be done, so it works well to fill my day but also gives flexibility.
4. What are your hobbies and/or what do you love to do when you are not in work mode?
I have a daughter away at college and a 16-year-old going to a tennis school down in Florida so I travel a lot. I can actually work from almost anywhere so that is another positive about DirectorySpot. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, travelling to junior tennis tournaments, skiing, going to see live music, happy hours, and of course watching Netflix. I also spend time mentoring small business startups and trying to share some of the lessons I have learned along the way.
5. What struggles or pain points do your clients have that you help solve for them?
Our customers have either spent years creating and distributing a paper directory that has been cumbersome and expensive and they are looking for a better solution or they have a need to connect with other members and are looking for an easy app. We also have customers who are looking to raise funds for their organization and use DirectorySpot to meet those needs. In addition, our solution is simple to use, easy to set up and inexpensive which appeals to all of our customers.
6. What do you think sets you apart from your competitors?
DirectorySpot provides a customized and secure online directory and app. We have always focused on providing the best directory solution including communications, but not trying to solve every problem for an organization. We also provide a solution that an organization can sign up, set up their own directory and launch to their customers without actually needing any assistance. It is that easy, but of course we are always here to help.
7. How does your company help Moms?
Moms are busier now than ever so DirectorySpot keeps their directory with them wherever they are. It is always current and always easy to find a classmate, a parent, a teacher, a class list or even the school or organization calendar. Many moms are involved in other organizations and DirectorySpot keeps them connected as well with a single log in.
8. What is the name of your business and where do you work?
DirectorySpot. I work in Glen Ellyn, IL.
9. Does this business have a presence in Glen Ellyn?
Yes! Our first customer was Ben Franklin Elementary and now there are over 20 schools and organizations in Glen Ellyn using DirectorySpot. We have 100+ organizations in IL using DirectorySpot and have customers in 35 states and 4 countries.
10. What is your mission?
Our mission is simple – to provide the best secure directory solution for schools and organizations.
11. What do your clients/users thank you for?
They thank us for making it so easy to set up, launch and maintain their directory. They thank us for our customer service, for continuing to enhance the solution, and also for the low price. Recently, they have thanked us helping to keep schools and communities connected during the COVID pandemic.
12. If a Mom was interested in your service, how do you recommend they sign up?
Go to our website – www.directoryspot.net and sign up for our free trial. They can set up a directory and test out all of our features for free for 30 days. If they like it, they make the payment and continue on. If they don’t want to continue, then the trial is deleted.
13. How is the best way to connect with you?
Send me an email – margaret@directoryspot.net or call me – 630-425-2665.
14.Other fun questions:
15. As Moms, we wear many hats, what title would you give yourself?
Hmmm, I am not good with these types of questions. Maybe “Helper”? I help my kids whenever I can (or whenever they actually ask for help), help my friends with their technology questions, and help friends with travel plans as I have lived / travelled a lot.
16. What gave you the faith to start something so different?
The feedback from our first few customers made it easy to believe in the solution. At the time, I had no idea how it would evolve, but it was enough to get started.
17. Who is your role model and why?
I have had many role models including my Partners in consulting and local women who have founded businesses. For DirectorySpot specifically, I met the founder of SignUp.com (formerly VolunteerSpot) at that original PTA convention and we really connected. She has a similar background and took an interest in our venture. She has been a great mentor and friend over these years and always makes time to give her thoughts on our latest challenge.
18. What is your superpower or spirit animal?
Hmmm, again a difficult one. Maybe trip planning? I do love to plan out trips and create detailed schedules of tours, activities and restaurants – either for family or for groups. And then follow up with creating a slideshow or photobook☺
19. When do you feel the most creative?
Probably when I want to make a gift for someone – either a necklace or bracelet, an abstract painting or something with photos. I don’t really have any real talent, but I like to try ☺
20. What is your favorite cocktail/mocktail?
Gin and Tonic (with good gin and good tonic and extra limes)
1. What ignited the spark in you to start a new business venture?
I worked 20+ years primarily in technology consulting and after moving to the Midwest decided to take a break and spend more time at home. In 2010, I was co-President of the Ben Franklin PTA and we were working on the directory. I thought there must be a better way to do this as it was time-consuming, expensive and outdated as soon as it was published. I wanted to save paper, use technology, and somehow get the directory onto my smartphone. I couldn’t find an app available, so I went to a tennis friend who introduced me to Eric Danielson and John Julien of Taydan Enterprises, and they developed an app for the Ben Franklin directory.
The first version was very basic, and I had to email usernames and passwords to each parent and teacher, but it worked. They loved it and the next year I got another six schools to try it and they all responded positively. I was asked to present at the Illinois PTA Convention, and Ben Franklin won the PTA award for best use of Technology. We also had a booth at the convention and generated a lot of excitement for the idea, and from there, DirectorySpot was born!
2. What is your favorite aspect of your business?
That is easy –when a customer tells me how much they use DirectorySpot or when they tell me a story about how DirectorySpot saved their day! I also love talking to new customers and having them explain their problem and then figuring out how DirectorySpot can solve it for them.
3. How has being a business owner affected your life?
I had always worked for large companies and didn’t think I was the entrepreneurial type, but I have learned a ton along the way and discovered how much fun it can be. Instead of going to an office and travelling to clients, I now work from home and have minimal travel. We have grown at our own pace (slowly) and always kept risk to a minimum, which has kept it exciting but fairly manageable. We started with schools and then expanded with other solutions for homeowners’ associations, churches, companies and really and type of organization that wants a secure directory. There is always more to be done, so it works well to fill my day but also gives flexibility.
4. What are your hobbies and/or what do you love to do when you are not in work mode?
I have a daughter away at college and a 16-year-old going to a tennis school down in Florida so I travel a lot. I can actually work from almost anywhere so that is another positive about DirectorySpot. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, travelling to junior tennis tournaments, skiing, going to see live music, happy hours, and of course watching Netflix. I also spend time mentoring small business startups and trying to share some of the lessons I have learned along the way.
5. What struggles or pain points do your clients have that you help solve for them?
Our customers have either spent years creating and distributing a paper directory that has been cumbersome and expensive and they are looking for a better solution or they have a need to connect with other members and are looking for an easy app. We also have customers who are looking to raise funds for their organization and use DirectorySpot to meet those needs. In addition, our solution is simple to use, easy to set up and inexpensive which appeals to all of our customers.
6. What do you think sets you apart from your competitors?
DirectorySpot provides a customized and secure online directory and app. We have always focused on providing the best directory solution including communications, but not trying to solve every problem for an organization. We also provide a solution that an organization can sign up, set up their own directory and launch to their customers without actually needing any assistance. It is that easy, but of course we are always here to help.
7. How does your company help Moms?
Moms are busier now than ever so DirectorySpot keeps their directory with them wherever they are. It is always current and always easy to find a classmate, a parent, a teacher, a class list or even the school or organization calendar. Many moms are involved in other organizations and DirectorySpot keeps them connected as well with a single log in.
8. What is the name of your business and where do you work?
DirectorySpot. I work in Glen Ellyn, IL.
9. Does this business have a presence in Glen Ellyn?
Yes! Our first customer was Ben Franklin Elementary and now there are over 20 schools and organizations in Glen Ellyn using DirectorySpot. We have 100+ organizations in IL using DirectorySpot and have customers in 35 states and 4 countries.
10. What is your mission?
Our mission is simple – to provide the best secure directory solution for schools and organizations.
11. What do your clients/users thank you for?
They thank us for making it so easy to set up, launch and maintain their directory. They thank us for our customer service, for continuing to enhance the solution, and also for the low price. Recently, they have thanked us helping to keep schools and communities connected during the COVID pandemic.
12. If a Mom was interested in your service, how do you recommend they sign up?
Go to our website – www.directoryspot.net and sign up for our free trial. They can set up a directory and test out all of our features for free for 30 days. If they like it, they make the payment and continue on. If they don’t want to continue, then the trial is deleted.
13. How is the best way to connect with you?
Send me an email – margaret@directoryspot.net or call me – 630-425-2665.
14.Other fun questions:
15. As Moms, we wear many hats, what title would you give yourself?
Hmmm, I am not good with these types of questions. Maybe “Helper”? I help my kids whenever I can (or whenever they actually ask for help), help my friends with their technology questions, and help friends with travel plans as I have lived / travelled a lot.
16. What gave you the faith to start something so different?
The feedback from our first few customers made it easy to believe in the solution. At the time, I had no idea how it would evolve, but it was enough to get started.
17. Who is your role model and why?
I have had many role models including my Partners in consulting and local women who have founded businesses. For DirectorySpot specifically, I met the founder of SignUp.com (formerly VolunteerSpot) at that original PTA convention and we really connected. She has a similar background and took an interest in our venture. She has been a great mentor and friend over these years and always makes time to give her thoughts on our latest challenge.
18. What is your superpower or spirit animal?
Hmmm, again a difficult one. Maybe trip planning? I do love to plan out trips and create detailed schedules of tours, activities and restaurants – either for family or for groups. And then follow up with creating a slideshow or photobook☺
19. When do you feel the most creative?
Probably when I want to make a gift for someone – either a necklace or bracelet, an abstract painting or something with photos. I don’t really have any real talent, but I like to try ☺
20. What is your favorite cocktail/mocktail?
Gin and Tonic (with good gin and good tonic and extra limes)
21. Looking back on motherhood, what would you tell a new Mom? Time goes slow when they are young and unbelievably fast as they get older. Don’t worry about the early stuff, it usually gets sorted out eventually and you will laugh that you were even concerned. Enjoy every moment you can with them ☺
