St. Charles company competes for $100,000 prize

Local small business owner Jennifer S. Thompson has made it to the finals in a contest that mixes features of the hit television shows "American Idol" and "Apprentice."

Thompson, owner of The Write Stuff Inc. in St. Charles, is one of the top 20 finalists from hundreds of applicants for the Make Mine a Million $ Business Competition.

Thompson will travel to Houston for the American Express Open Women's Business Summit next week in attempts to win $100,000 or the resources to help grow her business.

"I'm so excited," said the Larkin High School graduate. "This is validation that my business model is successful and that other people believe in it, too."

Ten years ago she launched The Write Stuff, a company that assembles prepackaged school supply kits for parent teacher organizations. The kits, tailored to teachers needs, are then sold to parents looking for convenience and the correct supplies.

Thompson, 39, works with schools in about 30 states.

The entrepreneur explained Wednesday that she read about the small business competition in an issue of a Costco promotional magazine about five months ago. She said there was a lengthy application process that included outlining the vision of the company.

She included that her business is recession proof as schools will always need supplies.

The next step in the contest taking place next week is to give a "three-minute elevator pitch" on why she should receive the business growth resources, contest organizers said.

The St. Charles resident is looking forward to this aspect that will allow her to address how the growth package will help her business.

"I'm excited. It will be a good chance to explain my business to other women in my shoes," she said.

Before launching The Write Stuff, she worked as a middle schoolteacher and then an assistant principal in Woodstock. She took time off to have her four children, now ranging from 4 to 13 years old.

Thompson was looking to get back into the work force with a career that carried a little bit more flexibility to raise her children.

Nell Merlino, creator of "Take Our Daughters to Work Day" understands the flexibility issues and created the contest with American Express. She is president of Count Me In.

This is the third year for this contest.

Thompson said if she wins the grand prize, she will use the money to improve the business' infrastructure and hire additional employees. She currently has seven.

She added that winning the contest will do what it's designed to - allow her to make her company do more than $1 million in sales.